The Harbaughnger

January 23rd, 2024 at 5:43 PM ^

It's just more noncommittal clickbait BS because anything Harbaugh will draw traffic right now:

"There’s always the possibility — however small — that these issues snag a hiring. But it would be something of an upset if that happens.

But the bottom line is Harbaugh has decided he wants to jump from Michigan, where his team won a national championship less than three weeks ago, to the NFL.

And the Chargers, who have interviewed 15 candidates, have focused in on Harbaugh.

So this is a marriage whose wedding has definitely begun."

So it's 100% final, but it's not 100%, but it is, but it isn't. But Harbaugh is definitely already sold, but not quite yet, but it's not the money, but he's good anyway, but we might be wrong because maybe this 'snags a hiring'...

I agree he should make the call sooner rather than later, but all these parasitic "journalists" are just doing what they do in 10/10 lead-gen scenarios.

Joined: 08/27/2010

MGoPoints: 7324

BoFan

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:06 PM ^

That’s not a factual conclusion, that Jim prefers the NFL, because all other things are not equal (and by the way the difference in money doesn’t matter at that pay level and it doesn’t matter to Jim).  

The Michigan negotiations hit an impasse. Jim, rightly wants a version of indemnity where he is not penalized for things that are outside of his control and Michigan is understandably not willing to go that far.  You can blame the NCAA for that one 100%.  

On the other hand, with SD there is no risk that Jim wouldn’t be able to coach next year.  Further, they are working to meet all his demands including a friendly GM, his assistants, roster management, and probably what the role of the owner will or will not have. 

Even if he preferred Michigan, this one is an easy decision for anyone to make.  

I expect an announcement by the end of the week once the ink is dry. 

Joined: 03/09/2012

MGoPoints: 19940

BoFan

January 23rd, 2024 at 9:31 PM ^

Following up on a bunch of comments:

It would be too late now if M suddenly agreed to indemnity.  

We know Jim is an honorable guy, and if indemnity and other terms were met earlier, and more importantly the uncertainty surrounding college coaching at M next year was somehow solved, he would have stayed. 

Not getting a deal done was not Warde’s fault   The uncertainty surrounding Jim’s ability to coach due to the NCAA created too many issues to overcome through negotiations alone.

Again, we know honor and integrity are important to Jim.  And because of that we can be certain the NFL was not his plan all along.  

The fact that he turned Michigan around, won its first NC in 30 years, and has a battle tested OC that can take his place made it much easier for Jim to decide to leave. He did what he came to do for his university and he is not abandoning a sinking ship (Though others are in the shipyard trying to build much bigger ships). 
 

Minter is gone because Jim needs the best DC he can hire.  
 

If it falls through due to concerns he may have over control, I think mentally he is already out the door to the NFL and competitive Jim would want to show the “SD” Chargers they made a mistake. 
 

And finally, Jim has always been hyper competitive with Pete Carrol and there is no way he is losing the Chargers job to Carrol.  

Joined: 03/09/2012

MGoPoints: 19940

kwallace2386

January 23rd, 2024 at 9:45 PM ^

“Not getting a deal done was not Warde’s fault   The uncertainty surrounding Jim’s ability to coach due to the NCAA created too many issues to overcome through negotiations alone.”

This is where I disagree. Jim almost left last season and Warde didn’t even offer him an extension. That’s the love thing Jim mentioned. Now, Warde/UM won’t do what KU did for Bill Self with catering to his language. Watch that become a trend that Michigan will look bad on for not catering to. Tom Mars tweeted so. And Self didn’t have the leverage Jim does! No love for Jim there either.

It’s as simple as that. If Jim is the honorable man that you (and I) think he is, then we have to believe that if he got the contracts verbiage and demands he desired, he’d be back. Or else he wouldn’t have said that at all.

This is the NCAA, Big Ten, and OSU taking advantage of weak Michigan, and UM folding, proving their enemies were right in the first place. This was the inflection point Michigan could have changed their philosophy and actually became serious and competing in sports. If not for retaining a coach who just won you a title, it will never happen.

Joined: 09/16/2019

MGoPoints: -17

gruden

January 23rd, 2024 at 10:32 PM ^

I think this is a good point.  The opportunity for Warde to show Harbaugh some love was last year.  He didn't, which began the process of Harbaugh preparing the staff for life without him.

We still don't have an answer of why M withdrew their legal challenge.  I wouldn't be surprised if that was the point of no return. 

Joined: 04/29/2016

MGoPoints: 6063

poseidon7902

January 24th, 2024 at 8:36 AM ^

Let's just say that the NCAA decides they want their pound of flesh and do vacate games and championships.  Did Jim do what he came here to do?  We can't say "The NCAA is toothless" and then 2 minutes later say "Jim is leaving because the NCAA is picking on him".  I also don't buy that Jim is as honorable as some of you make him out to be.  He's currently under contract to coach at UM through 2026.  An honorable man wouldn't break that contract.  We also can't say he's as tough as he wants to portray himself if you think that it's a legitimate reason to break a contract because your boss isn't the best boss you want.  Honor doesn't care about capitalistic drivers.  It's doing what you said you were going to do.  At the moment, he either needs to take responsibility for his hirings and team, or he can go somewhere else to avoid all the toughness coming at him.  

I know I'm going to take some heat for this, but all of this can be true, and I can still want Jim here and still love what he's done here.  But this sainthood we have built around Jim is putting him on a pedestal he doesn't need to be put on.  

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 5424

glennmwatson

January 24th, 2024 at 1:27 PM ^

Well said; it is too late for Manuel, but in his defense (and I normally have no defense for most of what he does) there is no way a major university would indemnify a coach, professor, or anyone else as Harbaugh demanded. Also, once all of his goals at Michigan were achieved, the program restoration to elite level, defeating Ohio State soundly, the BigTen championships, and finally the NCAA championship, what more is there for him to do?  I would imagine the constant whining of the BigTen/NCAA officials, especially when witnessed very little energetic defense from his AD, he knew it was over and planned accordingly.  He doesn't want to be punished for things out of his control, he wants to be wanted, but his job here is done - he knows if he leaves the program is in good hands, hands personally selected and groomed by him, personally.  I believe he wants to climb the next mountain and finish what he started in the NFL.  We should all be thankful for his efforts...oh, and for those chronically complaining about his annual testing of the NFL waters, who are we to critique another man's career?  He has a family to protect and an obligation to explore all possibilities as each of us would do.

Joined: 03/06/2014

MGoPoints: 11

tah15

January 23rd, 2024 at 7:30 PM ^

Put this in another thread already, but I think he always saw this as a 2-3 year gig tops! After the 2015 bowl win, he told the team, "Next year, we go for the big one (i.e. National Championship). Refs screwed him in Columbus in 2016, then 2017 happened. Couldn't leave at that point. The problem was it took him 3 more years to realize Don Brown's scheme couldn't cover Ryan Day's offense. After 2021, Jim said he felt the program was in "good shape" (as in, "I think it's time to leave"), but then the Vikings left him at the alter. 

Just be thankful that one of the best NFL head coaches out there loved his alma mater enough to take an extended sabbatical away from his real job for a while. That's all this ever was. He's been "passing the torch" to his replacement all year. 

Joined: 09/10/2017

MGoPoints: 1071

Yeoman

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:58 PM ^

I don't think it was about the indemnity per se, because it isn't really about the money. An indemnity would be Michigan putting skin in the game the next time the conference or association said Harbaugh couldn't coach his team. He's done with sitting on the couch on game days and I can't blame him.

At minimum he would have needed a clear signal that next time there was going to be a fight and not another self-imposed stint in the sin bin. Throwing the indemnity in at the last minute wouldn't be that, it'd be a sign of desperation.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

BlueHills

January 24th, 2024 at 1:39 AM ^

Maybe. But if there's no "get out clause" for the University should the NCAA say JH can't coach the team, Harbaugh would be getting well over a hundred million dollars to not coach, plus they'd have to pay another head coach on top of that.

That's an awful lot of alimony if the NCAA forces a divorce.

No matter how much love JH seems to demand if these posts are correct, money isn't love. If the man isn't allowed to coach, it seems to me that this demand is has nothing to do with honor, love, or the Jesus stuff he talks about. It's just empty words.

You want love? How about showing the university some, and agreeing that if you can't coach, it wouldn't be ethical to charge the school for ten years of salary to do nothing? 

I wish someone would show the average guy who's laid off his job that kind of love!

This is about about ego, pure and simple. And let's face it, there's some greed involved, too.

My thinking is, he's a great coach, he got us to the dance and we won the trophy, thank you for everything you've done, and you were paid millions for a reason. if you need anything in the future, give us a call or drop by, you're always welcome.

Joined: 10/31/2010

MGoPoints: 7468

Yeoman

January 24th, 2024 at 10:25 AM ^

It's not about ego, greed, honor, love, money, Jesus. It's about coaching football.

When you can't play, you coach. When you can't coach, you die.

He just spent half a season not coaching on Saturday. The next time it happens they won't even let him work during the week. Either the university commits to doing everything in their power to make sure that never happens again, and takes a very wide view of their possible powers, or it's time for a separation.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

BlueHills

January 24th, 2024 at 2:04 AM ^

The idea that agreeing to Harbaugh's contract demands somehow magically erases the NCAA and Big Ten doesn't make sense. If Harbaugh was to be prevented from coaching, we'd lose twice under that theory, because we'd be out a very large sum of money.

