Most Michigan fans will remember the January of 2011. Rich Rodriguez had pretty much sealed his fate in a 38 point loss to Mississippi State. Who was going to take his place? Would Dave Brandon hire someone who is more of a "Michigan Man" such as Les Miles or Jim Harbaugh? The sentiment was widespread that Michigan needed a coach with experience, pedigree, and very importantly one who would run a pro-style offense. The two names that came up the most were Miles and Harbaugh. Now keep in mind that both names were mentioned before RichRod took the position were those same two --Miles and Harbaugh. To get a more accurate idea of what happened behind the scenes you must read John Bacon's book Three and Out to be able to figure out the hoops people went through after Carr left. We all know what has happened in the last few years--Rich was hired, Michigan's program took a nosedive (although Denard tried to salvage it the best way he knew how), Rich was fired, another intensive coaching search, and then the arrival of Brady Hoke. My question is, if we could go back; would Michigan try harder to go after Harbaugh as a coach and would some fans out there still want Harbaugh as Michigan's coach?
I think in time you'll find most of them saying no. We all love Hoke and the Michigan patriotism and chest thumping he brings to the job. So far, Hoke attacks the recruiting trail with such vigor it's hard to imagine anyone else trying to do so. While Michigan still doesn't have a Big Ten championship in his two years of coaching, I've seen people more united under the Michigan banner now than even when Lloyd Carr was coaching. Sure, a few of us are wondering what Harbaugh could have done in his place. If he can make magic out of Kaepernick in the NFL, imagine what he could have done with Denard!
Now it comes down to who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl? Is it because you have a favorite team or player? Is it for fantasy football reasons (shoutout to Blake in my league for having Kaepernick, Flacco, Gore,, Rice, and Smith). Or for Michigan fans...are you rooting for or against the Niners solely due to Jim Harbaugh? Sure it seemed like he rejected Michigan and didn't even show up to the dinner honoring the 1985 team. Are we going to hold that against him? Or can we all be united Michigan fans and root for the first Michigan player to coach a team in the Super Bowl?
After reading this lost the question in the subject makes no sense
ReplyDeleteI'm asking whether you think Harbaugh is a true Michigan Man or not for turning down (although he denies being asked at different points) the coaching job at Michigan. so, Michigan Man or pretending to be
ReplyDeleteI thought Dave Brandon said he never offered him or miles the job ether way who cares to question if someone who played at Michigan is a Michigan man is kinda stupid he is more of Michigan man then anyone commenting on this blog unless you played or graduated from Michigan or even live in Michigan i wouldn't question if someone is a Michigan man
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Jim Harbaugh. I would have loved to have him back at UM but that is not where he wanted to be. He wanted to be in the NFL. And I can't hold that against him. How would we have felt if he did take the UM job and bolted for the NFL after two years. I do not think we would have been that nice to him. I am happy with Hoke. He is all Michigan for life.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame him for making the jump to the NFL at all. I think he should've showed up at the dinner. Idr his reasoning for not going. But I'll def be rooting for him tomorrow. Too bad manningham won't be playing though
ReplyDeleteIn January 2011 my two teams (Michigan and the 49ers) both needed coaches. I cannot possibly imagin a better outcome than what happened.
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ReplyDeletei for one and i will be in the minority. glad that he did not coach Michigan. i do not think his personality is right for Michigan. no it is not because of Brady. yes he would be a bo type. i just think now days you need a tone down coach. firm, tough and a teacher but tone down.the difference between john and jim are reversed. i think john would have been better. good luck to both but go ravens.
I don't know if I agree with that. Only because he obviously had success at Stanford with that coaching style. I for one would have loved to see him on the sidelines at the Big House. I'm not upset that he is not. I love coach Hoke. I'm happy with the way things turned out. Jim Harbaugh is the epitome of a Michigan Man. That's Bo's boy and he has taken Michigan football with him to the west coast. Love the passion he coaches with. I'm definitely not one of the Michigan fans that roots for Tom Brady and the Patriots. I don't root for the Niners every week, but I wil be today.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved him at Michigan, but he really wanted the NFL, so I don’t think he would have stayed too long. He is a Bo disciple in every way. I can still remember seeing Bo chew his ass out on the sideline and then pumping him up. Yeah, he is not like Coach Hoke. Although different in styles, these guys know each other and are Michigan men. Harbaugh criticized Michigan a number of years back on the academic side. I think he was right at the time. Carr’s ego took a hit and he took it personally. Harbaugh can open his mouth too much at times, but I love his passion. Standford players loved playing for him.
ReplyDeleteI blame Coach Carr for Harbaugh not coming to Michigan. From what came up back then, he did not want Harbaugh replacing him. And we all know how that turned out. RR put the program in the shitter.
The Harbaugh brothers are both excellent coaches and I will side with the 49ers today.
Who knows what will happen down the road, but one of these guys could very well end up at Michigan.
Here is a nice article from todays Detroit Free Press:
Deletehttp://www.freep.com/article/20130203/HSS1201/302030243/Mick-McCabe-Before-the-Bro-Bowl-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Lmfao!! You're asking people on here if harbaugh is a michigan man? That in its self is a joke. Why you would even begin to question that is beyond me. He went to coach in the nfl duh! Why in gods name would he stay in college? Have you seen how he runs his team? Obviously not, or you would know that he is definition of a michigan man. How about you write about the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN then you won't have to reach so hard. Pathetic!
ReplyDeletemichigan man no question
ReplyDeleteIt's not about how he runs the Niners, it's about him as a person. I'm sure Bo would congratulate Jim while smacking him upside the head
ReplyDeleteWorst article ever in this site get rid of this guy
ReplyDeleteHaha, easy man. He was just putting up an article to get some discussion going...that's exactly what it did.
DeleteWho is the greatest Michigan man of all time? Outside of Bo.
ReplyDeleteGreat question Jer89: My vote for the greatest Michigan Man of my era would go to Don Canham. He started as AD for UofM in 1968 and the first thing he did was hire Bo. Attendance at the Big House had dwindled to 67,000 per game prior to his hire. His marketing of the Michigan brand and hiring of Bo, along with Bo's instant winning culture were his great achievements. Not that I would forget to mention the fact that he was also an All-American at Michigan in track & field. By the way, there's no doubt in my mind that Jim Harbaugh was, is, and always will be a Michigan Man.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love National signing day. What an awesome 2013 signing class we're about to enjoy. Hoke is spoiling us. Go Blue!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's like Christmas for football fans.
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