Has anyone ever seen anything like this?

Submitted by gustave ferbert on

Just a question for the board.  Can anyone recall such an obsession for a coach to come and coach somewhere?  I can't recall at any time a fan base wanting  a coach so desperately as we are witnessing right now.  

I don't recall Ohio State fans getting so obsessed over Urban Meyer.

I do recall Lions fans saying Mariucci was an obvious choice but not to this level. 

Saban to Texas? 

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redsoxaa

December 8th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^

I agree that he wants to be in the NFL.  The sad part is he isn't an NFL coach.  His style really only buys him a couple years at each stop before the players get fed up.  Most NFL teams that are looking for coaches are obviously bad, which makes the odds of him getting the team to win a Super Bowl before the honeymoon ends very slim.  In Oakland he would have no shot.  That franchise is simply too run into the ground for a quick turn around.  Same with the Jets.  He is the Rick Pitino of football.

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MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 8th, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^

Ohio State fans were definitely this obsessed over getting Urbz, except that Urbz was conveniently unemployed when they needed a new coach and so there wasn't any need for speculation over his current job status.  The moment Fickell was named interim coach they assumed he was just keeping the seat warm for Urbz.

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flashOverride

December 8th, 2014 at 8:57 AM ^

It wouldn't be this way were it not for the last seven years. Michigan went out and got a guy who was night and day from what the program was used to, and it didn't work. Then they tried the throwback, and it didn't work. I think people see in Harbaugh a guy who is connected to the past but also has an eye for the present and the future, something this program desperately needs. He is also seen as fully capable, which Hoke wasn't, and in full control, which RR wasn't. It's not just that Michigan's lost for seven years, it's been how: with an identity-lacking wandering in the wilderness. 

I don't blame people at all for yearning for Harbaugh to take the reins. But I do worry about the reaction when it ends up not being him, because I think some have become way too invested in it emotionally. 

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Tater

December 8th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^

Rich Rod came in with a track record of success.  It is not the coach's job to "fit in" with a failing program.  The "Rich Rod wasn't a good fit" meme is a pile of shit.  RR was in full control of his team.  What he couldn't control was people still attached to the program who were willing to sacrifice what is now seven years of Michigan football to keep the Inbred Michigan Coaching Tree in power.  

It is the program's "job" to welcome and support the new coach, whoever he is.  Rich Rod didn't fail Michigan; Michigan failed Rich Rod.  If it isn't Harbaugh, I hope the boosters, donors ex-players and ex-coaches who fucked up the entire program for seven years have learned their lesson.

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flashOverride

December 8th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

I agree with your view that Michigan failed RR more than he failed Michigan. All I said was it didn't work, so I don't know where you're getting that I said anything else (I did say he wasn't in control, but that doesn't mean I think that was all his fault). I also 100% agree that the new hire needs to receive full support, but that doesn't mean he'll get it. There are self-serving people with agendas now, just as there were before. I also meant more from a general fan perspective, not necessarily insiders. I know I won't be happy if it ends up Schiano, but I'll still show support. Others may not.

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SECcashnassadvantage

December 8th, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^

He failed to have a good defensive plan and failed to coach up. He was the one that let Bacon, Freep, and some stupid ass fans distract him. You don't think an unpopular CEO has stress. That is why he was paid millions. He sucked and it's on him. There are programs loaded with 3 stars that would destroy Michigan with Rich Rod and Hoke in charge.

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The_Mad Hatter

December 8th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^

because he wasn't smart enough to adapt his offense to the players we had when he was hired.  A better coach wouldn't have been so hell bent on doing it the one and only way.

And forcing the DC to run that idiotic defense (that still doesn't work well btw), was what sealed his fate.

The idea that he didn't get the proper support is total crap.  Oh, I wasn't cheering loudly enough when teams that we should have been beating we scoring 50 points against us?  That's clearly why he failed here.

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MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 8th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^

#1, if a coach has been coaching the same offense for 20 years, why would you expect it's easy for him to suddenly change that?  #2, the point about "support" is totally off.  It's not about Joe Schmo cheering from three-quarters of the way up the bleachers.