As far as I'm concerned, Michigan won when we won the Big Ten and the Natty in spite of the asshole hypocrites in the NCAA and Big Ten.

Fuck them, they can shove it, and let's move forward.

Joined: 10/31/2010

MGoPoints: 7468

Newton Gimmick

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:11 PM ^

Maybe he can do both.  NCAA suspends Jim, he officially stays on as coach but Sherrone is interim in 2024, Jim goes and wins a Super Bowl next year -- I wouldn't bet against it -- so he's allowed at the family dinner table or whatever, then he comes back here in 2025 to win more titles without the NCAA breathing down his neck.  

If you have some straws I will gladly grasp at them

Joined: 05/06/2015

MGoPoints: 33792

1VaBlue1

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:26 PM ^

Sherrone would peace out...  And I wouldn't blame him.

Lets be serious here - the staff and team already know what he's doing.  Maybe not the end result, but they know whether he's leaving with any offer, or only for the 'right' offer.  They won't be surprised by either decision, nor will the staff/AD.  And if he's leaving with any offer, I'll put money that a shell contract has already been reviewed by Sherrone's people.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127087

NewBlue7977

January 23rd, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^

I was on the side that truly believed he would be back at Michigan next year, but if this money is true, and the Chargers offer him a good portion of control, then he is definitely gone by this week.  We can move on with whomever is Michigan's coach next year.  Warde was not the one who hired Harbaugh, so can he be trusted to hire a good fit as head coach for Michigan?  I have doubts. 

Joined: 04/25/2018

MGoPoints: 3342

1VaBlue1

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:30 PM ^

And Warde...

If I'm honest, Warde has been going through the motions in getting him resigned - doing what is viably necessary, but not really extending any effort beyond 'reasonable' for someone with Harbaugh's leverage.  It is simply not a secret that they don't see eye to eye.

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127087

meeashagin

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:48 PM ^

Jim was never coming back to Michigan with a basic offer from LA. It would be different if LA gave him total control or paid him a number Michigan wouldn't match...they did neither yet he's gone.

It would've been a lot better had he left last year as that team would've stuck together no matter what now we have to deal with 30 days of free agency.

 

Joined: 03/25/2018

MGoPoints: 5056

soniktoothe

January 23rd, 2024 at 7:38 PM ^

Is this a serious comment? The team that just won a national championship?

You are over here willingly eating sour grapes as if this team would have won a national championship even if Harbaugh left?

How do you have an ounce of negativity left in your body after you watched these guys band together with the coach they love and bring it home while beating a murderer's row of teams on the way to (and I cannot emphasize this enough) A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

Joined: 08/27/2013

MGoPoints: 2104

NewBlue7977

January 23rd, 2024 at 8:25 PM ^

IF Harbaugh went back on his word and seeked an NFL job because of the investigations, then the B1G, B1G schools and most notably Ryan Day also got their wish.  Harbaugh may have shut them up by winning the championship, but everyone else against Harbaugh won the battle in the end.  They achieved half of their goal.

Joined: 04/25/2018

MGoPoints: 3342

steviebrownfor…

January 23rd, 2024 at 6:07 PM ^

The Dan lanning narrative is humourous. 

Dude has won literally nothing and is running one of the most well funded programs in CFB (including Oregon NIL which you know is juicy as hell).

It's harder to lose at Oregon than it is to win.  Mario Cristobal won at Oregon too and he is a complete hack.

Joined: 02/01/2009

MGoPoints: 10080

ca_prophet

January 23rd, 2024 at 10:11 PM ^

How the mighty have fallen.  Mario Cristobal was a Name in our 2020 Coaching Change doldrums.

-----
Ace: There isn’t a strikingly obvious candidate like last time but strikingly obvious candidates, as we’ve learned, have sometimes peaked. I’d love to see them take a shot at Mario Cristobal, for example, but there are also always guys at smaller schools and if you find the right one on the way up that’s where home runs are often hit.
-----

By the way, I should clarify that I'm in no way, shape, or form trying to dump on anyone for wanting to fire Harbaugh in 2020.  Many people, including Brian, Seth and Ace, were ready to be done with him, and there wasn't a single trend line that would lead us to believe he would beat OSU anytime soon, much less make - and win! - the CFP.

Instead, I'm reveling in the fact that not only did Harbaugh climb Everest, from the fan's perspective he did it by swimming up from the bottom of the Mariana Trench first.  We went from that 2019 demolition, through COVID,  to the fool-hurdling domination in 2021 ... and then kept going up.

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7079