tr1 Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2010%2F11%2F27%2Ffanhousearejimharbaughsdaysa.DTL Michelle Smith, provided by Fanhouse Saturday, November 27, 2010 Jim Harbaugh's first season at Stanford wasn't even over yet when the rumor mill started to grind. His team had beaten USC in one of the biggest upsets in college football history back in October, 2007, and a few weeks later, the Oakland Raiders were about to be in need of another new coach. And so Harbaugh, who had only been a college head coach for nine months or so at that point, found himself defending his loyalty to Stanford declaring his intent to stay put. The speculation has never really abated since. After his second season at Stanford, he was supposed to be on the Detroit Lions' short list. And then on the Rams' short list. The Raider rumor came up again. And he did actually interview with the New York Jets days before the biggest recruiting weekend of the year. Last season, when Harbaugh led the Cardinal to its first bowl appearance since 2002 and escorted Toby Gerhart to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, he was reportedly a candidate for the Notre Dame job, and on one December night, a Kansas City TV station "confirmed" that Harbaugh took the Kansas job. Not true, it turned out. But that doesn't mean he wasn't asked. But what was premature speculation in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is plenty ripe now. As Stanford prepares to play its final game in the finest season in the modern history of the program, Harbaugh is undeniably a hot property. He's proven to be more than a compelling personality. He's a very good football coach. He's a motivator. He has made some great coaching hires. And he operates a sophisticated, sometimes downright complicated pro-style system that plays to the strength of his players -- most notably the smarts to run it. Stanford is 10-1 heading into tonight's game against Oregon State at Stanford Stadium, the first 10-win season since 1993. It is ranked seventh in the AP poll (highest since 1970) and 6th in the BCS rankings. He has Stanford positioned, if things fall properly (no thanks to Auburn), for a BCS bowl berth, possibly a spot in the Rose Bowl. He has three wins over USC in four years. He led Stanford to a Big Game win over Cal last week that returned The Axe to The Farm. Only top-ranked Oregon has gotten the better of the Cardinal this season. He has had two players legitimately positioned for Heisman consideration in the past two years. His gifted, once-in-a-career quarterback Andrew Luck has two years under his belt, is eligible for the draft and should be a millionaire by April. Harbaugh could go now, run off the field at Stanford Stadium for the last time tonight, and leave nothing undone. NFL teams will almost certainly come calling. The San Francisco 49ers, who have been able to witness Harbaugh's success up close and personal, might be the first ones on the phone. Dallas? Sure. Add the Cowboys into the mix. The Chicago Bears might want to have one of their old quarterbacks, a guy with a little Ditka-esque swagger, at the helm. If ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit has good sources, then Harbaugh's alma mater, Michigan, might come courting too. The options are varied, they are pretty good and they might just be irresistible for Harbaugh. Stanford can't really expect to keep (Harbaugh) at this point. It can't pay him what he could make elsewhere. ... It can't fill the seats for his team. Stanford can't really expect to keep him at this point. It can't pay him what he could make elsewhere -- he signed an extension last December that pays him a reported $1.25 million through 2014. As a point of comparison, Lane Kiffin is making approximately $4 million a season at USC. It can't fill the seats for his team. Stanford Stadium is a great venue, but the marketing department continues to struggle to put people in the stands. The Cardinal are 16-2 at home in their last 18 games. But the only sellout this season in the 50,000-seat facility was the USC game. He might simply be ready for a new challenge, having mastered this one. And this was no easy one, turning Stanford into a national factor in the matter of four short years. It was fun while it lasted, Stanford fans. It might not last much longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr1 Posted November 28, 2010 Author Share Posted November 28, 2010 Jerruh is too stupid to hire this guy...he should land with the 49er's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VCDefectors Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Jerruh is too stupid to hire this guy...he should land with the 49er's... Nah. I think Jerruh, er...I mean Jason Garrett deserves a chance to coach the 2011 Cowboys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 College coaches almost never work out in the NFL, but Harbaugh could be an exception. Really it comes down to the organization he works for. The 9ers are a mess at the moment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Harbaugh might want to wait to see if Michigan's job is available. They'd have good money, more long-term security, he could recruit using the somewhat damaged but still elite Michigan brand and it's essentially his dream job. I don't think the NFL is AS attractive, except for pay, which isn't even that much if you get fired in 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCranon21 Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 I doubt if Jim Harbaugh lands in the NFL. I think he actually likes the recruiting trail and the college game. But we shall see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixcuincle Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 If he goes anywhere he might go to Michigan Fans are irate with RR and demand a "Michigan man" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.