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BigBlue02

December 8th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^

So that first year, we run a pro set, and magically we become bowl eligible? With Threet/Sheridan at QB? No fuckin way. It wouldn't have mattered what offense we run that year. Returning 1 starter on offense is not a recipe for success

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bjk

December 8th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^

because he wasn't smart enough to adapt his offense to the players we had when he was hired. A better coach wouldn't have been so hell bent on doing it the one and only way.
He coached Shaun King to a 3495-passing-yard season in 1998; DRob and Pat White are the two NCAA rushing-QB record-holders, and his freshman QB at Arizona, Anu Solomon, has 3424 passing yards so far this year. He has done nothing but "adapt his offense" to whomever he has to work with at the highest levels of success. Lloyd left him (and us) with Threet and Sheridan. They did their best, but Bo, Lombardi and Walsh combined could never have made them other than what they were, which was not terribly good at football. Valid points exist, but this one of yours is not one of them. Stop smearing horse shit on the historical record.

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HAIL-YEA

December 8th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^

is one of the dumbest things I have ever read on this blog. Rich Rod did not fail Michigan? Michigan's job is to give him the resources he needs to succeed, they did that. Rich Rod couldn't recruit here for whatever reason and his defenses and 3-3-5 scheme were terible . That is not on UofM..it's on RR.  I am so tired of all the revisionist history around here.

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BigBlue02

December 8th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^

Unless you think Jim harbaugh forgot how to coach this year, then yes, Michigan failed RR. It's amazing what turmoil and fighting in a program can do. Jim harbaugh goes to 3 straight conference championships, it comes out that he doesn't get along with management,and suddenly his team looks like shit and he gives the worst team in the NFL their second win of the season, making them 2-11 RichRod has a shit ton of success at WV and then takes Arizona to the highest 3 - year win total in at least 40 years in his first 3 years there. Unless you think he just forgot how to coach those 3 years at Michigan, then yes, Michigan failed RichRod

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GoWings2008

December 8th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^

I know a former colleage, who is not retired from active duty military, who when he was deployed to the Middle East had a chance to meet Urban MF'er Meyer.  As an osu grad, and a fairly highly ranked member of the organization, had an office where he pulled Meyer in and had some one-on-one time with him.  He told me he said how much he thought Meyer should be the next coach, blah blah blah, but trust me...it was obvious to me that he, and a number of other osu fans/alums I know who wanted him quite badly.  I don't make a habit of perusing 11W, but I can't imagine that their boards were much different from ours the months leading up to Fickell's demotion.

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The_Mad Hatter

December 8th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^

But it is getting a little weird around here.  I want JH to coach M as much as anyone else, and until he says no publically I'm assuming that will happen.

That said, if he doesn't come, I won't lose my mind about it.  Provided that one Les Miles is hired.

Anyone else and I'll probably have a stroke. 

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big10football

December 8th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^

The thing is, Harbaugh is the best option and he is leaps and bounds ahead of most or all other options.  If there were all these great names out there, then Nebraska and Florida wouldn't have had such underwhelming hires.  That makes Harbaugh's pursuit all the more imortant. Then when you hear names like Adazzio and Shiano getting thrown around, it starts to feel like Harbaugh or bust.  I don't have a lot of confidence that Michigan will actually offer Les.  I think he has made too many enemies here for it to be a sure thing.  If we end up with Shiano, i will not be able to get excited about Michigan football next year, which will be sad. 

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bjk

December 8th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^

that Miles will be stonewalled again this time around. From the "shenanigans" aside in the Hackett presser. From Lloyd offering rare-for-him public comments; it makes me wonder if he is still on the inside committing another round of sabotage. From Miles' presser comments. Prepare yourself, just in case.

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Decatur Jack

December 8th, 2014 at 8:57 AM ^

I feel like we're headed for a letdown/meltdown of massive proportions in the (very possible) event Harbaugh does not come back to Ann Arbor. Our entire fan base will be put on suicide watch.

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maizenbluedevil

December 8th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^

I do too. What I honestly think is gonna happen is this:

- Hackett thinks there's enough of a chance he comes to delay the process. Which frankly is the right call.

- harbaugh ends up saying no anyways.

- miles and stoops get raises at lsu and ou and stay where they are.

- mora and Mullen end up staying where they are because their who's can't handle ring a very obvious second choice to harbaugh.

- we hire Greg Schiano.

- Mgobiard implodes, Brian retires from blogging, u of m becomes UChicago in football, we all become more invested jn the Lions.



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APMGoBlue

December 8th, 2014 at 9:01 AM ^

Good thing Florida and Nebraska hired so quickly... otherwise their fanbases might have built up some semblance of an obsession for an elite coach.  Poor Florida and Nebraska.

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