Michigan Football - 2024 Season.

[Hannibal]

If Harbaugh wants to leave that badly. then I wish that he just would.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Froot, what makes you think he is definitely trying to get to the NFL?. I don't think its binary, either he is or he isn't. I think his agent is doing his job by advancing negotiations for some means by whihc M recognizes that he's in the top 5 CFB coaches nationally. Those "means" are less about money, but parity for him and his current staff would be a start in keeping everyone around for the entire 2023 season, and more about creating circumstances within the program where he's not coaching Michigan football with one hand tied behind his back. Those means are entirely in the control of the policy deciders at M. Things that Harbaugh might want to change outside of what M can control likely involve what rules and structures bound the national game, e.g., advocacy from the President's office on funding a national CFB pro refs organization, uniform NIL and portal regulation, conference realignment.

[Mike]

I'm of the belief that he'd rather be in the NFL. He's in a nice position where he doesn't need a new job but if the right situation were to present itself, he's gone. He would have been gone last year if the Vikings had offered him the gig. We'll see what other jobs open up today, "Black Monday". The Texans fired Lovie Smith last night and are in position to take Bryce Young at #2 overall, for example. Expect another week of this.

[iam416]

I would have thought the Colts would be the one franchise that would definitely pay him. But, yeah...this isn't a negotiating technique. He's not playing 4-d chess.

Thing is, he's not a particularly great recruiter t begin with. The last two years are quite the mixed bag in that regard, too -- tremendous success followed by an open and obvious non-commitment to the Program.

[Hannibal]

Thing is, he's not a particularly great recruiter t begin with. .

He's definitely not bad tho. Or at least he wasn't until the '23 class. Talk about underperforming. Although NIL appears to have a lot to do with that too.

[iam416]

He's wisely moved to the Portal.

[Hannibal]

He's wisely moved to the Portal.

I don't think that's wise for anything beyond plugging the occasional gap. Most of the team that played this year had pretty good or, in a few cases, elite recruiting rankings. Oluwatimi was excellent, but so were the 4* guys on the OL, at tight end, and RB. The talent level of the guys replacing them in 2024 and beyond is significantly lower.

[Mike]

Yep. We have one more good run in us next year and then it's gonna be rebuilding situation. If there's a coaching change this year or next it could get a little dicey. BUT, maybe it'll work. This is why I've gone to Indianapolis the last two years, because you never know when you're getting back there.

[Jeff Buchanan]

While I'm not in the group that thinks Harbaugh "wants" to go back to the NFL, when you consider Mike's thoughts above, a HC change now, may be the best case scenario. An interim could just ride the current roster leading to a new coaching staff hired after the '23 season. You'd think an organized transition could do that. Then there's Ward.

[Jeff Buchanan]

From mgo, podcast, Seth:

Harbaugh contract stuff: Everything is so obviously coming from the agent that you can read his quotes on Twitter. The NCAA stuff is so so weak. MSU fans lol. To OSU fans, nailing Tressel for lying about huge program things that would get him in trouble is not the same as forgetting a burger. More like the difference between nailing Capone for tax fraud versus the IRS finding you were $50 short on your estimated taxes. Seriously, anyone who is taking this seriously never has to be taken seriously ever again.

[lineygoblue]

If Harbaugh is using the NFL 'interest' to bump up his contract with Michigan, then Warde doesn't seem to be falling for that tactic. Manuel seems to be taking the position of "go ahead and knock yourself out" with Harbaugh on this. There doesn't seem to be much going on as far as Michigan scrambling to find a way to keep him. So therefore, if a NFL team makes a serious offer to him, he's likely gone.

The thing about this is, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh moved to Ann Arbor to be near Jim and his family. Harbaugh's young son Jack is enrolled in a special education program that he and Sarah have raved about in the past. And now, he's willing to toss all that aside and move elsewhere. These were supposedly reasons why Jim and Sarah put down 'permanent' roots in Ann Arbor and were planning to be here for the long run, all the way to his coaching retirement. But, I guess not.

I'm at the point now where even though I like the last two years results, I'm ready for him to leave. Be gone, already. Lets get someone in the HC office who wants to be here for the long term.

[Mike]

I certainly hope he stays at Michigan.

[lineygoblue]

I certainly hope he stays at Michigan.

And I'm fine with that result as well, but if that's what he ultimately decides, then make a statement that commits to that decision.

Then again, the "hamburger crime" may end up making the decision for him.

[Mike]

And now, he's willing to toss all that aside and move elsewhere. These were supposedly reasons why Jim and Sarah put down 'permanent' roots in Ann Arbor and were planning to be here for the long run, all the way to his coaching retirement. But, I guess not.

I'm at the point now where even though I like the last two years results, I'm ready for him to leave. Be gone, already. Lets get someone in the HC office who wants to be here for the long term.

To your first point, any city with an NFL football team is going to have great resources in terms of private schools, etc.

Secondly, I don't think the "final destination" tag applies much to any school these days. Notre Dame? Nope. Oklahoma? Nope. Those are just two examples off the top of my head from last year. There's also Carroll leaving USC and Mac Brown retiring from Texas only to come back and coach UNC. Steve Spurrier left Florida for the NFL when he had them at the top of the heap in CFB. Florida State? Nope. Jimbo bolted for more cash. Dabo may leave Clemson when Saban retires. I'm sure there are many others but you get the idea.

As much as we might not want to believe it, Michigan isn't that different anymore. If Harbaugh doesn't ride out his career here, which is highly doubtful, I don't think you'll ever see a coach at Michigan for 10-15 years let alone making it a final destination. If you figure you hire a guy in his mid-40s, that would mean he's there for 20-25 years. Ain't happening.

[Mike]

And I'm fine with that result as well, but if that's what he ultimately decides, then make a statement that commits to that decision.

Then again, the "hamburger crime" may end up making the decision for him.

And the lack of that definitive statement speaks volumes. "I expect to coach Michigan next year" doesn't exactly do the trick. I expected to beat TCU, too.