The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 61 N FL reporters, fans and front office executives couldn't get themselves to believe that Michigan's Jim Harbaugh would want to go back to college after being at the top of the professional coaching profession back in 2014. Har- baugh had just won 49 games and appeared in three NFC championship games with a Super Bowl showing in four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before parting ways with the organization. It's unprecedented that Har- baugh, who spent his previous four years at Stanford, would have so much success in the NFL after making the jump from the college game. There are nine former college coaches who became head men in the NFL and posted losing records since 2000. Harbaugh and Super Bowl- winning coach Pete Carroll are outliers, exceptions to the rule. Even more of an outlier is one who takes the plunge back to college. But Harbaugh goes against the grain. He's unconventional, unpredictable, bold, unique, quirky — call it what you will. More than anything, though, he follows his heart, and he doesn't apologize for it. "I didn't make a pros and cons list," the Michigan head coach said during his introductory press conference Dec. 30, 2014. "I really made a decision that was from the heart." Harbaugh could've been one of the most well-compensated head coaches in the NFL, courted by the Oakland Raiders and others. Instead, he did what puzzled many in the NFL and those who don't know Harbaugh. Harbaugh turned Michigan around in his early years with the Wolverines but hadn't won big. He finally did in 2021, with the program's first Big Ten title since 2004 and first-ever College Foot- ball Playoff appearance. After the sea- son, he explored the NFL again, inter- viewing with the Minnesota Vikings in February 2022. He may well have taken the job had he received an offer, too — he's nearly admitted as much. Again in 2023 — following another Big Ten title and CFP semifinal — na- tional college and NFL media members insisted Harbaugh was set to leave if he got an offer. There was certainly a sce- nario in which that would've been the case — he left the door open by quali- fying statements about his intentions, saying "No man knows the future," and "I expect to be coaching the Wolverines in 2023." Once again, though, Harbaugh made a decision with his heart. "My heart is at the University of Michigan," Harbaugh said in a state- ment Jan. 16. "I once heard a wise man say, 'Don't try to out-happy happy.'" There's no question Harbaugh loves his current job, despite once again flirt- ing with the possibility of departing for the NFL. There are plenty of coaches throughout college football that would give it a serious look, too, but don't gar- ner as much (or any) interest from the league. In the end, Michigan keeps its elite coach, and there's no one else in the profession bet- ter suited to lead the Maize and Blue. Harbaugh gets to coach a loaded roster set to return a slew of talented upperclassmen — including Heisman Trophy contending running back Blake Corum and starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy — and a crop of young players ready to break out. * * * For a second straight year, Michigan's New Year's Eve was disappointing, falling in the CFP semifinal each season, including a 51-45 loss to TCU to cap off the 2022 campaign. Wolverine players, coaches and fans hung their heads as the ball dropped and the calendar turned to 2023. Even so, it could've been a heck of a lot worse. In the Peach Bowl, the other CFP semifinal matchup, Ohio State con- trolled the game before a furious Geor- gia comeback. The Bulldogs held a one-point lead, and OSU attempted a 50-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired. Buckeyes kicker Noah Ruggles struck the ball in 2022 and missed (badly) wide left in 2023. Michigan fans breathed a sigh of re- lief. OSU was one kick away from being double-digit favorites in the national title game. And there's no telling how that would've impacted head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes' trajectory going forward. It also would've wiped away some of the damage Michigan has done to OSU by beating it the last two seasons. But that's not the reality we're living in. The Buckeyes have to carry the al- batross of finishing the season with two straight losses, and that sits just fine up here north of the border. ❏ SAYFIE BLITZ CLAYTON SAYFIE Jim Harbaugh Follows His Heart, Again Staff writer Clayton Sayfie has covered Michigan athletics for The Wolverine since 2019. Contact him at Clayton.Sayfie@on3. com and follow him on Twitter @CSayf23. Throughout his career, Harbaugh has defied the expectations of outside observers. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL