The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510053
30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2023 M ichigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has made it clear for a while he was open to a new contract from Michigan. While the line has been the A.D. would wait until the end of NCAA proceedings into alleged illegal contact with recruits — one that cost Harbaugh a three-game suspension, imposed by the school — it is now in the works and expected to be completed soon, perhaps by the end of October. It comes at a good time. FOX ana- lyst Joel Klatt said on Colin Cowherd's ESPN show he'd be stunned if Harbaugh weren't among the top three options for every NFL team with an opening in Janu- ary. "Michigan State's now a mess," Cow- herd said. "Ohio State is behind Michigan. So … he's checked every single box. It's just a natty [left], and this is the year, be- cause Georgia and 'Bama are down. "So … here's my thing. Just throw it out there. Let's say he wins the natty — and I do think they're the best team. Their quarterback is playing excellent. He's fi- nally got an NFL dude … does he stay?" There's a "lot at play here," Klatt re- sponded … and he's right. Especially now. "I don't think just a simple answer will do. No. 1 is, he is a very competi- tive person," Klatt said. "And he has suc- ceeded everywhere he's been, including the NFL. … As a competitive guy, do you think in the back of his mind he thinks to himself, 'Man — we were that close to winning a Super Bowl [in San Francisco].' I wonder if the competitive juices would get him to go? [But] the dynamic with him and his leadership at Michigan is interesting. I believe that there is some tension, and it's the reason why the pres- ident [Santa Ono] had to jump in and do the new contract. I just know that there's some tension. "And by the way, it has seeped into this 'self-imposed' suspension this year. Michigan suspended him. Of course [he didn't want that]. That's why his players had a 'Free Harbaugh' shirt on. They're not taking a shot at the NCAA, right? Read between the lines." While the optics might not be great — inking Harbaugh to a new deal when the NCAA still hasn't ruled the three-game suspension will be enough to satisfy them (keeping in mind the NCAA originally in- dicated its four-game suspension was going to be it, but pretty much reneged at the 11th hour) — Michigan is moving forward. Athletics director Warde Manuel has long had a "no contracts during the season" policy, but this one has been in the works since last offseason. And now, the wheels are in motion, sources have told us, to make Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten. He's currently third behind Ohio State's Ryan Day and Penn State's James Frank- lin, and he was fourth before Michigan State fired Mel Tucker. His lawyers were in town the week of Oct. 13, we've been told, and they were making progress to- ward that deal. Harbaugh is open to it, of course, and ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL New Jim Harbaugh Contract Is In The Works For head coach Jim Harbaugh, a new contract from U-M is now in process and expected to be completed soon, perhaps by the end of October. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL