The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1334389
20 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2021 an almost unfathomable amount but not surprising given the absence of ticket revenue, luxury boxes and club seating, concessions and other moneymakers that accompany the department's biggest bread winner. Cost-cutting measures, such as busses instead of plane rides for bas- ketball and other programs to most Big Ten venues (even Penn State and Purdue), only go so far. Had Manuel terminated Har- baugh, he also would have had to pay the buyouts for several assis- tant coaches. It was estimated that would approach $11 million, includ- ing $6.4 million for the remainder of Harbaugh's original seven-year deal that was originally set to expire three days after the final game of the 2021 season. Bringing in another coach would also have included a huge price tag for a search, the possibility of a hefty buyout for a replacement and new salaries for his staff, as well. But convenience and cost weren't the only considerations in play. With better luck (or a better whistle in Co- lumbus in 2016), Harbaugh would likely have made two Big Ten title games in his first four years on the job. U-M would have clinched the 2018 East Division title a week before the showdown at OSU had Maryland completed an easy two-point con- version pass to win a week earlier against the Buckeyes. Even this year's 2-4 record, which included a horrible loss to Michigan State, the first setback to an Indiana team in 33 years and the worst home loss since 1935 in a 49-11 blowout against Wisconsin, was somewhat explainable. U-M lost its top receiver (Nico Collins) and cornerback (Am- bry Thomas) to opt-outs before the season even began, was without several of its other best players — junior defensive end Aidan Hutchin- son, redshirt sophomore linebacker Cameron McGrone, redshirt sopho- more offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield and senior safety Brad Hawkins, to name a few — for extended periods and never got into a rhythm. Both starting quarterbacks, first Joe Milton and then Cade McNamara, played through significant injuries, as well. The absence of spring ball, too, limited the time to develop capable back-ups on both sides of the ball. For an offensive line that needed to replace four starters, as one example, missing spring ball was disastrous. It became even tougher when May- field, left tackle Ryan Hayes and cen- ter Andrew Vastardis missed time due to injury. "That was the biggest thing that kept me awake at night," offensive line coach Ed Warinner admitted this fall. "How to get all these guys [work]. They just don't have a lot of game experience." A 'FAIR DEAL FOR ALL' Regardless, there were many around the country surprised at the extension news. National columnists wrote of Harbaugh's failure to win a title (though he did capture a Big Ten East Division co-championship in 2018, the Wolverines were plastered by Ohio State and didn't go to the Big Ten title game) and his 0-5 record against the Buckeyes. Had the same incentives been on the table during his first contract, Harbaugh wouldn't have earned any of them. His 49-22 record is solid, and he nearly made the Big Ten title game twice, but he earned $8.054 million last year per USA Today while finish- ing 2-4 with two games canceled due to COVID. The Wolverines were a 30-point un- derdog in the game with Ohio State before it was canceled. For all those reasons, Michigan pro- fessor and author John U. Bacon noted, Harbaugh was offered a contract that's rare in this day and age, including a favorable buyout for both sides. "[Manuel] crafted a contract that actually made sense … he cut Har- baugh's salary from $8 million a year to $4 million, with incentives to make up the difference if Harbaugh beats Ohio State, wins the Big Ten and takes Harbaugh will be guaranteed $4 million in 2021, $4.1 million in 2022, $4.2 million in 2023, $4.3 million in 2024 and $4.4 million in 2025. His salary for next season will be less than half of the $8.054 million he was paid in 2020 according to USA Today. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Michigan professor and author John U. Bacon "[Director of athletics Warde Manuel] crafted a contract that actually made sense … he cut Harbaugh's salary from $8 million a year to $4 million, with incentives to make up the difference if Harbaugh beats Ohio State, wins the Big Ten and takes the national title."