CC: Bizarre Finish Leaves 49ers 4-4

Submitted by Geaux_Blue on
After allowing the Rams to hang around all game, the 49ers actually fell behind at home 13-10 with approximately 2-3 minutes remaining. In a bizarre series of plays involving pass interference, holding and a near-score, SF had the ball on the Rams 1 with 19 seconds and a TO remaining. Kaepernick fumbled the snap into the end zone for a touchback and Rams win. SF now sits far back in their division at 4-4 with two games remaining against a desperate Seattle team, a game at New Orleans and two final home games against Arizona and San Diego. Given that multiple talking heads have said Harbaugh wouldn't return even with a Super Bowl win, the timing is becoming a little convenient for those who believe UM has a shot with a coach who may be hungry to get people remembering how great of a coach he's been in the past...
MGoBoard
Football

JohnnyBlue

November 2nd, 2014 at 7:46 PM ^

Do we want them to tank this next month? Say they fall apart and go 1-3 thru the end of the month. Would a 5-7 Harbaugh just go F it and leave early to start recruiting? (this is of course assuming we get the guy)

Joined: 01/18/2011

MGoPoints: 2945

BJNavarre

November 2nd, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^

Nonsense. If Harbaugh wants the Michigan job he will leave SF in the middle of this season. That's the way the college coaching carousel works. And what's the negative recruiting angle? He left during the middle of the season? Every other college coach that changes jobs leaves before his team's bowl game. You think that trumps playing for one of the 2 or 3 most successful football coaches in the last 5 years?

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 4434

Tozmo

November 2nd, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

He'll leave SF in the middle of this season to do.... what? Get the seat at the 50 yard line behind Hoke, wear a headset, and look menacing?

 

He won't leave SF in the middle of this season because of his contract; and the bigger issue: Michigan has a coach currently

Joined: 07/14/2008

MGoPoints: 320

MGoStrength

November 2nd, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^

I don't think so.  Any kid who was interested in Michigan and wasn't overly attached to the current coaching staff wouldn't care about his previous stop in a negative way IMO.  Think about human psychology for a sec...most people are just happy to get what they want in the moment and don't take the extra time to think about the events that led them there.  They just see getting what they want and are happy.  Other coaches can say what they want, but I doubt it works.  Plus Harbaugh is a pretty charasmatic guy.  I don't picture kids not getting excited about playing for him.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

RankingsTown

November 3rd, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^

When Weis left the Patriots he pulled double duty being the OC for the Patriots in the playoffs and recruiting for Notre Dame as the official head coach.  These circumstances are a bit different with Harbaugh being a head coach but it could be a possibility, although not likely.

Joined: 06/20/2013

MGoPoints: 109

aiglick

November 2nd, 2014 at 7:52 PM ^

Somebody may beat me to making the post which is fine but it is becoming more likely that one or the other Harbaugh don't make the playoffs. According to playoffstatus.com the 49ers are at a 48% chance to not make the playoffs while the Ravens are at 51%. The current probabilities do not count these results and this game tonight for the Ravens against the Steelers is huge for their playoff chances.

Even if we were to land one of them at the end of December that is probably enough time to get a great class considering this one is small and the name recognition for either coach is going to be prevalent. We have a lot of guys who have jumped ship but if we get one of those guys then I think a lot of guys could come back.

We're in uncharted waters but if events continue to shape up then we may be in a much better position around the end of the year. Again this is a very fluid situation and as you said neither may want to come here but this could be the year to land a Harbuagh which would probably instill instant happiness for all corners of the fan base which would be fantastic.

Go Steelers.

Joined: 11/27/2010

MGoPoints: 21518

M-Dog

November 2nd, 2014 at 8:28 PM ^

We have a lot of guys who have jumped ship

That's the beauty of NSD in February.  Nobody has actually done anything.  They could all potentially come back.  Nobody has signed anything.

Most of the guys that have "decommitted" have done so to keep looking around.  They have not all firmly committed to somebody else.  So that looking around can also include us with a new coach.  

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257440

MGoStrength

November 2nd, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^

While that's true, there are plenty of kids I'm sure that just want to make a decision and even though they haven't officially signed anything, once they make that mental adjustment and make up with their mind on someone else and build those relationships it can be hard to change their mind without something major happening.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

DrewGOBLUE

November 2nd, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^

While that could be true with some, I think you're underestimating how fickle teenagers in high school can be.

You could have a recruit that grew up in Louisiana and has been an LSU fan his whole life, so quickly commits to play there. Then the kid hears about how freakin hot the girls are at ASU, takes a visit there, and strongly considers switching his commitment. Eventually though, he fully grasps the notion that an NFL career is VERY hard to achieve, despite being one of the top rated HS players. Thus, after a few months of pondering and impulsive thoughts, he realizes the best thing to do is go to a quality football school which is also a world-class academic institution, ultimately deciding on Michigan. That way he can have a great degree to fall back on, rather than getting stuck with a glorified high school diploma from LSU.

I think that's, at least, one hypothetical scenario of how a kid's thoughts and inclinations might easily change throughout the months of the recruiting process.

Joined: 12/03/2011

MGoPoints: 2953

Mocha Cub

November 2nd, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^

Of course if the team does go 1-3 in their next 4 and looks to be out of the playoffs, could the front office in SF decide to pull the trigger early and fire him? If they were really indeed looking for an excuse to rid themselves of Jim H., that could be the opportunity they were looking for.

Joined: 11/17/2013

MGoPoints: 23066

MonkeyMan

November 2nd, 2014 at 9:09 PM ^

Wow this is a fantastic string of events- what if the 49ers can't finish because of an earthquake destroying their stadium and the NFL is attacked by FIFA terrorists- then Jim might get some rare disease that can only be treated in Ann Arbor ! ! !

We can only hope for such a fortunate outcome!

Joined: 10/13/2013

MGoPoints: 1753

bsgriffin1

November 2nd, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^

I dont think it would really matter when Jim H. would get here in the nearish future... i mean what recruit wouldn't be pumped up/excited about playing for him? Just by the name, without even getting to know him, from a recruits perspective, i'd be on board. Expecially with the institution that he is (would be) employed by (not including any of the PR blunders that have incured recently obviously.) lol

Joined: 11/29/2010

MGoPoints: 1119

MDot

November 2nd, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^

I dont think he has to "get people to remember how good of a coach he is" considering he's been more successful in the NFL than in college... that's not why he will or won't be back in SF next year.

 

From what people speculate, he seems to be the "rolling stone" type (a la Saban)...which I wouldn't mind at all, honestly. Get the program back on track, worry about the rest later.

Joined: 11/16/2013

MGoPoints: 2130

Victor Valiant

November 2nd, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^

I don't really see Saban as a "rolling stone" type. He left a middling MSU program for a bigger and better program in LSU. He tried his hand at the NFL for a couple years and it didn't work out. He then returned to college where he is a better fit to take over one of if not the most storied programs in the history of college football. He hasn't left since. It's likely he considered taking the Texas job, which would lend more credibility to your argument had he actually done it, but in the end he stuck with Alabama. 

Joined: 11/23/2013

MGoPoints: 4491

Tater

November 2nd, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^

I agree with "Victor Valiant" but with a bit different "angle."  Saban left MSU because the administration was worse than David Brandon.  He won at LSU and got offered huge money to jump to the NFL.  Then he decided he liked college better.  I don't think he is a "rolling stone type" at all.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584