Harbaugh extension?
I'm really surprised this isn't the #1 subject on this board. Is the UM administration just gonna let Jim's current contract run to its final days? Please, no. The clause/dates mentioned in these articles seem nuts.
How is the program supposed to recruit with what looks like a lame duck coach?
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2020/1/22/21076155/michigan-football-jim-harbaugh-contract
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:18 AM ^
Harbaugh will be able to handle this however he wants. The Michigan AD has no negative thoughts towards Harbaugh. And they shouldn’t. I’m a big believer in a coach having 100% or 0% support. A hot seat is never good.
Hopefully he does sign some sort of extension, for recruiting purposes. But this is really a non issue.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:33 AM ^
A non-issue? Recruiting is not a non-issue. If you were an elite recruit considering UM, you wouldn’t wonder about what happens in two years?
The AD supposedly having cozy vibes about Jim is nice and all, but it’s the rest of the world I’m worried about (and it’s what those articles are alluding to). It’s the kids and parents being asked to commit their hopes and dreams to a lame duck. And it’s the other coaches in their ears saying Jim won’t be around much longer with that ugly OSU record, etc. etc.
If this AD is truly 100% on Jim and wants recruiting to hold-up vs. the OSU’s of the world... s*** or get off the pot. Extend him now. Push in your chips. Seems crazy not to do so. All it does is raise more doubt. And there’s plenty of that already.
January 23rd, 2020 at 5:13 AM ^
K... but he has a full two years left on his deal. He’s not entering his final year with the entire fan base up in arms about the guy. Big difference. This IS a non-issue. There’s no real urgency, and nobody outside of chicken little fans and stir-the-pot media care about this. Two years left on a deal isn’t “lame duck.” With two top 100 recruits committed for 2021, and in phenomenal position for a few more, it’s certainly not effecting recruiting.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:35 AM ^
Okay, but, #1 class OSU has nine committed and UM hasn’t landed a 2021 kid since...
What more does the AD need to see? If he’s Harbaugh or bust, is he really waiting to see if we pull one out in Columbus next year?
I don’t know why a supposed Harbaugh superfan, faced with the objective reality of Harbaugh’s increasingly bleak record, which is no doubt increasing ammo for negative recruiters, would let seeds of doubt grow. I think the urgency should be there.
Ryan Day is sitting there looking like “the future” while Jim is limping along towards... somewhere. If he’s truly your guy, why let him? It’s too easy to tee this all up as impending doom. To call it an elephant. Because that’s what it is.
But okay, kick the can. I’m very interested to see where this 2021 class winds up.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:56 AM ^
It must suck to live in your world - all negative, all the time.
Harbaugh just signed a top 10-15 class filled with 4-star depth players and a lot of speed everywhere. The early returns for 2020 predictions looks pretty nice, top 5-10. He's finally got an offense that can move the ball consistently with a philosophy that is as modern and competitive as any of the death star programs are running. His defense continues to be an annual top 10 affair. He just made, by all accounts, two outstanding coaching hires. He has a brand new training and support facility to better compare with factories like Clemson and Bama.
Settle the fuck down. If you want him gone, that's fine - just say so. Warde will have a new contract for him when they both decide its time to do so. I mean, Warde is nothing if not a competent administrator.
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:28 AM ^
There’s the cite to the annual top 10 defense. Shouldn’t this come with a mandatory asterisk that says “against most teams at home except Ohio State and some teams on the road except good teams.”
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:31 AM ^
No. Every defense gives up points to good offenses - especially when your own offense can't score. Ask Clemson.
But go ahead and continue to put everything on one person...
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:39 AM ^
Did I say I want him gone? If he has all this apparent momentum... extend him now. That’s the point. I’m a UM fan before a Harbaugh fan, and this does not help the program recruit against the Death Star. Hopefully they work something out soon.
January 23rd, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
Ryan Day has 3 years left on his contract. That's not even enough to guarantee a single recruit that he will be there for the recruit's entire career. That's only one more year than the fraud Harbaugh, who Day beat like a drum.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:44 PM ^
I would not be surprised if Ryan Day doesn't even fulfill his contract. If he has one more excellent season the NFL is going to come after him hard, and as far as I know he has no existential ties to Ohio State or Ohio in general.
January 23rd, 2020 at 3:24 PM ^
Well, he wont be able to recruit with that hanging over his head!
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:30 PM ^
If UM doesn’t move on this before 0-6, they might set-up the embarrassing scenario of watching Day get an extension while still deciding Harbaugh’s fate. Bleh. UM rewards a loser while OSU rewards a winner.
Another reason why, if they believe in Jim, they should double-down on him sooner than later.
Oh wait, you got your facts wrong, Day has FOUR years left.
January 24th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
Speaking of losers...
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
Wrong. He has four left, signed a five-year deal last May.
January 23rd, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Why does the number of commits matter? Players can’t sign for another 11 months.
