Michigan at Ohio State, Saturday, 12/12, Noo---- LOL NOPE!!!!

[hack]

John Bacon says five teams have interest. In lieu of actually knowing, I'd rank Bacon's information as most reliable.

I don't know how it impacts playing Saturday, but I agree that the two decisions are linked. If the game is played, and there's also an extension, then that means Warde has absolutely no sense of what's good for him and his career. I might not be impressed with the guy, but surely he has the self-preservation instinct that most humans have.

I don't know what that implies tho in terms of resolution within hours or days, vis-a-vis weeks. A handshake deal with an NFL team? Harbaugh announcing he needs a year off before aiming ot return to the NFL? Dunno how that all settles itself now.

[hack]

Big TV money is on the line, and so is Michigan's "reputation". If they don't play, they'll be labeled as cowards (as is seen here) and that can't help recruiting. They'll play. They'll get beaten by a record smashing score, .. and Harbaugh will sign his contract extension in early January.

Personally, I want them to play. Michigan's self-inflicted enough damage already, and not playing would become its own chapter in the rivalry, whereas playing and getting destroyed would just be more of same and not historically notable. On the odd chance that Michigan football ever becomes what it thinks it can again, let's not have that stain. They made their bed and should lie in it, IMO. At this point though I kinda wish we could get Dave Brandon back to be guest AD for the week. If the program is even able to hit bottom, WWDBD thinking might speed up the process.

[Hannibal]

I don't want them to play. It's going to be RichRod vs. Delaware State, but without calling off the dogs in the 2nd quarter. It serves no purpose other than to make OSU eligible for the B1G title game.

[Hannibal]

We will probably find out this week how institutionally broken we are. If Harbaugh is extended, (Bacon thinks that the announcement comes this week), then we will know that Manuel has to go too. In that event, it will be time for another Diag "fire the AD rally" like what we had in 2014. We at UM are cursed to drag our leaders kicking and screaming to competence and victory.

[hack]

Michigan earns enough mockery and scorn as it is, and this would just create so much more of that. Another loss to OSU is just one more on the pile, and quickly forgotten by outsiders to the rivalry. Not playing would be fresh and memorable way to fail is my two cents.

IMO we already know the program is as institutionally broken as it can possibly be. Progress comes one funeral at a time, and until then the only way out is dumb luck.

[Hannibal]

I dunno man. I get your point, but I'd rather OSU fans daydream about what 77-10 would have looked like than actually get to see it.

[Mike]

Amen to that. Although I’m getting to the point that I might want to see it myself just for the embarrassment factor when Warde announces the extension.

[hack]

I get your point as well. I won't ever live with myself if I skip out on the game when they actually change the narrative, so if they do play, I'm going to have to watch, just for that 0.0001% chance.

To be clear though, I don't think Bacon is saying an extension is coming. I think what he and others are saying is that it's on the table, and if it does come it will be next week, but that it's not necessarily going to come. It really looks like they've given him space to go see if he can create his own escape plan, and, if he can't, they're willing to sacrifice the program in order to give him another year to find a way out. If it's true that there are five teams interested, my guess is that it's just as likely as not that he's gone after this year.

[iam416]

Canceled

[lineygoblue]

John Bacon says five teams have interest. In lieu of actually knowing, I'd rank Bacon's information as most reliable.

John Bacon was the only major sportswriter who called the "Harbaugh to Michigan" scenario correctly. I think he may have connections within the Harbaugh family, so if he says he's fairly certain that there are NFL teams with interest, I'd say its true. I'd be surprised, but if Bacon writes it, I'd tend to believe it.

The "extension" takes a lot of the heat off Manuel, and puts the decision more on Harbaugh. It means if Harbaugh signs the extension, he's agreeing to a pay cut, but with incentives to get the team back into serious competition. He is also allowed more money to bring in new assistants, and pay them more. If he doesn't get Michigan back into the Big Ten championship hunt, he doesn't get paid.

If Harbaugh doesn't want an incentive-laden contract, he can choose to move on to the NFL, and it will be his own decision. Manuel doesn't have to go thru the messy rigmarole of firing him. Its a bit of a cop-out for Manuel, IMO.

[Mike]

John Bacon says five teams have interest. In lieu of actually knowing, I'd rank Bacon's information as most reliable.

Bacon based that on info from Mike Florio with the caveat "but he says that every year". So take it with a grain of salt. Also, what level of interest? Like they are hoping to pry him away from Michigan or he's one of half a dozen coaches they'd like to speak to? According to Brown (and I can't speak to the quality of his sources), as of yet, no NFL team is extending an offer. It sounds like Harbaugh wants a firm commitment from an NFL team before he calls it quits and I don't see that coming before it's time to make a decision on his future at Michigan. That time is upon us for multiple reasons but Warde and the admin with dither and ensure we miss out on the coaching carousel while simultaneously screwing up recruiting.

[lineygoblue]

Yep... cancelled.

I'm surprised.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2020/12/08/michigan-cancels-game-against-ohio-state-this-decision-disappointing/6493384002/

[AlabamAlum]

lol

[hack]

Well, they picked a poison.

[hack]

Baumgardner: "Can report U-M had more positives Mon after at least a dozen players tested pos last week."

If that's the case why did we wait until today, I'm wondering.