The Jim Harbaugh Sweepstakes

[BrntO4Life]

If you want a reason why Jim Harbaugh should leave Stanford, just look at the large amounts of college coaches who turned down big paydays to stay at their smaller schools and as such, have faded greatly.

George Schiano was regarded as one of the top coaches in football and turned down Miami to stay at Rutgers, now he is not even being mentioned for big college openings.

Jim Grobe was thought of as an innovator when leading Wake Forest to an ACC championship. Now he is back to mediocrity.

You get while the getting is good and quite frankly, Harbuagh might never get a second chance to get his pick of places in the football world.

You gave us two guys. Personality-wise I wouldn't consider Harbaugh to be remotely similar to either (Greg) Schiano or Grobe. Also, Wake Forest and Rutgers aren't Stanford.

Even with staying at Stanford, Harbaugh has plenty left to prove in terms of creating a legacy for himself.

Honestly, I think it's all going to come down to whether Luck stays or not. After tonight, I don't know if there's much left for him to prove in college as an individual athlete.

 

[Tailback U]

Harbaugh's ego is the size of the moon.

He wants to coach in the NFL, there is no doubt about it in my mind.

I have three friends that played for him at USD before Stanford and they all said he was kind of a psychopath but a great coach (this was before he got the Stanford job even).

I don't see how he stays at Stanford considering his personality/ego. I don't think there is a doubt in his mind about being successful in the NFL.

 

[Realist]

Hoping its the 49ers

 

[Senser81]

Harbaugh's ego is the size of the moon.

He wants to coach in the NFL, there is no doubt about it in my mind.

I have three friends that played for him at USD before Stanford and they all said he was kind of a psychopath but a great coach (this was before he got the Stanford job even).

I don't see how he stays at Stanford considering his personality/ego. I don't think there is a doubt in his mind about being successful in the NFL.

I agree, but I think the opposite. I don't know if Harbaugh's psycho routine will go over well with NFL players, and I don't think he can avoid pissing off the important alums at the University of Michigan (like RichRod did, among other things). Thats why I think Stanford is a good place for him. The alumni aren't on top of him, the players believe in him, and the administration stays out of his way.

 

[Goober]

I'd love to have him in Denver, but it looks like San Francisco has to be the favorite right now. They'll be very open to trading up to select Luck (if he leaves) and it sounds like they'll be willing to offer more money then Denver.

 

[Tailback U]

I agree, but I think the opposite. I don't know if Harbaugh's psycho routine will go over well with NFL players, and I don't think he can avoid pissing off the important alums at the University of Michigan (like RichRod did, among other things). Thats why I think Stanford is a good place for him. The alumni aren't on top of him, the players believe in him, and the administration stays out of his way.

I agree, but what we think he should do really doesn't mean anything. He's going to do whatever he wants to do.

Honestly, I didn't think he was going to do well at Stanford and he proved me completely wrong. I don't think he's going to do well in the NFL for the same reasons but I won't be surprised if he proves me wrong, again.

He knows football and he has somehow transformed Stanford into one of the most physical teams in the country. What he has done at Stanford in just a few years is nothing short of amazing. He's gone 58-27 at Stanford and has taken the school from last place in the Pac 10 to 2nd.

Comparing him to Willingham isn't fair. Willingham had a 44-36-1 record at Stanford and his 1999 Rose Bowl team got beat by Texas (69-17), San Jose State (35-30), and Washington. Stanford was never really that good under Willingham, the Pac-10 was just awful.

Stanford is really good now. They are physically as good as any team in the country at the line of scrimmage. They lack speed at LB and DB but that comes with the territory of coaching at Stanford. Even then, Harbaugh has been able to recruit pretty damn well. I think he is better suited for college but there's no doubt in my mind that he will have to at least try to make it in the NFL, and how could anyone blame him?

Also just heard that the Dolphins are going to go after him as well.

 

[ralaw]

ESPN is reporting that if he Michigan offers him the job he will not accept.

Jim Harbaugh likely not headed to Michigan

We're going to find out a lot about Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon in the coming hours and days.

Brandon's seemingly obvious move with Michigan football -- to fire coach Rich Rodriguez and hire Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh -- appears to be off the board. Colleague Chris Mortensen reports that Harbaugh is more likely to remain at Stanford or take an NFL job than return to his alma mater.

One theory behind Brandon's decision to wait until after Michigan's bowl game to determine Rodriguez's future was he'd be able to pursue Harbaugh after Stanford's appearance in the Discover Orange Bowl on Monday night. The AD appears to be losing the waiting game, as Rodriguez and Michigan's recruits deal with uncertainty and Michigan is now competing with several NFL teams for top coaches.

