DMack

January 7th, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^

So it sounds like they were trying to push Mattison into retiring to free up some cash to spread around and or bring in fresh ideas. He didn't get an offer to renew his contract and gets pissed and says, I will go to the enemy and coach. 

Yes, he is very well off financially at this stage in life and could retire "a good ol Michigan Man", but if he can make an additional $4 million before retiring, he's got more to leave to his grand kids. Cant blame athletes or coaches for following the money. Leaving (possibly) millions on the table is just dumb no matter how you look at it. 

It seems that power 5 institutions are really sticking it to Michigan by coming after their coaches and best recruiters, year after year. It makes it hard to build programs with continuity because of the money or growth opportunities presented.

Once again, we're playing defense just to keep our football brain trust in place so we can build on things. Everybody Harb started with is gone. They've gone after Partridge, Brown and they're offering our Ace recruiter Washington a hefty raise to leave as well.   

I hope we start playing some offense and go after what we want. Open up the purse and start paying or we will never get over the hump. Will will remain vulnerable because the teams that see us as a threat come poaching every off season, and its not cute, its a distraction. 

 

Yessir

January 7th, 2019 at 1:45 PM ^

I get that. Huge surprise.  Last person I thought would do this, but at least we'll know, or should know, what type of defense he's going to run.  We should know how to attack him. 

Maybe I'm just looking for a silver lining. 

Also, opens up a spot to keep Al Washington.  An up and comer on recruiting trail, etc. 

Not saying Al would take his exact job, but after a shuffle of our defensive staff, it might open up a spot for different title/raise to help keep Washington. 

Go Blue!

Lakeyale13

January 7th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^

Does this speak to a break down in a relationship with Harbaugh?  I know as fans we cannot imagine going to work for OSU if we already had a good gig at Michigan.  I mean...I't can't be money related.  Dude can retire whenever he wants.  I just do not understand this move at all.  Looks spiteful.  

bamf_16

January 7th, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^

Seriously. He's going from being a position coach to being a coordinator. How difficult is this to grasp?

 

Instead of roasting him for this, I choose to remember that he humbled himself by going from DC under Hoke to a "demotion" of sorts back to DL coach under Harbaugh.

 

 

Lakeyale13

January 7th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^

Yes, I get the professional move if he was going to be the DC of any other school in existence other than Ohio State.  The move just looks poor.  

If OSU wants him for their DC, then certainly another program would have too.  Just feels like your good looking friend, who could land just about any woman he wants, but chooses to go out with your ex-girlfriend that just dumped you.  Again, to me, just looks spiteful. 

But hey, maybe GM didn't have any other options to be a DC.  If not and that is what he wanted to do, then good for him.

saveferris

January 7th, 2019 at 2:20 PM ^

It only looks spiteful because you're choosing to spin it that way.  If Mattison was leaving Michigan to go take over OSU's D-line coaching duties, then you'd have a point.  He's not.  He's taking a promotion for more money.  If the promotion was with, say, Florida State or UCLA, would anybody be hinting towards some kind of subtle messaging between Mattison and Harbaugh?

This whole narrative is stupid.

Best of luck Coach, but I hope you fail miserably on the 4th Saturday of November.

ColoradoBlue

January 7th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^

Call me crazy, but it "speaks" to a huge promotion.  If you worked for corporation A as a middle manager, and corporation B asked you to join the C suite, would you turn it down out of some allegiance to your current company (especially if your current employer made it clear that you weren't never going to get a promotion)?

Is what it is.  I don't like it, but I don't begrudge him.  

MindlessChaos

January 7th, 2019 at 1:59 PM ^

I don't know but Mattison was basically the best coach on staff. He is responsible for the great defensive consistency and is really underrated. Some of those lean talent years it was his schemes/blitzes that really turned a weak spot into a strength.  It's a loss plain and simple, but obviously due to the context of him leaving his ability and importance will be downplayed so I don't expect my take to be a popular sentiment. 

Lakeyale13

January 7th, 2019 at 2:16 PM ^

If I was 25-55 years old I would do exactly that...take the job and the money.  If I was almost 70, have more money than I will ever spend, consider the legacy I leave when I retire, then I don't take that job.  

Dude could have retired with more money than he could ever need and be a living legend in AA and never pay for a meal or drink again.  Now, consider that legacy gone. 

Lakeyale13

January 7th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^

You're saying that for GM, being the DC of OSU is an opportunity of a lifetime!?  That is just ridiculous.  Don't get me wrong, it is a very good / great job, but have you seen the jobs GM has had over his career?  Dude, not even close to being an "opportunity of a lifetime" for him.

And I wouldn't take the job.  Doesn't mean that your opinion is stupid.  I just wouldn't.  For the same reason if I was the Kelly Bryant (the starter that became the back up QB to Trevor Lawrence at Clemson) I wouldn't have left to be the QB at Missouri.  

Kelly Bryant could have come back to Clemson and been welcomed with crazy wide open arms.  Wouldn't have a bar tab to pay in Clemson.  Now that is all ruined.  I would value legacy over a quick gig.

saveferris

January 7th, 2019 at 2:44 PM ^

Maybe it doesn't go down as the highlight of his career, but it's certainly the last chance for him to design and lead a defensive unit.  If that's always been his calling, where his heart lies, I honestly don't know why anyone has a problem with this.  Just because he's leaving to coach at OSU to pursue his calling he suddenly has failed some kind of loyalty test?  Man this fanbase has gotten fragile. 

Lakeyale13

January 7th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^

Cmon my man, your not being fair.  Mattison was a LOVED Coach.  He was so likeable (playing Drake in the background as he talked to recruits) and a fantastic technician at what he did.  It isn't a "fanbase being fragile" when a guy that many thought had Maize and Blue in his veins gets upset and shocked when he leaves to be the DC at OSU.  

Realus

January 7th, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^

It's NOT the opportunity of a lifetime.  Mattison has had plenty of experience as a DC, including on some very good teams.  It is an opportunity but one that I am sure I would spurn because of the worthless location of OSU.  Sure, in winning football games, they are elite.  They suck rocks in every other way.  No WAY I would I take a job there and my final position.

Now, if Al Washington took the job, that is different.  I might be sad or angry if Washington took the job but not disappointed or surprised, as I am with Mattison.

CalifExile

January 7th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^

"the opportunity of your lifetime"

You are literally saying that coaching at OSU is better than coaching at Michigan. This is especially odd if the statements that he will be a co-DC are correct. He was DC at Michigan under Hoke. The culture at your employer is also important. I don't think the OSU AD conducts itself with the same integrity as Michigan's does. People who say "it's all about the Benjamins" must have been incredibly fortunate to have never worked for a bad boss.

caliblue

January 7th, 2019 at 3:25 PM ^

11 Warriors reporting that Harbaugh did not renew his contract. Still at 70 years old why he would want this kind of stress unclear. 11 Warriors members mixed on the wilsdom of this as  you would expect