I don’t know how this turns out, but I do have some insight into what is a real dilemma for Jim. We all know that there are a handful of schools that operate like feeder teams for the NFL in all but name. They have been called programs that are “loosely affiliated with schools” for reasons well known to all of us. Bottom line, if your sole goal in life is to get to the NFL or bust, then these schools make a lot of sense. But if you view your life as much more than a pro career, indeed, one that could and should include both a potential NFL career and something meaningful beyond, then the Michigan and Notre Dames (among others) of the college football world should always be given serious consideration.
That said, no matter how much you believe in the sanctity of student athletes, and how much you wouldn’t want it any other way because of your own personal beliefs and coaching philosophy, as the head coach of one of these schools that tries to operate as much more than an NFL feeder, it is not easy to slug it out with the Alabama, Clemson and OSUs on the field. It is an advantage that is not so simple to overcome, one that gnaws away at you. And it isn’t going away, it is getting worse.
On the other hand, in the NFL, the playing field is more even. The draft process is designed to spur competitiveness and front offices (in conjunction with coaching staffs) can make a difference through trades, talent assessment, etc. Although certain teams are consistently successful due to one factor or another, the teams that get to and stay at the top are much more fungible than what we see with the college game (notwithstanding the exceptions in the past that are bound to happen). In short, it is an environment where as a head coach you are going to feel like you can compete at the highest level without any inherent competitive disadvantages. Yes, you may not have as much talent to start with as other teams you will coach against, but if you are good, you can get there, eventually.
Unless there are real changes in the college game (don’t get me started with the NCAA which operates more as a shield for these feeder schools than a sword), it is unlikely we are going to see much different at the top than what we have been seeing for the last 5-8 years. It doesn’t mean that if you are at a school like Notre Dame and Michigan (among a few others) where you can still recruit high level talent, you can’t get your team into the playoffs on occasion. You should be able to do that if you coach at one of these elite name schools, and Harbaugh would admit as much. But when you are facing an OSU year after year with the football based advantages that it has and you don’t see that world changing much if at all, the NFL is going to look enticing. I suspect Harbaugh would like to face Meyer or Saban or Dabo at the NFL level. And perhaps he will, some day.
But Jim came to Michigan to get something done that he hasn’t achieved, and he strongly believes that colleges are suppose to do more for kids than just prepare them for the NFL. So my money is still on him staying and playing a card game where he doesn’t have the strongest hands year after year because he still believes he will win, eventually. I would look for him to make a move then, not now. That may be part of what is on the table with these negotiations. Just my two cents there, however.
That said, no matter how much you believe in the sanctity of student athletes, and how much you wouldn’t want it any other way because of your own personal beliefs and coaching philosophy, as the head coach of one of these schools that tries to operate as much more than an NFL feeder, it is not easy to slug it out with the Alabama, Clemson and OSUs on the field. It is an advantage that is not so simple to overcome, one that gnaws away at you. And it isn’t going away, it is getting worse.
On the other hand, in the NFL, the playing field is more even. The draft process is designed to spur competitiveness and front offices (in conjunction with coaching staffs) can make a difference through trades, talent assessment, etc. Although certain teams are consistently successful due to one factor or another, the teams that get to and stay at the top are much more fungible than what we see with the college game (notwithstanding the exceptions in the past that are bound to happen). In short, it is an environment where as a head coach you are going to feel like you can compete at the highest level without any inherent competitive disadvantages. Yes, you may not have as much talent to start with as other teams you will coach against, but if you are good, you can get there, eventually.
Unless there are real changes in the college game (don’t get me started with the NCAA which operates more as a shield for these feeder schools than a sword), it is unlikely we are going to see much different at the top than what we have been seeing for the last 5-8 years. It doesn’t mean that if you are at a school like Notre Dame and Michigan (among a few others) where you can still recruit high level talent, you can’t get your team into the playoffs on occasion. You should be able to do that if you coach at one of these elite name schools, and Harbaugh would admit as much. But when you are facing an OSU year after year with the football based advantages that it has and you don’t see that world changing much if at all, the NFL is going to look enticing. I suspect Harbaugh would like to face Meyer or Saban or Dabo at the NFL level. And perhaps he will, some day.
But Jim came to Michigan to get something done that he hasn’t achieved, and he strongly believes that colleges are suppose to do more for kids than just prepare them for the NFL. So my money is still on him staying and playing a card game where he doesn’t have the strongest hands year after year because he still believes he will win, eventually. I would look for him to make a move then, not now. That may be part of what is on the table with these negotiations. Just my two cents there, however.
