Michigan Football - 2025 Season.

[Jeff Buchanan]

..............if there's anyone who could move the higherups off their magical thinking, it's him, given his history, success, and standing, it's him.

If Jim's private behind the scenes character and personality is the same as the character and personality he displays in public, I have my doubts about him being able to "move the higherups off their magical thinking." He's quirky and can be a total dick. That behavior doesn't cut it in the boardroom. In that environment, if you want to convince people to your way of seeing things, you have to be smooth and polished. He is neither of those things in his public behavior.

Moreover, football people at his level tend to let "their people" speak for them - that would be agents or lawyers. Once again, in the kind of negotiations we're talking about here, the "higherups" are going to be comprised of Warde, probably the U president and the regents. Trying to get this bunch of stuffed shirts, all off whom are children of the late 40s, 50s and 60s, convinced they are always right and very difficult people to move away from set ways of thinking, is a Herculean task. Agents and lawyers speaking on behalf of Jim Harbaguh are going to get ignored. Jim has to make his case in person. To do that would take a level of personal appeal and persuasion that I've not seen JH display at all. In private life, he may be that kind of person. If he isn't, what Hack speaks of isn't going to happen.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Not exactly best known for his tenure at Michigan, but former DC Greg Robinson died, only 70. Apparently he had Alzheimer's

[Jeff Buchanan]

.......terrible joke could follow Not gonna do it.

Decent guy. RIP

[Jeff Buchanan]

DT Chris Hinton to the NFL draft. He had 2y of eligibility left. Nua leaving could have been a factor in his decision. He's also the son of a former All-Pro DL. Dad and son both had high hopes for him to get to the NFL after HS. He was a boarder line 5* coming out of HS and looked good this season. He's on his way if not a bit green. Could have benefitted from some more seasoning.

My immediate concerns about keeping staff in place are being realized and stuff like this could be the cost.

[WingsFan]

To many rumors to address. Looks like half the team is leaving now Dax, crazy Harbaugh talk all over, good luck to him (if) he leaves, I hope he stays - he's a great man. Oh well, either way it was worth it, hammering osu 12-2 Great Year! Next year is going to be great too.

[Hannibal]

Hinton leaving is a surprise. It’s the only surprise that hurts. So far.

[WM Wolverine]

M will need to outscore opponents next season, defense is gutted with the early entries.

Harbaugh attempting to negotiate with the University to be able to abuse the NIL like some other programs.

[WingsFan]

Yea when eastern down the road has Charlie Batch offering a guy one million dollars to sign - crazy- This 'we are above that' needs to stop, it like the wild west now .

[WingsFan]

Honestly If Jim Harbaugh leaves, it’ll be because the university doesn’t care about doing what it takes to compete at the elite level. Wouldn’t blame him for skipping town if that was truly the case. Big Ten Championship, now he wants to compete for National Championships and if Michigan won’t get us over the top so long.

[WM Wolverine]

Other programs (SEC) have a support staff that is doing all the work to find NIL arrangements for their athletes, M doesn't currently have anyone and this is what Harbaugh is trying to arrange with his flirting with the NFL.

[THE_WIZARD_]

In fairness...outside the SEC very few schools are equipped right now to deal with NIL...

[lineygoblue]

One of my favorite lines from "Red October"

"this will get out of control, .. it will get out of control, and we'll all be lucky to live thru it"

Fred Thompson knew it then and its happening now to CFB. They better institute some sort of NIL cap per team, or there's only going to be 5-10 'elite' teams in CFB, and everyone else will fall in behind that.

But, maybe that's what the NCAA wants.

[hack]

In fairness...outside the SEC very few schools are equipped right now to deal with NIL...

NIL as distinct from UNL. Everyone knows exactly how to handle that nonsense.

[hack]

Honestly If Jim Harbaugh leaves, it’ll be because the university doesn’t care about doing what it takes to compete at the elite level. Wouldn’t blame him for skipping town if that was truly the case. Big Ten Championship, now he wants to compete for National Championships and if Michigan won’t get us over the top so long.

And perhaps so he should. And maybe just maybe the rigid old magical-thinker codgers in charge might be forced to actually think about the logic of what they demand from coaches. Or they should do the press conferences after the OSU losses, and have to eat that humiliation whilst having to pretend that it's actually a level playing field and a fair fight with them and that the two sides aren't categorically different in their approach to academics, ethics and compliance. I wouldn't want to have to keep playing that game either.

Talk about getting non-grad transfers in easier as well. All important stuff. Honestly I hope he wins these battles and stays. Not convinced he's the best guy, but less convinced Michigan can identify who that is and hire them.

[lineygoblue]

I could understand Harbaugh departing if the University decides to take a soft approach to NIL. They'd be asking Harbaugh to continue coaching on an uneven playing field. Asking him to compete for Big Ten titles and NC's with a fairy dust approach to NIL would be like asking a boxer to win a fight with both hands tied behind his back. I'd not blame Harbaugh for leaving under those circumstances. And, no new coach in his right mind would come to coach Michigan, knowing they'd be greeted with a soft approach in NIL. The University may find a Brady Hoke type, who'd coach for free just for the chance to "coach at Michigan", but what kind of results would he bring? Not good, I'm guessing.

We'll soon find out how serious the University is about Michigan winning football games.