<p>according to ESPN, Les Miles will not leave LSU for Michigan.</p>
<p>Such a shame what we could’ve been had he been offered the job years back</p>
<p>@forever alone - his denial doesn’t mean anything. He is still the “Harbaugh backup plan”.</p>
<p>I really hope they land Harbaugh, although I feel the likelihood of that happening is pretty slim. Unfortunately, it sounds like Miles is not interested. If they aren’t able to get either of those guys, I think Mora is the next best man for the job</p>
<p>Ne1212, I am reasonably confident (better than 50%) that Harbaugh will be our next coach. The fact that everything is so quiet right now and that Michigan is not officially contacting any other coach tells me that there has been a very positive private conversation between Michigan and Harbaugh and that it is pretty much a done deal. There are rumors circulating that an 8 year, $49 million deal has been put on the table. </p>
<p>Some skeptics think that Harbaugh’s first priority is to win the Superbowl, just like his own brother did with the Ravens and Pete Carroll did with the Seahawks and his second priority is to stay in the Bay area. Unfortunately, the only other job in the Bay area is the Raiders job, and Harbaugh is not crazy enough to pursue that option too seriously for several reasons. First of all, unlike John Harbaugh’s Ravens or Pete Carroll’s Seahawks, the Raiders don’t have a pulse. The Ravens went 43-37 in the five seasons prior John Harbaugh’s arrival, including a 13-3 season two seasons prior his arrival. The Seahawks were 41-39 in the five seasons prior to Carroll’s arrival. Those two franchises had a strong pulse. They were stable. The Raiders are now looking for their 7th coach in 10 years!!! 7 in 10 years. That job is suicide. They have gone 26-54 in the last 5 seasons. YIKES!!! Oakland is not a good-coach-away from success. This is a franchise that needs a complete overhaul. They will likely end this season 2-14 with the largest margin of defeat in the entire NFL, after going 8-24 the two previous seasons. Very, very ugly. Secondly, from the Raiders fan that I have spoken to, Harbaugh is not well liked. He will be walking into a potential unstable job that could turn hostile almost immediately. We all know how a coach that is not wanted can be set to fail before even starting. Rich Rod anyone? Harbaugh will not be given more than 2-3 seasons to turn things around. If by the end of his third season, the Raiders do not go 9-7 or better, watch out! </p>
<p>Now there are other jobs around the league, but those would entail moving to NYC (Jets) or Miami (Dolphins). The Jets job is not much better than the Oakland job (they are pretty terrible right now), but Miami has potential. Ironically, the man who would snatch Harbaugh from Michigan is the same man who loves Michigan so much that he has donated $300 million to the University. Ross owns the Dolphins. </p>
<p>Also, many members of the media who are trying to downplay the likelihood of Harbaugh returning to Michigan do not appreciate the special relationship that exists between the two…or the importance of Michigan football. They probably are not affiliated with major college programs and therefore never experienced the intense passion that exists within those circles. They cannot fathom the exquisite satisfaction that comes from coaching a major college program. Not so with Harbaugh, who has been part of a great Michigan tradition since the 1980s and knows how revered a college coach can be, if he is the right person for the job. He did play for Bo after all. At this time, Harbaugh is considered the prodigal son. He returns to Michigan with a fanbase that is very keen on welcoming home. And considering how poorly Michigan has done in the last 7 seasons (the last 14 seasons against OSU), should Harbaugh manage to return Michigan to its winning ways, he will easily take his place in the pantheon of college coaches.</p>
<p>Now one should consider timing. At 51, Jim Harbaugh is still young. He could easily coach at Michigan for 7-8 years, return the program to prominence and possibly even win a national championship, and then return to the NFL at the age of 59 to coach an NFL franchise for several years and win a superbowl. Pete Carroll did just that. He was 59 when he took the Seahawks job. In fact, Pete Carroll, whom Harbaugh likes and respects, was an NFL head coach in the late 1990s (the 49ers and the Patriots) before taking a college job (USC)in the early 2000s and then returning to the NFL to coach the Seahawks in 2010. So it is not unheard of for coaches to return to the college ranks before going back to the NFL. The key here is timing. The Michigan job is now perfectly ripe for the taking. There is no better time to take the Michigan job. The fans want it, the program needs it, the money is good and the talent is there. There is no NFL job currently open that is as remotely well suited for him. </p>
<p>Honestly, he would be stubbornly foolish not to cease this opportunity.</p>
<p>But I agree that Miles is not out of the picture, no matter what is being said…and I also agree that Mora would be a great option.</p>
<p>I really hope you’re right Alexandre. Harbaugh is without a doubt the best man for Michigan </p>
