The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1490206
22 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2023 BY JOHN BORTON J im Harbaugh will stalk the side- lines again in the fall of 2023, looking for a third straight year of Big Ten domination and more. Harbaugh, who spoke with NFL per- sonnel for a second straight season fol- lowing Michigan's 13-1 campaign, made the extension of his eight-year tenure as the Wolverines' head coach official on Jan. 16. He tweeted: "I love the relationships that I have at Michigan — coaches, staff, families, administration, President Santa Ono and especially the players and their families. My heart is at the University of Michigan. I once heard a wise man say, 'Don't try to out-happy happy.' Go Blue!" President Ono also took to Twitter, noting: "I just got off the phone with Coach Harbaugh and Jim shared with me the great news that he is going to remain as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. That is fantastic news that I have communicated to our athletic di- rector Warde Manuel. #Go Blue!" Jim Harbaugh's future at Michigan appeared in doubt at the midpoint of January, despite his multiple expres- sions of expectation that he'd be enthu- siastically coaching Michigan in 2023. He'd couched the expectations with enough "nobody knows the future" type statements to cause considerable angst among the Michigan fan base. Now the worry switches to Columbus and other Big Ten venues. Harbaugh has directed the Wolverines longer than he's spent in any previous coaching stop. He achieved a remark- able breakthrough in the past two years — punctuated by wins over Ohio State in Ann Arbor and Columbus, a pair of Big Ten championships, and Michigan's first-ever pair of College Football Play- off berths. It's reminded many how effective he can be when at the top of his game and with a chance to establish the program he wants. But it also reminded some of his ongoing interest in the NFL, attested to by his two-hour Zoom interview with the Denver Broncos on Jan. 9. The growing expectation in mid-Jan- uary — backed by sources close to the program — involved a cleanup of NCAA infraction charges against Michigan, followed by Harbaugh receiving a mas- sive new contact, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college foot- ball. The contract figures to include a large buyout, giving Michigan some as- surance it could avoid an annual January guessing game about his status. Certainly, Harbaugh returning with a relatively intact staff makes the Wolver- ines one of college football's top teams. They've already been pegged among the top three programs nationally, after fin- ishing in the top five for two straight seasons for the first time since the 1947-48 campaigns. The Wolverines' 13-1, Big Ten title campaign — even with a disappoint- ing shootout loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinal — stoked the fires for even more success. A number of key Wolverines signaled their return, even before Harbaugh's confirmation. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Michigan's growing name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives are mak- ing it increasingly attractive to stay, and one targeted several Wolverines for one- more-year type deals. Valiant Management's Champions Circle, the most prominent of Michi- gan's four collectives, recently launched the "One More Year" fund, hoping to keep key players for another season in a winged helmet. All that's necessary for the full cel- ebration to begin involves the head coach's contract announcement and moving in high gear toward spring football. John U. Bacon, author of several books on Michigan football, weighed in on Harbaugh staying. "There's a great chance for a three- peat, with Harbaugh and his army in- tact," Bacon said. "Nobody can say he didn't deliver on his promise. "Where they are now and where they were when he took over are not related. They were 5-7 and going nowhere, ver- sus this." Bacon wasn't convinced of a total meltdown even if Harbaugh had left, FULL STEAM AHEAD Jim Harbaugh Stays On With A Winning Hand