Rumors in the sports world can take on a life of their own, and over the past 48 hours, the Raiders have fallen off the face of the earth, and all media signs point to Jim Harbaugh taking the Michigan job.
I mean what else could explain Michigan brass taking so long to make a hire.
With the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention, and rumored candidates dropping out of the race, are Harbaugh and Michigan simply being forced together by this cosmic force?
Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman went to Houston, although I’m not sure there was interest from either side. Les Miles finally broke his silence, telling reporters he’s not a candidate for the Michigan job.
Miles’ silence on the matter, comes 24 hours after the Harbaugh to Ann Arbor rumors heated up. Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski suggest the move was in the works.
Hmm. Les Miles strongly says he's not going to Michigan, one day after Jim Harbaugh became more "available" with 49ers out of the playoffs.
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) December 16, 2014
Michigan is dealing with unpredictable candidates, "changes of heart," etc. But there's a reason this is entering its third week….
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) December 16, 2014
Michigan is dealing with unpredictable candidates, "changes of heart," etc. But there's a reason this is entering its third week….
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) December 16, 2014
Gregg Henson wrote that a deal, “barring a last second flake out,” was done at eight years $49 million.
I can’t speak for the validity of these sources, but I can make an argument for why Harbaugh should warm up to Michigan really quickly if he already hasn’t.
Harbaugh wants to be loved while having control, and he’d be God in Ann Arbor, despite all the politics that currently engulf the university.
Having seen Harbaugh’s work at Stanford and with the 49ers, I would say that’s as close to a home-run hire as you can get for Michigan. After going 29-6 in three seasons at San Diego, he took over a Stanford program that wasn’t known for physically pounding opponents into submission.
After a 4-8 season in his first year, the Cardinal went 25-13 in his final three seasons at the school, including 12-1 with an Orange Bowl win in 2010. Harbaugh’s fingerprints are still all over the program.
Harbaugh then bolted for the NFL where he’s gone 43-18-1 in four seasons with a Super Bowl appearance, and a conference championship game in each of those season.
Harbaugh would jump right into a nasty rivalry with Urban Meyer and Ohio State from day one, and he might actually be the guy to put the Wolverines back over the top in the Big Ten.
He’s a winner, he’s a Michigan man, and he just wants to be loved.