If your only point is to compare our class to Ohio State, you’re going to be incredibly disappointed. They have the on-field results. Until Michigan wins on the field, they have no hope of competing with OSU who can whip out Big Ten titles and CFP berths in recent memory. OSU out recruiting Michigan has literally nothing to do with Harbaugh’s contract status.
Again, Michigan boasts two top 100 commits and sit in great position for quite a few others. Obviously your chicken little attitude has ZERO basis in reality, as this class appears to be shaping up to be our best under Harbaugh.
January 23rd, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
So you want Harbaugh to get an extension? You think he should be let go? He’s a lame duck coach but really isn’t? Harbaugh is a good recruiter or isn’t one? OSU recruits better because their coach currently has more years on his contract? I truly have no idea what you’re arguing. I don’t think you know either.
All you need to know is Manuel will pay Harbaugh and allow him to extend with a $0 buyout so he can go coach the Cleveland Browns.
January 23rd, 2020 at 12:07 PM ^
And your top candidate for replacing Harbaugh is...?
sling mud, lose ground.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:48 AM ^
2 years left lines up directly with his daughter graduating (or very close to graduating) from Michigan. I think she is on the water polo team, her brother who graduated last year from Michigan is already back in Cali..
Cheers
January 23rd, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
Maybe I’m dense, what are you suggesting?
January 23rd, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
Harbaugh also has young children and his parents near -- in Ann Arbor. Yes, Jim Jr. graduated, but Grace is a Freshmen. I guess I am not sure what your post is insinuating. There really isn't anything out there saying Jim wishes to be anywhere else.
January 24th, 2020 at 2:04 AM ^
His daughter is a freshman on the water polo team.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:26 AM ^
You can't be a lame duck with two years left on the contract.
I was telling a guy at work that I have no interest in firing Harbaugh until he proves he can no longer recruit. I don't know what happened to the Harbaugh who went to a game and volunteered to work the chain gang because they were short staffed or the guy they said was running his staff into the ground with the satellite camp schedule.
I have little faith that firing Harbaugh is going to produce a coach that can beat OSU. Realistically these 17 or 18 losses span four coaches. I can't convince myself that the fifth guy is going to magically figure this out.
January 23rd, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
Fodder. Harbaugh is always leaving according to every rival coach and media outlets. And he’s wanted fired by angry entitled fans after every loss who want the glory days of...Lloyd Carr’s typical 8-9 win seasons with better talent.
People who want a new coach are silly as hell. Justin Fuentes has done nothing great since moving up; Todd Herman has floundered with more talent at Texas; Scott Frost has shown he’s not as great in a P5.
It takes time to build powerhouse. Harbaugh has two years left, including this one, so what makes him any more likely to leave than Lincoln Riley or...Matt Rhule (oops)? Unless the AD shows wish washy support and the team has a losing season, why would a recruit worry any more or any less about their coach’s status. Years on the contract don’t matter that much. Perhaps Harbaugh wants to leverage his next season’s success before he talks extension—maybe he’s talking extension. These articles are written by journalist in the dead season. JH is easy pickings.
January 23rd, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
I'm not a recruit, but if you're UM and you're already asking a recruit to take something of a perceived risk relative to OSU/Bama (lower % of making NFL, less up front $, more class in person), you'd want to limit additional perceived risk (will the coach even still be here, or will I have a new coach who will want to bring in his system and his guys after I've paid my dues?)
January 23rd, 2020 at 12:17 PM ^
Is this really an issue at all? We live in a time when kids enter the transfer portal in droves. We also live in a time where there is a real possibility that athletes will be able to make money off their likeness and endorsement deals.
Do you really think kids are seriously analyzing the longevity of contracts two years out?
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
"If this AD is truly 100% on Jim and wants recruiting to hold-up vs. the OSU’s of the world... s*** or get off the pot. Extend him now. Push in your chips."
Why do you assume that Warde Manual is the reason an extension has not been agreed to? We know from the process of hiring Harbaugh that he does negotiations in his own way. Which is unlike almost everyone else.
January 23rd, 2020 at 2:58 AM ^
As much as I don't like Harbaugh, I agree with what you said 100%.
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:14 AM ^
Even though I suspect you are right that both parties want an extension, they may find themselves in a bind over details. Harbaugh is the 3rd highest paid coach. It is hard o argue the results warrant that. A very good season next year or other coaches getting bigger contracts would help both sides agree at a salary that would not represent a pay cut.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:38 AM ^
Hopefully we dont get Ferentz'd where Harbaugh has a big buyout but isnt producing.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:41 AM ^
If Harbaugh wants an extension, he will get one. I'm sure any future extension will have an exit built in for any NFL job Harbaugh would be interested in.
January 23rd, 2020 at 1:56 AM ^
2 years on a contract is now a "lame duck coach"? Is OP serious?
