CC: Is there any scenario where Jim Harbaugh is NOT the best candidate?
So over the past week we've heard practically every rumor possible about our coaching search. It's a given that 99.9% of them are BS. That being said, if any of this stuff were to be true, say there is some "white whale" coaching prospect out there that is somewhat or totally off the radar that Hackett could land, is there any scenario where Harbaugh could end up NOT being the best candidate? Is there anyone out there that could possibly come available that would be a better fit here right now than Harbaugh?
This is obviously totally idle speculation. But I figured we're pretty burned out on talking about Jim at the moment. Who, if he were to come available, would we be willing to say, "Thanks Jim, but we're going in a different direction" for? Is there anyone?
December 8th, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
If the ghost of Bill Walsh joins forces with the spirit of Bear Bryant and the zombied remains of Bo, then sure, there is a better coach.
To me, the issue depends on whether or not he goal is to get the biggest, best guy right now regardless of his future intentions or if it is the goal of the coaching search is to find a coach who can rebuild the program and help guide it for decades. If it's the prior, Harbaugh X100. If it's the latter, then a younger, hot-shot coordinator or a coach at a lower-profile program is maybe a better option. Unfortunately, it's kind of slim picking rights now in that department; when Mullen is your best option, that says something about the overall pool.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
Please, do not blaspheme on the site that Brian built.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
Mike Ditka.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
Mike Hart was once quoted saying he'd like to one day be the head coach at Michigan.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^
He is like Fred Jackson but with better hyperbole and greater recruiting upside.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
If Karnak "Devourer of Worlds" claws his way out of the Nether Realm, sure, why not?
December 8th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
football coaches better than Harbaugh.
There are not football coaches better than Harbaugh with better ties to Michigan and would be welcomed the way Jim would.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^
Saban and Belicheck are far more realistic than Harbaugh saying no thank you. Stay in this plane of reality please.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
Offensive Coordinator: Chip Kelly
Defensive Coordinator: Pete Carrol
Recruiting Coordinator: Nick Saban
Various Assistants: Bill Bellicheck, Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, Jay-Z, Bono, George Takei
Head Coach: Jesus
/thread
December 8th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^
Don't forget Beyonce.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
Maybe if he disagrees to a buyout clause or includes a very specific clause that allows him out of his contract/buyout to coach in the pros.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^
rips out a baby's heart and takes a bite out of it while it's still beating, I would conclude he's not the best candidate for the Michigan job. Of course, he'd have to do this before getting hired, otherwise I could chalk that one up to a mistake made in hindsight.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
Gruden? Dungy? I got nothin.......
December 8th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
So I think the rumors about him are ridiculous, but they are out there, and were acutally out there in 2007 as well. I can't see why he would come here, but if he would, where does he rank compared to Harbaugh? Would he really be 1A to Harbaugh? You're talking about a pretty damn successful NFL coach.
Again, I understand the idea of Payton coming here is insanity.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
John Harbaugh might be preferable to Jim, but that's well into pipe dream territory.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:00 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 5:02 PM ^
Would a thread titled
"Which mediocre coaches would you accept without committing suicide" really be any fun? :)
Plus, Brian has already talked about those kinds of guys a ton. We all know we might end up with a Jim Mora Jr. type guy, and a guy like that might do great here. But there isn't really anywhere to go with speculation around that.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
Which mediocre coaches would you accept without committing suicide
That might actually be a good counterbalance thread to this one.
OK, I'll bite . . . I'll say Tim Murphy from Harvard. Not a big name, but his teams play with discipline, precision, and some imagination.
I might self-mutilate a little, but I would definitely not go full-suicide.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^
Why would you not take Kate Upton to a tropical island with you???
December 8th, 2014 at 5:02 PM ^
Sean Payton. Immense amount of success, offensive genius, turned Drew Brees from a good QB to a HOF QB. This is probably the mystery candidate everyone is so enamored with.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
He was connected to us in 2007 by Angelique Chengelis, who isn't exaclty a rumor monger. And now he is being rumored again. He clearly detests Roger Goddell. And he may feel like the Saints hung him out to dry somewhat with that whole bountygate situation.
If there is a mystery "white whale" out there, it's as likely to be him as it is to be anyone, since any name will seem ridiculous until it is released.
Payton is the one that got me thinking--if we really had some miracle shot at Payton, would we actually want him MORE than Harbaugh?
