Harbaugh has immediate influence on Michigan's program, Link!
Jim Harbaugh's return to Michigan was an instant triumph long before the first game. When Harbaugh's alma mater named the former golden-boy quarterback its coach in late December, succeeding Brady Hoke, the impact was sudden and profound.
Cocky, driven and often abrasive, Harbaugh has been entrusted with reviving the rich tradition of a program that has more wins than any in college football. Long before successful coaching stints at Stanford and with the San Francisco 49ers (before things soured), Harbaugh contributed to that tradition in the mid-1980s under the legendary Bo Schembechler. Harbaugh remains Michigan's all-time passing leader.
The hiring touched off a surge in season-ticket packages to just less than 90,000 before sales were cut off. Student ticket sales also soared. A year ago, Michigan had the 37th-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Today it is ninth.
Of course, the Wolverines also had to produce on the field, and they have done that, obliterating the memory of last season's 5-7 record. They are 8-2, although it should be 9-1 if not for the punter freakishly fumbling away a win over Michigan State in the final seconds.
Penn State coach James Franklin was asked if he noticed a Harbaugh effect. Not specifically, he said in so many words, perhaps leery of handing Michigan a recruiting edge (however slight). He acknowledged the “whole staff has had an impact” while noting the preponderance of seniors — 18 at one point — who have started. “They're the oldest team in the country,” Franklin said.
The same question about Harbaugh was posed to Matt Millen, the former Penn State linebacker who is the lead analyst on Big Ten Network broadcasts. The answer was different. “Oh yeah,” Millen said. “Not even close. You can see (his impact) immediately. The easy part is to see the attitude of the kids.”
Starting in the spring, Harbaugh honed in on basic football — “hitting and running through plays and just playing,” Millen said. “You only get so many hours to practice. And when it got to (preseason) camp, it continued.”
But the biggest thing, Millen said, is that “players at any level, if they see a coach who can help them get better, they'll latch on to him.” He cited Jake Rudock. After early-season struggles, the Iowa transfer might be the best quarterback in the Big Ten. “He made Rudock a better player, and he did it in stages,” Millen said.
Harbaugh played 14 NFL seasons. His last career gasp came in 2001, when he was cut by the Detroit Lions during training camp. Millen, the team's first-year CEO, was part of the decision. “Jim,” Millen said he told Harbaugh, “you need to coach.”
LINK
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pennstate/9458938-74/michigan-yds-harbaugh
Bob Cohn is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at bcohn@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCohn_Trib.
Jim Harbaugh's return to Michigan was an instant triumph long before the first game. When Harbaugh's alma mater named the former golden-boy quarterback its coach in late December, succeeding Brady Hoke, the impact was sudden and profound.
Cocky, driven and often abrasive, Harbaugh has been entrusted with reviving the rich tradition of a program that has more wins than any in college football. Long before successful coaching stints at Stanford and with the San Francisco 49ers (before things soured), Harbaugh contributed to that tradition in the mid-1980s under the legendary Bo Schembechler. Harbaugh remains Michigan's all-time passing leader.
The hiring touched off a surge in season-ticket packages to just less than 90,000 before sales were cut off. Student ticket sales also soared. A year ago, Michigan had the 37th-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Today it is ninth.
Of course, the Wolverines also had to produce on the field, and they have done that, obliterating the memory of last season's 5-7 record. They are 8-2, although it should be 9-1 if not for the punter freakishly fumbling away a win over Michigan State in the final seconds.
Penn State coach James Franklin was asked if he noticed a Harbaugh effect. Not specifically, he said in so many words, perhaps leery of handing Michigan a recruiting edge (however slight). He acknowledged the “whole staff has had an impact” while noting the preponderance of seniors — 18 at one point — who have started. “They're the oldest team in the country,” Franklin said.
The same question about Harbaugh was posed to Matt Millen, the former Penn State linebacker who is the lead analyst on Big Ten Network broadcasts. The answer was different. “Oh yeah,” Millen said. “Not even close. You can see (his impact) immediately. The easy part is to see the attitude of the kids.”
Starting in the spring, Harbaugh honed in on basic football — “hitting and running through plays and just playing,” Millen said. “You only get so many hours to practice. And when it got to (preseason) camp, it continued.”
But the biggest thing, Millen said, is that “players at any level, if they see a coach who can help them get better, they'll latch on to him.” He cited Jake Rudock. After early-season struggles, the Iowa transfer might be the best quarterback in the Big Ten. “He made Rudock a better player, and he did it in stages,” Millen said.
Harbaugh played 14 NFL seasons. His last career gasp came in 2001, when he was cut by the Detroit Lions during training camp. Millen, the team's first-year CEO, was part of the decision. “Jim,” Millen said he told Harbaugh, “you need to coach.”
LINK
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pennstate/9458938-74/michigan-yds-harbaugh
Bob Cohn is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at bcohn@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCohn_Trib.