My belief all along is Michigan should only fire Rodriguez if it could land Harbaugh. The program likely will backslide after a coaching change, and it needs someone to keep fans' spirits high about the future. Harbaugh is that man.

Michigan's horrific bowl performance makes it much more difficult to bring back Rodriguez, a gifted coach but one who hasn't shown the necessary improvement in Ann Arbor. While I still think Michigan can retain Rodriguez and clean house on the defensive staff, most fans wouldn't be pleased.

If Michigan fires Rodriguez, where should it turn? Les Miles? Brady Hoke? Gary Patterson? After watching Patterson last week at the Rose Bowl, I think he'd be a tremendous hire for Michigan, but we'll see what happens.

Stay tuned.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/21968/jim-harbaugh-likely-not-headed-to-michigan

 

[Sharkweather]

He is definitely not 58-27, without looking it up I'm almost positive he is only 7 or 8 games over .500, his first two years weren't that great but that was to be expected with what he inherited.

 

[Tailback U]

He is definitely not 58-27, without looking it up I'm almost positive he is only 7 or 8 games over .500, his first two years weren't that great but that was to be expected with what he inherited.

My bad I was looking at his combined record (at USD and Stanford). Slept like 4 hours last night.

27-21 at Stanford.

07: 4-8
08: 5-7
09: 8-5
10: 12-1

 

[mgoblue2290]

Never even thought about Patterson. Would he really leave TCU during their Big East transition?

 

[Tailback U]

I'm really hoping he and Luck both stay. It is cool watching Stanford take it to big time college programs.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Never even thought about Patterson. Would he really leave TCU during their Big East transition?

Patterson has been offered jobs at bigger schools almost every year for the past 5-6 years and hasn't left.

I don't think Patterson ever leaves TCU, to be honest. It's one of the reasons they're so successful. He knows he can be THE historical face of a school that's been on an indefinite climb.

 

[Obst]

The Jim Harbaugh coaching rumors will be fast and furious today – the 49ers obviously will be mentioned frequently, the Carolina Panthers will probably get some play, and some media members will probably float the Denver Broncos. But I’m hearing the team that made an impact on Harbaugh in the aftermath of last night’s Orange Bowl victory was the Miami Dolphins. And there’s mutual interest.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/01/04/jim-harbaugh-rumor-tuesday-miami-dolphins/

 

[BrntO4Life]

I just voted for what I think Harbaugh "should" do, because I have no idea what run's through that guy's head.

I've always imagine Harbaugh sees the world through warped lenses that turn his life into The Road Warrior. Crazy leather-wearing desert freaks are on his tail and HE WILL MAKE THEM PAY.

 

[f16harm]

I've been quiet, but since obst posted it, I'll just say the #1 team in the lead is Miami. I don't like it, and don't want this guy taking over our team. He has "college coach to NFL bust" written all over him. His style is too crazy, and he's waaaay too green of a coach.

That said, Stephen Ross, Miami's new owner (a billionaire), is a Michigan alum and big time booster. If he is going to make a change, my guess it will be to Harbaugh with Ireland staying as the personnel guy. If Ross decides to do this, I bet Harbaugh accepts immediately.

P.S. Cowher wants $8 million a year + Ireland fired and complete control of the football operations. Don't see Ross giving that out for Cowher. Plus, Cowher is no guru as a personnel guy holding all the cards.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Patterson has been offered jobs at bigger schools almost every year for the past 5-6 years and hasn't left.

I don't think Patterson ever leaves TCU, to be honest. It's one of the reasons they're so successful. He knows he can be THE historical face of a school that's been on an indefinite climb.

Agree 100%

Patterson is like Chris Petersen at Boise State. Those guys aren't leaving for a long time.

 

[Obst]

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross going to Cali to try to convince Harbaugh to come to Miami. Hopefully he asks if Harbaughs mom was ever a crack whore.

 

[Aso]

7-8 mil a year for Harbaugh? A guy who would be a first time NFL head coach. Oh my.

 

[Aso]

And the 49ers fall back plan:

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the 49ers have begun "initial" conversations with ex-Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels about the vacancy in San Francisco.
Apparently the Niners haven't learned from the Browns' mistaken hope that immediately recycling Belichick disciples doesn't work. We don't doubt McDaniels' ability to maximize offensive talent, but in Denver he was clearly stretched with everything else, including picking a viable supporting staff. CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco has previously reported that the Niners' fall-back plan if they miss on Jim Harbaugh is to target a young offensive mind.

 

[Golden Taters]

I don't know why you leave Stanford. You have a cushy gig in a beautiful area with better recruits flocking to your school each year.

Stay the course, my friend.

I would be pissed off if I was in his shoes with the lack of fan support Stanford has received during his tenure.