I have for you three (3) things for this post, that originally would have been a board post if not for us collectively digesting a lot of Michigan stuff at once.
First, some housekeeping. We’ve found that daily posts for Michigan a la the Breakfast Kegger didn’t always make sense. I don’t think it makes sense to recreate the content wheel, since in peak season, you’ll find quality, daily or near-daily Michigan content other places. It’s not our niche, and that happens!
It might make sense, though, for a weekly aggregate/roundup of the latest Michigan news as it happens. I’ve tentatively rebranded it to be the “Michigan Minutia,” because of course a Michigan writer has to use an SAT word, but we’ll see if I still like that this time next week.
No better time than for this to be our first edition, because there’s something to discuss!
Is Anyone Surprised?
The Athletic is reporting that Jim Harbaugh would absolutely take an NFL job if offered one. Described by a source as a “done deal,” Bruce Feldman, Nicole Auerbach, Austin Meek, and Nick Kosmider have all contributed to the story.
This is, of course, nothing new. We’re roughly one year removed from Harbaugh’s flirtation with the Minnesota Vikings just last year. Though he’s vocally committed to staying at Michigan as long as they’d have him, the allure of a Super Bowl is far too great. Again.
Some initial takes on the reporting itself:
- Looking at the contributors, it’s probably for real. This isn’t coming from the NFL side of the house, who’ll float a good college coach’s name around when a coach gets fired and there’s nothing better to talk about. Having both Auerbach and Meek on this story feels pretty well-vetted. As much as I want to be cynical, I can’t be.
- Dammit, Bruce Feldman. Feldman, as we know, lives in the vents above Jim Harbaugh’s office. I don’t think he would have contributed to this if he didn’t know what Auerbach and Meek did, if not more.
- The Broncos have an ownership group ready to drop a bag. Something about seeing Jim Harbaugh meeting Lewis Hamilton is hilarious to me. Jim Harbaugh is on a strict milk and steak diet, and Lewis Hamilton is a devout vegan. This isn’t to discount the Colts, who are similarly desperate, but it’s less funny to think about (even if Jim Irsay is a fuckin’ weirdo).
Will He Stay or Will He Go?
Harbaugh said as recently as Dec. 4 that he would be “enthusiastically” returning to Michigan next season. He also says this shit all the time. His tenure with Michigan is Schrödinger’s cat; he’s neither staying nor leaving.
If Jim Harbaugh could, I think he would very seriously coach two teams at once. That said, he can’t. With no other knowledge, but a generally solid understanding of Harbaugh’s psyche and the state of Michigan’s program, I could see either option happening.
The Case For Staying
Jim Harbaugh was one play away from the National Championship. Sure, I think he did not adequately prepare the team, and the game plan reeked of arrogance. (I’ll break down the semifinal… eventually.) But he’s on the cusp of college football’s highest honor. Despite a down year in recruiting, he and his staff did well in the portal. He’s got continuity and depth on both sides of the ball.
Michigan feels like it’s in an elite window. There’s an opportunity for him to win a prize sooner rather than later, and we know that winning is almost as important to him as the money. Harbaugh’s terminal coach brain couldn’t possibly leave when he’s so fucking close to the whole thing.
Why leave when you’re so close to winning it all? Give it one more year, one more try. If the third time isn’t the charm, move on. Or, even better, if you win a natty, you can pursue a Super Bowl and try for the pinnacles of both levels of the sport. Michigan is still in a good place; it’s not quite time to move on.
The Case for Leaving
Harbaugh cannot ignore the allure of a Super Bowl. It is the siren that calls him to sea. In his mind, it’ll never hold a candle to the pinnacle of college football.
Unlike Minnesota, there are teams that he could build virtually from scratch. Denver and Indianapolis need coaches quick, and both teams seem desperate enough to give Harbaugh whatever he wants. Not just monetarily, either — he will want complete control in shifting the team’s dynamic and culture, and the Colts or Broncos would do well to give it to him.
There were rumors as Harbaugh left San Francisco that his schtick was getting stale. I’m sure he grates on professionals — he grates on me, for Christ’s sake! But if eccentrics like Dan Campbell are having a renaissance on the pro side, Jim Harbaugh might get more grace in the locker room than he was previously afforded.
Just as the window feels open for him to win a natty at Michigan, there’s a window for him to take on a new challenge, one objectively harder than the problem he had when he first came to Ann Arbor. He could leave, knowing the program is in great shape and his relationship to his alma mater isn’t fully damaged, and chase a ring.
The Ideal Scenario
If he’s staying, Harbaugh dismisses the rumors concretely. He does so quickly. If he wants to stay but money is an obstacle, the Athletic Department tries to get him a better salary number, and we’re done with this shit.
If not? I want it done as soon as humanly possible. I hope the talks have been in the works for a while and Jim Irsay is dipping into his cocaine budget to give Jim Harbaugh more money than he can count. Find someone while the picking is still good, give staff and players an opportunity to decide if they’re staying or going, and move on. The longer this drags out, the less amicable the relationship would be.
I don’t have any hot board thoughts, but I’ll try to compile some soon. The priority, in my opinion, is keeping Minter and at least one of the co-OC’s around (preferably Moore). Minter isn’t quite ready to elevate to a head coaching role, and while Moore could be ready for a head coaching job, I’m not sure Michigan in particular would take the leap.
Either way, the program isn’t in shambles. They’ve finally crossed the threshold against their major rival. There’s potential for even more. Jim Harbaugh is leaving something better than he found it.