What are your real expectations if we got Harbaugh
Reading some of the posts/threads on here I've come to the conclusion that some on here may be putting too much emphasis on the ability of Harbaugh. I don't question he's the top choice at the moment, but some have almost deified him. The last thing I want to see is a broken fan base in 3 years because Harbaugh didn't get the ship righted in the righ amount of time. That being said, lelt's play the hypothetical game. We sign Harbaugh Jan 4 to a 5 year deal worth base salary of 5 million a year. What's your expectation?
Me personally, I feel like we may be in another position similar to Hoke's first year. Not quite the same, but similar. a well returned team with some adversity under their belt. I would expect an initial boom of production, a 9 win season. Then a fall off for the next 3 years averaging 7-8 wins a season. It wouldn't be till his 5th season that things really start coming together.
I could be wrong and he shows up on campus, 10 5 star recruits decommit elsewhere and commit to UM and we win the NC in year 2. I just want to keep my expectations realistic no matter what coach we get.
November 25th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
I want this. This is a nice thing. Can we please have nice things again?
November 25th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
Michigan to be what Stanford was before this year. Which I think is reasonable, since that is still basically Harbaugh's team.
But on the real, his 2010 Stanford squad was a monster. And that year that he gave the world the absolute destruction of USC probably had BO smiling from his office in Heaven.
November 25th, 2014 at 7:46 PM ^
The similarities in the type of kids you would get academically are obvious too. He turned those guys into take no prisoners maulers on the football field. Put aside his technical knowledge, which is considered elite by any standard.
He'd have even more access to top athletes in his recruiting here.
One thing people forget is he hasn't won anything yet. He idolizes Bo and it probably drives him crazy that people talk about Bo's failure to win it all.
There is a very personal and massive professional challenge right here at Michigan waiting for him. He always loved a challenge.
November 25th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
Michigan has to realize that in the changing landscape of college football, they are not what they were in the 60s and 70s. Times have changed. The population of Michigan is deteriorating. There is not enough upper echelon talent in the state of Michigan to support one Power 5 team, let alone two. The new guy will have to clean up in the state of Michigan as well as poach guys from Ohio, PA, Florida, etc. The administration will have to allow him to do this, as well. Michigan is not simply "Michigan" anymore. Great players won't come to AA just because "This is Michigan". They'll come because of the top-notch education, MODERN facilities and amenities, and the right coach who will kick people in the ass to make them better, unlike Hoke who seems like a big 'ol teddy bear that's there for the players to love and get by without trying to get better. Top recruits don't remember Michigan's 1997 national championship, and very little if any remember that Woodson won the Heisman.
If Michigan truly is to get better on the footbal field, they need to accept the fact that it is, in fact, 2014, and commercial investment in the college game is part of the deal. If they really do want to compete for conference championships and be relevant nationally, they need to take all of the outside investment they can get. This is one area where I completely disagree with Brian about the stadium experience being generic and commercial, and "not Michigan". Well, obviously "what is Michigan" hasn't worked for about 20 years or so. It's time to enter the new millennium.
The new coach needs to have free reign, a la Saban, Meyer, Brian Kelly, etc. Step back and let him do what he does. Let him be overbearing, micromanage, and abrasive. That's what winning minds are like. Pain in the asses to be around but dang good at getting results.
If not every one of these items are executed, then nothing will change. Alabama realized it, Notre Dame realized it, and I believe even Texas finally realized it. You aren't going to be good "just because". It takes consistent effort. If Michigan doesn't realize this, then nothing will change.
November 25th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
Whup Ohio and little bro - that's a good start.
November 25th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
With two more in early January of 2016
November 25th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
November 25th, 2014 at 6:00 PM ^
Not to make it too crass, but I fully expect a decent subset of the fanbase to, um, have an orgasmic "release" when he is hired, then start bitching as soon as he loses a couple of games and says something dumb to the press.
More realistically, I think he'll be a good HC who will get Michigan back to winning 9-10 games, but I don't think he'll stick around long enough to be one of those long-term legacy guys, as he'll get antsy and want another change at the NFL, with more autonomy, within 5-6 years.
November 25th, 2014 at 6:27 PM ^
To get us a NC. I could see Jim taking the team to two playoffs and winning the whole thing within 5 years. But in those 5 years, Jim will be grooming his successor, so we will be in good shape after he wins and NC and tries a 2nd stint with the NFL. May be Jim will be the next Lion's coach in 2020 and take the Lions to the superbowl in 2025.
November 25th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^
1. Fear in Lansing and Columbus-everywhere.
2. Championships
November 25th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^
We may be the only team with the highest recruiting classes with the worse performing team. This all screams poor coaching. A HC needs to be a great leader to get the most out of his assistant coaches.
Jim is the coach who is a great leader and an exceptional coach. Given the base talent on the team I think Jim will be off an running with 9 and 10 win seasons. Having both MSU and OSU at home could help Jim to have an exceptional year in '15. And of course a big turnaround year in '15 will have Jim bringing in the best recruiting classes! I think he will stay at Michigan until he wins a NC. Then he may try the NFL. But unlike Carr, Jim would have groomed his successor, so we will be in good shape when he leaves.
November 25th, 2014 at 7:11 PM ^
First and for most the fans need to be JUST fans and enjoy the sport for what it is and also support the coach and players. The past two hires have really showed who we the fans are and the division between the two kinds of fan base (the supporters and the debbie downers). RR was hired and right away people start working against the guy, the same thing with Hoke. The school and the football program will never succeed unless they have the full support of the fan base/students and alums. We cant be seperated anymore and we need to act as one. "This is Michigan" quote DOES NOT exist anymore nor has any more power.
I hope to God the new AD and coach changes the culture around here. I am sick of players, "michigan men" and most importantly us alums/fans who expect everything to be 1000% in our favor and other teams to play dead when they see the winged helmet. The old supremecy is gone and the respect from others needs to be regained all over again. What Bo build was killed these past 7 years by incompetent people and a very impatient/aggressive fan base.
November 26th, 2014 at 1:40 AM ^
2. a too-enthusiastic slap of dantonio
year two
1. more of the same
December 2nd, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
This is a fun little trip down memory lane, eh boys???
Must say, some of the posts absolutely nailed it!
"Maximum program potential. Period. If Harbaugh can't win here, the problems in the program are so deep and intractable that I don't think anyone will be able to win. He should be able to max out the program. Get us to whatever the top of the mountain looks like for us."
And wolverines wept, for there were no more mountains left to climb.
December 2nd, 2019 at 8:59 PM ^
Win 75% of the games, with a winning record vs. MSU but lose every game to OSU.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:15 AM ^
LOL, I said in that old post that in Harbaugh's first 5 years he would beat OSU twice and win a NC in his 5th season. Looks like we are not even close due to recruiting. I was under the impression having such a big hire like Harbaugh that we would get top 5 classes and everything will fall into place. Who knows what Harbauh's next 5 years will be like? May be he wins one game against OSU, wins one B1G and makes the playoffs but gets beat by Clemson, Alabama or LSU. I feel sad after the first 5 years but I still want Harbaugh as our coach.