The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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36-14-3 with the then-AFL Buffalo Bills from 1962-65 including 10-3-1 in 1965 before retiring so he could coach Maryland in 1966. His college stay lasted only one year, however, before he returned to the AFL/NFL to coach the Denver Broncos. While Harbaugh may ultimately decide he is a college coach, finish- ing his career at Michigan, many are concerned he will one day return to the NFL like Carroll, Dennis Erickson (Seattle Seahawks to Oregon State to San Francisco 49ers), and Lou Saban. If Harbaugh were to enjoy a nine- year run like Carroll produced at USC — in addition to two national titles, the Trojans also won seven conference championships, went 4-1 in the Rose Bowl and 6-1 in BCS bowl games, and finished among col- lege football's top five teams seven times — most Michigan fans would probably take that. What U-M is truly looking for is Harbaugh to realize after his college coaching career at the University of San Diego (2004-06) and Stanford (2007-10), and his four-year stint in the NFL, that he is a college coach and will stay put in Ann Arbor the duration of his career. John Robinson figured that out, and in 2009 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. A success at USC from 1976-82, go- ing 68-14-2 with three Pac-10 titles, three Rose Bowl wins and a No. 1 ranking in the final coaches' poll in 1978, Robinson then coached nine seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams, accumulating a 75-68 record from 1983-91. He went 4-6 in 10 playoff games, stuck in second-tier status in the NFC thanks to the presence of the dominant dynasty of the 1980s: San Francisco. The 49ers won three Super Bowls and eight NFC West confer- ence titles while Robinson was with the Rams. Robinson would return to USC, though, and go 36-21-2 in five more seasons at Southern Cal, claiming two Pac-10 titles and a Rose Bowl in 1995. Others voluntarily left the NFL because it wasn't a good fit, eager to return to the college ranks — though they left the pros after losing seasons — such as Lou Holtz (NFL's New York Jets to Arkansas), Spurrier, Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino (NFL's At- lanta Falcons to Arkansas). While Carroll eventually returned to the NFL in 2010, and has been a huge success with the Seahawks, winning the Super Bowl last season, Nick Saban represents the epitome of what can be achieved by an elite coach in the college game. And Michigan fans are surely hoping Harbaugh will follow not in Carroll's footsteps but in Saban's, re-establish- ing U-M as a Big Ten champion and a college football power while shun- ning any advances NFL franchises will make in the future to return to pro football. ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.