6.5.0January 23rd, 2020 at 2:32 AM ^
It's going to rain on Friday. Need to start your windshield wipers.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:16 AM ^
Yes. I’m serious. Thanks. As were those three recent articles I posted. I don’t think they were trolling. But maybe you are?
Regardless, thanks for keeping this a great place to feel like a fan can discuss something beyond unicorns and rainbows.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:26 AM ^
Coach has a 5-year rolling contract. Michigan fires him anytime they are on the hook for the next 5 years.
Since his contract is not what motivates Harbaugh, unless he voluntarily wants to take less money to add to his assistant pool or something, fiddling with it doesn't seem to accomplish anything.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:34 AM ^
So you are saying Harbaugh is continuously signed for the next 5 seasons ? And despite being signed for half a decade at all times, the OP and some media articles are worried he isn’t signed long enough ? Lol wtf
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:43 AM ^
He has a seven-year deal. I think you may be thinking of Beilein. Can’t find a thing about Harbaugh having this. And no one mentioned it in those articles.
January 23rd, 2020 at 7:46 AM ^
By all means, let’s believe you over Seth. This is the most non-issue of the entire off season.
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:07 AM ^
Northville did actually cite 3 sources for his info while Seth cited none, so it’s not quite a Northville vs Seth comparison
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:09 AM ^
So, okay, say it’s true, for sake of argument. Is this a common thing to have in a coaching contract? Jim’s contract just auto-renewed? I find this hard to believe and could find no evidence of it. And somebody needs to correct all these sites. If true, Jim may want to clarify how (ridiculously) stable he really is at UM.
January 23rd, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
Ok, so my apologies for the snark. I, like Seth, recall seeing this same rolling 5 years somewhere in the past as well (not related to JB). I too cannot find that article now, oddly. That being said, I do stand by my opinion that this is a non-issue.
January 23rd, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
I believe we will hear about an extension soon. My assumption is they are working out the details. The longer they let that elephant sit there, the bigger it gets. The “lame duck” narrative only gets stronger.
Per the UM Live article alone, it’s clear to me why this could be an issue. And that article has been shared over a thousand times. People talk. Recruits listen. They need to stabilize the perceptions on this for the program’s sake, IMO. Before it spirals. It’s bigger than Jim.
January 23rd, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
I’m sure they’ll settle it, but I disagree that anyone other than a couple salty beat writers are paying much attention to this. I’ve never heard of anyone consider 2 years remaining to be “lame duck”, but if they let it get to next year at this time, I agree that it is something to be somewhat concerned about. I’m guessing that the reason it isn’t done is because neither JH nor Warde Manuel feel this is urgent.
January 23rd, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^
So, you're worried about negative recruiting by our opponents.
Do you think that if they sign an extension tomorrow the same guys won't be saying 'Harbaugh is just one step away from a return to the NFL? Look at the X tribune naming him as a possible candidate for the Y NFL job....'
I think that if Harbaugh wins the B1G next year with a 4 year contract extension you'll hear Franklin saying 'Now he's won the B1G...He's moving on.... You really think he'll stay?'
Unfortunately, according to the press, our Coach just sucks ass and is a huge disappointment. Except for every NFL team that wants him. So we'll just have to deal with that.
January 23rd, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
I mean, it gets discussed so much I haven't looked back at it myself. IIRC the "lifetime contract" stuff in 2017 was a misunderstanding of an interpretation of a clause when his contract re-upped. By all means research the details; I didn't even know until now there was a possibility I had misunderstood his situation.
January 23rd, 2020 at 9:57 AM ^
I know Mike Riley had some sort of perpetually renewing contract when he was at Oregon State. It's what made it so crazy when he gave up that job for Nebraska. He was a local Oregon State guy and basically employed for life.
January 23rd, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
Ok Rileys contract was rolling due to an extension clause which gave him an extra year for every bowl game they made. So not technically perpetual, but given the number of bowl games these days, he basically had a perpetual contract.
https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2014/12/how_mike_rileys_contract_with.html
January 23rd, 2020 at 8:04 AM ^
Such a clause does not appear to be in the original contract. Maybe somewhere else?
https://www.scribd.com/doc/253538167/Jim-Harbaugh-U-M-contract
January 23rd, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
Nope, doesn't appear anywhere else. Sometimes people mis-remember. Happens to everyone.
Harbaugh has his main contract you linked. He's also got the loan agreement with the university.
https://www.toledoblade.com/attachment/2016/08/17/Harbaugh-loan-agreement-pdf
The 5-year "rolling" contract is for Beilein. Also, it doesn't renew every year and become a new 5-year contract -- anythings possible, but that kind of contract seems nuts. It's a regular 5 year deal that becomes a year-to-year deal until either side terminates the contract.
January 23rd, 2020 at 5:44 PM ^
I was going to say, I don't think the contract is the motivation in Harbaugh's case, and the way this seems to work and with the current stance of the department, my assumption is that Jim firmly in the driver's seat barring some catastrophic collapse.