Michigan Football, the 2020 Abbreviated COVID Season

[Jeff Buchanan]

The linked article was written on the 2nd of February, 2020. It's recent enough to add to the current conversation about JH. You can skip through the fluff in the first several paragraphs and get to the meat of the article where the author quotes people inside the Athletic Department.

I certainly am not in a position to substantiate anything but if you take the quotes at face, if Harbaugh wants to renew - and there is a possibility he doesn't - the deciders would be completely fucking stupid not to do so for the reasons stated.

If I had a say, you absolutely have to lock down the 2021 Class and not renewing would create a cluster-fuck that whoever comes in after Harbaugh at the end of his contract in 2021 has to scramble to keep up. That never produces a good look or a winning record.

If you extend for, say, three years now that takes you through 2024 and gives Manuel and Harbaugh time to make a smooth transition to a new HC, not necessarily someone who's been aboard for a few years as I can't see anyone currently on the staff that would be ready for that. Gattis? First, I don't think he'll stay, he'll more than likely move on to a lower tier program as a HC, second, he'd be over his head as M's HC no matter what you might think of his OC skills.

https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/jim-harbaugh-expiring-contract-should-be-extended-soon-by-michigan-football

[lineygoblue]

If you extend for, say, three years now that takes you through 2024 and gives Manuel and Harbaugh time to make a smooth transition to a new HC, not necessarily someone who's been aboard for a few years as I can't see anyone currently on the staff that would be ready for that. Gattis? First, I don't think he'll stay, he'll more than likely move on to a lower tier program as a HC, second, he'd be over his head as M's HC no matter what you might think of his OC skills.

Gattis, at this point, or even 2-3 years from now, would be a horrible hire. He hasn't proven that he can run the offense effectively yet, much less run an entire program. Don Brown would be a 'feel good' hire, but at his age, he wouldn't be able to commit much longer than 2-3 years, making him a stop-gap coach, until a more permanent replacement could be found.

I don't think Harbaugh will pull the same trick that John Beilein did. I think if Harbaugh decides to move on, or just retire, he'll give Manuel enough notice to make a smooth transition to his successor. Harbaugh has a lot of faults, but he loves U-M, and he won't leave the program scrambling around for a replacement.

I wish we could get his big brother to consider the gig. Doubtful that the Ravens will want to part with him now.

[lineygoblue]

Welp, the Freep has jumped on board with attempting to show a long term connection between disgraced Doctor Robert Anderson, and the Michigan football program.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/c...er/4957066002/

But, buried way down in the article appears this little nugget:

The Free Press could find no documents in the official collection that show Schembechler or Canham knew about Anderson's alleged sexual misconduct.

Dang, they were probably hoping they found another Paterno.

[drok]

I wouldn't be so quick to think we are ok yet. I think we should let this play out still before we pass judgement on how good or poorly the university has handled the situation.

[lineygoblue]

Anytime the crimes of a pedophile are uncovered, things are not okay. There are questions the university must answer, and withhold nothing. Full and truthful disclosure, and nothing less.

What I resent is the writer of the column drastically attempting to make it look like Don Canham and Bo Schembechler knew about Anderson's crimes, and did nothing about it. Even his own research failed to turn up that connection, but the headline leading into the story makes it sound like the possibility exists.

[froot loops]

These types of scandals don't reveal a smoking gun and if they do it doesn't come right away. You'll find maybe a few people cover something up but most people believe the best case scenarios and just wish the whole thing would go away.

I find it hard to believe Canham didn't at least hear something but that isn't going to show up in official documents even if he did. They have a former wrestler stating in lawsuit that they wrote to Canham detailing the abuse and he was kicked off the team. If there was a letter I doubt it would be in the official correspondence if they did indeed kick the guy off the team. The lesson to be learned is that this shit can happen anywhere.

[AlabamAlum]

Tell me this is not real.

[iam416]

Oh, it's real.

[AlabamAlum]

But, but, tie-breakers....or maybe the question is: How did they do in the CCG? My memory is spotty on it.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Frankly I'm embarrassed the conference even hands out a divisional champ trophy. I hope ours are gathering dust somewhere in a utility closet at the stadium.

[AlabamAlum]

Yeah, divisional trophies are like hanging NIT Sweet Sixteen banners.

[iam416]

I guess divisional trophies are ok, but, man....if you won your division shouldn't you play in the CCG? The B10 has hosted 9 championship games. M has yet to take the field in one of them.

[AlabamAlum]

Yeah, if you have to give one, just give one - to whichever team won the tiebreakers.

I guess I understand it in the Old BigTen because y'all had those weird ass "who gets to go to the Rose Bowl" rules.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Shut up .... both of yoose.

[Dr. Strangelove]

The whole Michigan trophy case is pretty comparable to winning 2nd place at a golf scramble at a local charity event back in 2003 and still having the trophy proudly displayed on your mantle.