I know the title, and perhaps the sentiment of this post may be controversial, but hear me out....
Harbaugh is playing chess. Most people on this message board through his first 4 years haven't yet picked up on this yet.
It's taken him time to find the "right" guys. Think of the coaches that have come and gone. Think of the staff we have now, and how the most important folks on it haven't been here since day one.
Don Brown, Warriner, Partridge, Washington, etc.
He had to cast off some old buddies like Drevno. Experiment with a few different coaches like Jedd, and Fry, but ultimately now, he largely has the staff in place that is clicking, and firing on all cylinders, not just on the field, but also in recruiting.
Not to mention, and perhaps as important as the coaching staff, he's finally got the quality of players and the depth behind them that he needs.
QB was a mess last year. Wow, what a difference a year makes. Now we almost have an embarrassment of riches at that position.
WR and O-line are the same.
And as long as Don Brown is here, the defense will always be a strength.
Recruiting has never been stronger here at UM. They are getting a quality mix of highly rated guys that pan out, and underrated guys that are developing.
So with strong recruiting classes, solid players with depth behind them, and a rock solid coaching staff that can develop guys as well as they can recruit them, you may be asking yourself, "what in the hell is the title of this post all about?"
If it's not completely self evident why this year's results on the field don't matter as much as we like to think they do, let me continue to paint the picture for you.
Alabama. That is the goal. They are the standard. Year after year they are in the final 4, winning the SEC, and usually in the title game. They have become the GOLD standard in college football.
You see, Saban is also playing chess. It's not about any one single year for Saban, or Harbaugh (now). It's about building a program that is in contention (and usually winning) conference titles, and National titles every year.
Regardless of the outcome of the next 3 games, we have arrived. We are now a program. We have the infrastructure in place now to compete year after year with OSU and Bama.
Would it be awesome to win a B1G title and head to the final 4? YES! And we have a GREAT shot at doing that. This post is in no way taking anything away from those goals.
Instead what Im attempting to point out is that we are positioned under this coaching staff to be in this exact position year after year after year....just like Bama.
I know what you're thinking, we haven't won anything yet, and you're right. But I can promise you, all of the pieces are in place, finally. As long as Harbaugh can keep the nucleus of his coaching staff together, and continue to work hard on the recruiting trail and on developing talent, the championships will follow.
We haven't won anything yet. We may or may not win a championship this year. For the sake of the seniors, I hope to god we do. But regardless as to whether or not these seniors win a championship, history will no doubt look back on this senior class as the class that finally broke through. That finally established a winning culture. All of the titles of the next 10 years, and there will be many, will have started with this senior class. Built on the backs of these seniors that have been through so much.
For so long the saying has been "Those who Stay will be Champions." And for so long, this statement hasn't been true. But now, thanks to Jim Harbaugh, his staff, and this group of seniors, that statement will ring true moving forward. And thats why I say whatever happens the rest of the year doesnt matter. Win or lose, this year has already been successful. Because from now on we are a program. From now on we are going to win our share of titles. And from now on, those who stay, WILL BE CHAMPIONS!
Harbaugh is playing chess. Most people on this message board through his first 4 years haven't yet picked up on this yet.
It's taken him time to find the "right" guys. Think of the coaches that have come and gone. Think of the staff we have now, and how the most important folks on it haven't been here since day one.
Don Brown, Warriner, Partridge, Washington, etc.
He had to cast off some old buddies like Drevno. Experiment with a few different coaches like Jedd, and Fry, but ultimately now, he largely has the staff in place that is clicking, and firing on all cylinders, not just on the field, but also in recruiting.
Not to mention, and perhaps as important as the coaching staff, he's finally got the quality of players and the depth behind them that he needs.
QB was a mess last year. Wow, what a difference a year makes. Now we almost have an embarrassment of riches at that position.
WR and O-line are the same.
And as long as Don Brown is here, the defense will always be a strength.
Recruiting has never been stronger here at UM. They are getting a quality mix of highly rated guys that pan out, and underrated guys that are developing.
So with strong recruiting classes, solid players with depth behind them, and a rock solid coaching staff that can develop guys as well as they can recruit them, you may be asking yourself, "what in the hell is the title of this post all about?"
If it's not completely self evident why this year's results on the field don't matter as much as we like to think they do, let me continue to paint the picture for you.
Alabama. That is the goal. They are the standard. Year after year they are in the final 4, winning the SEC, and usually in the title game. They have become the GOLD standard in college football.
You see, Saban is also playing chess. It's not about any one single year for Saban, or Harbaugh (now). It's about building a program that is in contention (and usually winning) conference titles, and National titles every year.
Regardless of the outcome of the next 3 games, we have arrived. We are now a program. We have the infrastructure in place now to compete year after year with OSU and Bama.
Would it be awesome to win a B1G title and head to the final 4? YES! And we have a GREAT shot at doing that. This post is in no way taking anything away from those goals.
Instead what Im attempting to point out is that we are positioned under this coaching staff to be in this exact position year after year after year....just like Bama.
I know what you're thinking, we haven't won anything yet, and you're right. But I can promise you, all of the pieces are in place, finally. As long as Harbaugh can keep the nucleus of his coaching staff together, and continue to work hard on the recruiting trail and on developing talent, the championships will follow.
We haven't won anything yet. We may or may not win a championship this year. For the sake of the seniors, I hope to god we do. But regardless as to whether or not these seniors win a championship, history will no doubt look back on this senior class as the class that finally broke through. That finally established a winning culture. All of the titles of the next 10 years, and there will be many, will have started with this senior class. Built on the backs of these seniors that have been through so much.
For so long the saying has been "Those who Stay will be Champions." And for so long, this statement hasn't been true. But now, thanks to Jim Harbaugh, his staff, and this group of seniors, that statement will ring true moving forward. And thats why I say whatever happens the rest of the year doesnt matter. Win or lose, this year has already been successful. Because from now on we are a program. From now on we are going to win our share of titles. And from now on, those who stay, WILL BE CHAMPIONS!