Again, I know the entire scenario is ridiculous. He's something like the highest paid coach in the NFL, so he's not coming here. I just wonder why his name keeps getting tied to our coaching vacancies? There's just no rational reason for it.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
Reasons big names get tied to UM coaching vacancies is because some UM fans think that this is a top 10 coaching job in the country for CFB. It's not even top 5 in the B10 anymore IMO after what RR and Hoke have done to it.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
Are you a Spartan fan? Or Buckeye fan?
December 8th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 8th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^
This guy.
I dare you to try to name five jobs better than Michigan in the B1G. Or even two. And our coaching hire will prove it.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:38 PM ^
I am a huge homer but here it goes:
1. Florida: Great recruiting state, great fans, warm weather
2. Notre Dame: better fan base, better brand name, and is everything Michigan is plus some.
3. Texas. see florida
4. Alabama- following Saban would suck for sure but if you could just follow the recipe....
5. *Ohio State- Awesome fan base, Money is not a problem at any level good facility and the greatest rivalry in american sports.
*entered in protest, but it is true.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:12 PM ^
Last time I checked Florida, ND, Texas, and Alabama are not in the Big Ten.
December 9th, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^
It is not my thing.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:15 PM ^
Well there are reports that Michigan is willing to pay a lot of money for their next coach, so Payton might not even be getting a decrease in pay. I highly doubt he's coming here, but it is interesting to see that there are a few different reports suggesting there's mutual interest between Payton and Michigan. Of course, no one knows if there's any truth to those reports, but it makes for some nice water cooler talk.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
His buy out might be cheap.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:09 PM ^
Harbaugh, Stoops, Payton, and Tomlin. If we hired any of them I'd be thrilled. Of course, Saban and Meyer are both on the same level, if not higher than Harbaugh, but we know neither of them are coming to Michigan.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
Harbaugh's slight unhinged-ness is often overlooked. Coaches may be on the table who are just as good (Mullen, Stoops) who are more level headed. I still want Harbaugh, but he ain't the greatest coach on earth. Probably top 20ish, but thats it
December 8th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
The day he signs with Oakland is the day he is not the best man for the job.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
From a time / space standpoint alone, Harbaugh is probably the best candidate. What I mean by this is that for this time and this juncture in Michigan football, he is probably the easiest cultural fit and perhaps the only name which would unify the fanbase without much if any selling going on within certain factions. I know and am glad that Hackett worked to dispell the idea that it needed to be someone with Michigan ties (it doesn't need to be either - there are other coaches with no Michigan ties who could produce winners), but I see such ties helping to heal certain things within the fanbase.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
Please. Stop.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
I'd only be wary if he wants an easy "out" clause to go back to the NFL after any one year. I realize if a coach really wants out, they can get out. But, if they are pressing on an out clause hard, I'm not sure how committed he'd be.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
People will mock it but Tom Coughlin 10 years younger would probably be more of a sure thing than Harbaugh. He turned Boston College around quickly (first year 4-7 and then had 2 3 loss seasons immediately after). He took an awful Jacksonville team and within a few year turned them into 3 seasons of 11-5, 11-5, and 14-2. Tailed off at the end there at JAX but still... and Giants work speaks for itself. He has won big in the NFL. I am surprised his attitude actually has worked in the NFL - he seems tailor made for the college game. But he is 68. A 58 year old Coughlin would offer a lot to any college program.
Same comment for Bill Snyder. If dude was 62 instead of 75 I'd take him over any coach not named Saban. Dude is a wizard - I dont know what the hell he'd be capable of with USC, UM, OSU, UF, FSU, Bama type talent.
Last, while I prefer guys who have done it at the college level (yes NFL is the highest level but college is a different setup with the recruiting, boosters, etc) I think Tomlin would be an excellent college coach.
Harbaugh is a very good coach - but doesnt walk on water. Contrary to belief. In terms of fire and ability to drive kids I think he is a perfect college coach but he definitely needs an elite DC to come with him.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:38 PM ^
this thread is ridiculous, but scenarios requiring Doc Brown's DeLorean may be a bridge too far. :)
December 8th, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
His whole team is JC transfers. There is something not on the up n up in Manhatan.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 6:04 PM ^
Isnt there a statue of Bo outside one of the main football buildings? We could just move it to the sideline in the stadium. Have the assistant coaches carry it around from school to school, house to house on recruiting trips. Everyone in the room would just sit around the statue. THe coaches would have pretend conversations with it and the kids/parents would just look on somewhat concerned, somewhat terrified. It would be awesome.
Not to mention, at least the statue would wear a freaking headset.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
Why don't we just use a voodoo doctor and animate it with Bo's ghost? Probably a lot cheaper too.