The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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where he's been, yet San Francisco is ready to run him out of town after he led them to three straight NFC title games and a Super Bowl. His team stood 7-6 AND on the verge of missing the NFL playoffs with three regular season games left. He played quarterback at Michigan under Bo Schembechler (1984-86) and went on to a long profes- sional career, starting as a Chicago Bears first-round pick. Pros and cons: Harbaugh would seem to be the perfect fit, a Michigan guy whose ties to the program run deep. His father, Jack, was an assistant at U-M, he still loves the Wolverines and watches from afar. He'll be in demand, however, and will have to choose between Michigan and the NFL. He'll also command a huge salary. Would he get restless to return to the NFL? Rivals.com's Mike Farrell on Harbaugh as a recruiter: "He's the home run, would kill it in recruiting and take Michigan to recruiting levels unseen in years. The biggest name hire they could make." Bret Bielema Record: 77-39 career: 9-15 at Arkansas, 68-24 at Wis- consin Salary: $3 million Coaching stops: Arkansas head coach (2013-present); Wisconsin head coach (2006-2012); Wisconsin defensive coordinator (2004-2005) Background: Bielema was the king of the Big Ten before moving on to Arkansas a few years ago. He built the Wis- consin program into a powerhouse, winning the Big Ten in his final three seasons with the Badgers. The 2006 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Bielema took UW to three straight Rose Bowls. He hasn't found the same success yet since moving to Arkansas, but the Razorbacks showed major improvement this year, beating then-No. 17 LSU and No. 8 Mississippi before falling to Missouri in the regular-season finale. Pros and cons: Bielema is a Big Ten guy, and he was hired by a former Michigan associate A.D. in Arkansas' Jeff Long. He made the most of his talent at Wisconsin, he has Midwest ties and knows the area well. Whether he would leave a job in the SEC is unknown, and his buyout would be expensive — a reported $12.8 million. He also rubbed plenty of people the wrong way with his abrasive style while he was in Madison. He also recently turned down the Nebraska job. Farrell: "Not known as a big-time recruiter but would do well with the Michigan