The Wolverine

least the narrative is pretty positive about the hire and everything that's going on there. I see what he does on Twitter. He does a really good job promoting his program … showing his natural side." His natural side is what makes him one of the more intriguing col- lege football media subjects in recent memory. He's been filmed during satellite camps with high schoolers playing a form of rugby with his signature khakis on, his shirt off in 90-plus degree heat. He was pho- tographed holding up a sign for a recruit about how much he wanted him at Michigan, and later filmed strutting down the street with said recruit and a few others in a tweet that went viral. None of it is for show, those clos- est to him insist — it's just who he is. At the end of the day, all Harbaugh wants is to coach football and have fun doing it. "To me, all of the attention is kind of irrelevant," former Michigan All-Big Ten offensive lineman Doug Skene said. "In the end, and I think he's even talked about it … the sign in his office says, 'Just coach the team.' I think fans and the media get caught up in the persona of Jim Harbaugh. He does a few things other coaches don't do, and he says a few things and is an interesting guy. There's no doubt about it. "But I also think the fans need to be cautious that as great as he's been in his previous stops, it does not guarantee instant victory this year. When they lose a game or two, which they're going to do, it also doesn't mean, 'Oh, well, I guess he's not as good as we thought he was. Here we go again … this is going to be a struggle.' You've got to under- stand that no coach is going to come in and change the culture of an entire football program in six to eight, nine months." At the same time, Harbaugh isn't fool's gold like Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke before him. He's as close to a guarantee as one can find when it comes to big name winners, right up there with Meyer and Alabama's Nick Saban. He won't make sacri- fices in his principles or philosophies in order to win a game at the expense of the program's development, which is why he'll be successful. "He's probably going to do a few things this year we may or may not be able to identify on television or live to make a point to his team — things that may or may not end up costing them — for the bigger picture of down the road," Skene said. "I know coaches do this, sometimes make decisions that may not win you a football game, but will help you build a program." The spotlight will be on Harbaugh every step of the way. He might be the only one who doesn't notice, too wrapped up in building a winner to care. ❏ Chris Balas has been with The Wolverine since 1997, working part time for five years before joining the staff full time in 2002. Contact him at cbalas@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter at Balas_Wolverine.

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