<p>I hope I am right too. But he is very stubborn and proud…and his wife and children are very much in the San Francisco glitz scene, so moving to an intellectual college town may not be cool enough for them. From a career point of view, Michigan is his best option. But from a personal point of view, anything could happen.</p>
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<p>Where are you reading these rumors? Is there an interesting article to link to?</p>
<p>Like I said, those are just rumors jack. </p>
<p><a href=“Michigan offers Jim Harbaugh six-year, $48 million contract”>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000445264/article/michigan-offers-jim-harbaugh-sixyear-48-million-contract</a></p>
<p><a href=“Harbaugh Happenings | Maize and Blue Nation: Michigan Football Blog”>http://www.maizenbluenation.com/2014/12/harbaugh-happenings.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“Report: Michigan offering Harbaugh 6 Yrs/$49M”>http://michigan.247sports.com/Bolt/Report-Michigan-offering-Harbaugh-6-Yrs49M-33944453</a></p>
<p><a href=“Why Jim Harbaugh to Michigan Might Not Be a Bad Idea – BlackSportsOnline”>http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2014/12/why-jim-harbaugh-to-michigan-might-not-be-a-bad-idea/</a></p>
<p><a href=“Skype | Stay connected with free video calls worldwide”>http://www.skype.com/en/</a></p>
<p>ESPN and Sports Illustrated are now saying that an offer has been extended. They are reporting a 6 year, $48 million deal, which will make Harbaugh the highest paid coach in college football. </p>
<p><a href=“San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said to be considering Michigan job - ESPN”>http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12043761/san-francisco-49ers-coach-jim-harbaugh-said-considering-michigan-job</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/12/17/michigan-jim-harbaugh-contract-offer-head-coach”>http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/12/17/michigan-jim-harbaugh-contract-offer-head-coach</a></p>
<p>I hope it works out. I can’t believe umich would make that offer unless Harbaugh gave signals that he would strongly consider the offer. If the offer is turned down, it will be interesting to know why.</p>
<p>I agree Jack. Michigan is only willing to offer Harbaugh this sort of salary. Any other coach will be offered between $3-$5 million/year. I am fairly certain this was a done deal before Michigan extended the offer.</p>
<p>While we are glancing at the rumor mill, word on the street is that our next DC could be D.J. Durkin (interim HC at Florida).</p>
<p>While I hope Harbaugh takes the job, I will have a bit more heartburn as I pay Winter tuition on 1/7/15, wondering what $48M could do for students, which is the purpose of college (isn’t it??). I think we need to address the “college sports” and “student athletes” business that has been going on for years. </p>
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<p>Does anybody like Hairball? I can’t stand the guy and will have less respect for Michigan if hired.</p>
<p>I like him.</p>
<p>UCB, I think college players will like him. NFL players have huge egos and premadonna attitude. They do not take kindly to harsh and honest criticism. Many NFL owners are just a bunch of entitled billionaires who have no clue. I have no problem with Harbaugh not being popular in the NFL. I think he will be fine at Michigan though. In fact, that may be the biggest factor in Harbaugh’s decision. He may be well aware of the fact that his personal and communication style works better in college.</p>
<p>UMDAD, this has been hashed and rehashed ad infinitum. Harbaugh’s salary is entirely generated by the football program’s revenues. Not a penny of his salary comes out of the university’s budget or out of the taxpayer’s money. If a coach manages a highly successful football program, I have no issues with his being paid in kind. The benefits to a university having a high-profile, successful football program is substantial, from enhancing a school’s profile and strengthening alumni involvement to influencing applicant numbers and boosting school spirit. Best of all, it does not cost the university a single dime!</p>
<p>“While I hope Harbaugh takes the job, I will have a bit more heartburn as I pay Winter tuition on 1/7/15, wondering what $48M could do for students, which is the purpose of college (isn’t it??). I think we need to address the “college sports” and “student athletes” business that has been going on for years.”</p>
<p>Tuition and athletic monies are completely decoupled.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/understandingtuition.html”>http://www.vpcomm.umich.edu/pa/key/understandingtuition.html</a></p>
<p>Q. What does tuition money NOT pay for? </p>
<p>A. Tuition dollars are not used to pay for these areas:</p>
<p>Intercollegiate athletics. </p>
<p>Student housing. </p>
<p>U-M Health System. </p>
<p>Student Publications. </p>
<p>Most construction projects.</p>
<p>These are all self-funded areas of the university that generate their own funding and pay their own way. No tuition or tax dollars are used in these areas.</p>
<p>OK - I feel better now.</p>