peoples court?

Jack Harbaugh looks just like Leo McGarry.  I'm waiting for him to hold up a "Harbaugh for Michigan" napkin.

what this is and what it is from?

Hackett has swim lane charts.  He has a back up plan.

Publicly, obviously not.  But Michigan's AD isn't the Fort visage it tries to maintain; clearly there are people willing to talk about what they hear.  We've seen that for years now.  And based on all of the rumors and leaks, it doesn't sound like there is a clear backup following Harbaugh.  I'm sure there will be one, but in 2007 it was basically Miles and then we'll see what happens.  And in 2011 it was Hoke because Brandon had a limited pool and seemingly exhausted his other options rather quickly.  So no, in a normal organization I'd totally believe that Michigan is putting up the smokescreen while they compile a list, but nothing in the past half-decade gives me any confidence that is the case.  I'm sure they'll spackle over the cracks if Harbaugh gives them a pass, but I'm not sold that this isn't a bit of a circus right now.

I guess I'm just overly pessimistic.  This here blog thought Dave Brandon had a pimp hand after his first couple press conferences, and we all know how that played out.

I just worry that there are voices beyond Hackett's that are still calling for a certain type of candidate that basically begins and ends with Harbaugh.  I think people believe when I say that they don't have a backup plan that they don't have a person - I'm sure they do have a person they'd settle on and they pretty much know they'll get.  But what has submarined Michigan the past 2 coaches has as much to do with on-field performance as it has been the culture/machinations that occur in the athletic department.  And that's why I worry.

No, you dont sever ties with a guy who just have you $200M.

Other than an elite group of people who interacts with Ross in any way?  Not the general fanbase.   He would get yelled at by the sports fans on blogs and go on his merry way to his next month in the south of Franche on his yacht to monitor the yelling via internet.  Again he gave $200M - that buys you a lot of brownie points.   The university as a whole is a lot more than the athletic program.  We fans look at it with a much more athletic focus.

Ross is still a businessman and the Miami franchise is worth $1.1B.   I don't think this is what would happen but to make it a 1% chance is dismissive IMO.  His QB is also the type of young and promising guy who Harbaugh could do a lot with and the Miami Dolphins defense of today reminds me a lot of the San Fran one of 4 years ago.  It would be (to me) anyhow the most promising team he could take over in the NFL of the ones who may lose their coach. 

Again these are open questions of what he wants to do with his life.  I think more than any specific NFL franchise question.

Jim knows he can be successful for a short period of time (maybe 3 years) in the NFL before he wears out of his welcome again.  He is basically a Doug Collins type who burns so bright, pro players can only take it so long. 

So its a question of ego on the NFL side.  Is he so stubborn he thinks it can work - I mean he did go to 3 straight NFC championship games.   So the ego we love can be a pro or con, depending on how you want to spin it.  Michigan v NFL is a lifestyle choice at this point - what does he want to do the next 6-8 years with his life.

The only reason I bring up Miami as most attractive is it has almost the exact same profile a the 49ers had 4 years ago.  A very good D, a young QB who seems promising but still raw, and yes the Patriots are there but you dont need to win the East to get into the playoffs.   Once you get in anything can happen as we've seen some #5 #6 seeds win the SB.  Miami has a good enough D that if he can get the QB to elevate its play in a Harbaugh way they can be serious players.  They are not that far off this year.  Might go 9-7.  (Vikings and Jets last 2 games)

Anyhow my larger hope is his dismay for the situation at UM and his dad's urgings - plus the orchestra of outpouring from alumni and his former teammates - take away any cold calculating logic and makes the decision easy to come back home.

I'm with this school of thought as well.

...and I'd add what someone else said in another post, can't remember who...but, Miles as the back up hasn't been announced yet because Hackett hasn't been forced to do so.  JH is still in play, so no need to annoy LSU or the LSU fanbase until he pulls the trigger with Miles. 

Edit:  But I tell you one thing, I think JUB could have another best-seller on his hands with all the "this is what really went down in the great Michigan coaching search of 2014" once this is all over.