The University of Michigan Football team has done well the past two seasons. In the 2021-22 Season we went 12-2. This season, we were even better with a record of 13-1. In these two years, we beat Ohio State two times, were back-to-back Big Ten Champs, and went to the College Championship Playoffs losing in the first round both times. We did not beat Michigan State in 2021 but did so this year.
Coach Harbaugh was named Head Football Coach on December 30, 2014. There was a lot of hype as Harbaugh was a quarterback under Bo Schembechler in the 1980s and was thus a “Michigan Man” taking over the program. The expectations were high, after the dismal Rich Rod and Brady Hoke eras, that Harbaugh would lead us quickly to national prominence again. In his first two season, 2015 and 2016, he had 10-3 records. He won a bowl game in his first year and then lost in the second. Yes. We were feeling good. We thought we were back.
In 2017, he went 8-5. In 2018 and 2019, 8-5 (ugh) and then 10-3 again. In 2019, the team was 9-14. He had yet to beat Ohio State where Urban Meyer seemed to have his number. He also only won one bowl game which was in his first year. In the 2020 Covid season, he posted a dismal 2-4 record and had his contract negotiated down. In 2019 and 2020, the fan base became impatient with Harbaugh. They wanted that return to glory and they were tired of waiting. They desperately wanted a win against Ohio State. While we won a few games against Michigan State, we were not dominating that series the way the fan base wanted. The 2020 game against them was a horror show. A Covid outbreak on the team saved us from having to play, and presumably lose to Ohio State in 2020.
So, after the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the social media buzz on the fan pages was for a coaching change. There were all kinds of absurd head coach suggestions including Urban Meyer (as if that were ever going to happen). The more football, and business savvy, argued against knee jerk coaching changes. There is always circumstances where a coaching change might be in order. But there are two parts to this. Part one is, of course, dismissing the current coach. This is easy to do both Nebraska and Wisconsin did that mid-season this year. You can always fire someone. It is the easy part. The hard part is the part two, hiring a new coach. You want to secure someone who will not only do better than the previous coach but can build a winning program that the university and fan base can be proud of for many years.
As soon as this season ended, there was the usual end of the season talk about our coach, Jim Harbaugh, and his possible going back to the NFL. The Denver Broncos seemed to be a real possibility. Again, the fickle fan base chimed in with all kinds of ideas from Tom Brady to Charles Woodson. Really? Can a program with a heritage like Michigan’s take a chance on hiring a head coach with no coaching experience let alone no head coaching experience? No, I think not. I remember Notre Dame taken a major gamble in 1981 when they hired Gerry Faust, a successful high school coach at Cincinnati Moeller. He lasted five seasons amassing an unimpressive, from Notre Dame standards, record of 30-26-1.
I hope Michigan retains Harbaugh. His past two seasons have been spectacular. Maintaining that level and building off that kind of success is what we need. To keep him we have to pay him what he is worth. The fan base has complained in a couple of different ways. First, they claim he cannot win bowl games. Sure he is like 1-8 in bowl games. Two years ago they were complaining that he couldn’t win any big games and included Michigan State, Ohio State, and bowl games as big games. Me? Give me a 12-2 or 13-1 season every year and I am a pretty happy fan. Second, they complain he is not really dedicated to the University with the reasoning that he shouldn’t be looking if he were a real Michigan Man. While that makes sense to a passionate fan, like many of us are, that live and die with each win and loss of our beloved team. But coaches can have two loyalties. Of course, Harbaugh is dedicated to Michigan. He was a quarterback here and now a coach. He is a Michigan Man without a doubt. Coaches also know there is a huge business component to all of this, especially when millions of dollars a year are involved in their salaries are involved. I love where I teach but double my salary and I would move to another university in a heartbeat. If Harbaugh is offered millions more, why wouldn’t he take it?
I hope Michigan gives Jim Harbaugh the raise he has earned. I hope he stays and continues to build the program and continues to win especially against our biggest rivals in state and in that state down south.
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