Michigan State 27, Michigan 24 - Nail in the Coffin of M football

[Mike]

He’s under contract for next year but that’s the last year of his deal. He’s the only FBS coach not under contract for 2022. Keep it that way!!

[Hannibal]

I don’t know what the selling point to Chryst would be. He has a better situation at Wisconsin. They pretty much rule the West and don’t have to tangle with OSU every year (in the regular season). A little more money is all Michigan has to offer.

I definitely think someone who can recruit Ohio is a must.

Michigan has more lax admissions standards too, if I'm not mistaken. Has to be frustrating sometimes to want a kid really badly and have the admissions folks shoot it down.

[lineygoblue]

If he's under contract for next season he'll likely be coaching next year. I can't envision Warde Manuel firing him, especially with all the Covid stuff complicating everything this year. But, this does give Manuel an "out" if he wants to cut him loose after next season.

I have a feeling that a lot of big money folks may be privately telling Manuel to do just that. I don't think Manuel announcing a Harbaugh contract extension would go over with any part of the fan base today.

[Mike]

You have to extend him, fire him, or he needs to retire/resign/leave for NFL after the season. You cannot trot him out there next season in the final year of his contract. Recruiting would implode.

[Hannibal]

I would get Chryst on the phone at least. I'm sure he's not unhappy where he is now but I'd make a hard run at him if Fickell isn't interested.

[lineygoblue]

Possible HC's you can forget: (not happening under any circumstances)

Meyer
Tressell
Chryst
Fitzgerald
Saban
Dabo
Lincoln Riley

NONE of the above will ever coach Michigan. Never. There's not enough money in the US Treasury to get them to come to Ann Arbor. N.O.T. H.A.P.P.E.N.I.N.G.

IMO, Fickell is 75% "No". He's burned his bridges to Michigan. I'd take his DC in a heartbeat to replace Brown.

There are no prominent ex-Michigan players with coaching experience that would make a difference now. Mike Hart is obviously trying to build a coaching resume but he's still a few years away from being trusted with a HC position. He needs to get a HC job with a lower division team and have some success before he can move into big time coaching. And I'm not sure I'd want him then anyway.

[Cody_Russell]

Correct.

Option 1:
For 2021, M could go all in on Harbaugh. M fans will need to learn to be complacent with Mark Richt/ Kirk Ferentz-like results. Sucks, but that’s what Jim Harbaugh is. Maybe every 4 or 5 years, there will be one great team.

or

Option 2:
Tear down the system. Start over with a new head coach. M needs a better recruiter if they want to be elite.
- M needs a better football facility. I’m not convinced Schembechler Hall is anything special when compared to other facilities.
- Bag men/ “cheat.”
- Lower academic standards.

Option 2 is sadly the ONLY route to contend with Clemson, Alabama, and Ohio State. Texas A&M and Georgia to a lesser extent ...

[Hannibal]

Chryst and Fitzgerald aren't guaranteed "nos".

[lineygoblue]

Fitzgerald is coaching at his alma mater. He won't leave there to go to another Big Ten school. Absolutely not.

Chryst was brought into the Wisconsin program by Alvarez. Its like Schembechler hiring Moeller. Would Moeller have left Michigan to coach Wisconsin?

No.

Forget them. Not happening.

[Hannibal]

I wouldn't underestimate the ambition and drive that coaches have. Fitzgerald especially probably has a ton of respect for Michigan. He's not a guaranteed "no".

[lineygoblue]

Fitzgerald would be another Rodriguez at Michigan.

An outsider coming in with lots of hype, and never being accepted.

He's on record as being very satisfied at NW. He's not leaving there to jump in on the sh!t storm in Ann Arbor.

[Hannibal]

Times have changed. And Fitzgerald as a lifelong B1G guy is barely an outsider. I wouldn't worry about a RichRod factor. He's not an elite coach but he needs to get a call.

[Hannibal]

Harbaugh can still pull in Top 15 recruiting classes despite never having won jack shit. Michigan still has some value as a brand. It's still a step up from a lot of places. It's not what it was 20 years ago, but it's still got some value.

[maxreturn]

You have to extend him, fire him, or he needs to retire/resign/leave for NFL after the season. You cannot trot him out there next season in the final year of his contract. Recruiting would implode.

I think that train my have left the station a while back.

[Da Geezer]

Talent has it right. Michigan needs to recruit at an elite level, and they have not been doing so. The cornerback situation is a clown show.