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RichRod has been a huge disappointment, obviously. As I've expressed, however, I think he's good enough on offense to be given another year on the condition that he hire a new DC with autonomy to pick his own staff and run his own D.
On the other hand, Harbaugh would be a huge get. He runs a Michigan-style offense, is much more familiar with the Michigan traditions, would be loved by the boosters, and would likely consider it a lifetime job. Rumors are all over the place, with some pundits this morning saying he hasn't been offered the job and won't be, and others saying he wouldn't accept it even if he is offered it, preferring the NFL. It seems he might even stay at Stanford if he doesn't like any NFL offers.
The 2nd choice is almost unanimously Brady Hoke, but this seems like a terrible idea. He has all the negatives of Harbaugh (runs a system that would cause current players/recruits to run for the hills, would take a few years to produce a great product like any other coaching change), with few of the positives (he's a Michigan man, but doesn't have the recognition or proven track-record).
It seems to me that If Harbaugh doesn't happen, Gary Patterson needs to. That would be a very smooth transition for the offense, it seems to me, and would very likely produce a much better defense. Nobody outside a couple national pundits ever even bring it up, though. Nobody in the fanbase seems aware of him at all. Weird.
While Fitzgerald at Northwestern has been tossed around for similar reasons, I would put keeping RichRod as my 3rd favorite option, with Brady Hoke being 5th after some other, previously unconsidered coordinator or possibly Les Miles if it comes to that (don't like him, but at least he wins).
Dave Brandon, the Michigan AD, may have really screwed this one up. He keeps talking like he hasn't even contacted anyone yet and is still "evaluating" RichRod. If that's true, he ought to be another casualty of this debacle. Unless Harbaugh's thoughts have been completely misread, missing on him would be a sign of extreme incompetence. Harbaugh grew up in Ann Arbor, set records at Michigan, wanted desperately to be the QB coach at Michigan in 2002, continues to love the city and the program, and would be offered top-5 money.
It might take another few days for this all to play out, but I expect to hear some pretty strong hints today.
On the other hand, Harbaugh would be a huge get. He runs a Michigan-style offense, is much more familiar with the Michigan traditions, would be loved by the boosters, and would likely consider it a lifetime job. Rumors are all over the place, with some pundits this morning saying he hasn't been offered the job and won't be, and others saying he wouldn't accept it even if he is offered it, preferring the NFL. It seems he might even stay at Stanford if he doesn't like any NFL offers.
The 2nd choice is almost unanimously Brady Hoke, but this seems like a terrible idea. He has all the negatives of Harbaugh (runs a system that would cause current players/recruits to run for the hills, would take a few years to produce a great product like any other coaching change), with few of the positives (he's a Michigan man, but doesn't have the recognition or proven track-record).
It seems to me that If Harbaugh doesn't happen, Gary Patterson needs to. That would be a very smooth transition for the offense, it seems to me, and would very likely produce a much better defense. Nobody outside a couple national pundits ever even bring it up, though. Nobody in the fanbase seems aware of him at all. Weird.
While Fitzgerald at Northwestern has been tossed around for similar reasons, I would put keeping RichRod as my 3rd favorite option, with Brady Hoke being 5th after some other, previously unconsidered coordinator or possibly Les Miles if it comes to that (don't like him, but at least he wins).
Dave Brandon, the Michigan AD, may have really screwed this one up. He keeps talking like he hasn't even contacted anyone yet and is still "evaluating" RichRod. If that's true, he ought to be another casualty of this debacle. Unless Harbaugh's thoughts have been completely misread, missing on him would be a sign of extreme incompetence. Harbaugh grew up in Ann Arbor, set records at Michigan, wanted desperately to be the QB coach at Michigan in 2002, continues to love the city and the program, and would be offered top-5 money.
It might take another few days for this all to play out, but I expect to hear some pretty strong hints today.
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