[Snorlax94]

While I think this point of view has a lot of merit, I also believe that Harbaugh, like many "successful" people, is always looking for the next challenge and is also willing to re-define "success" dynamically. He is going to face some NCAA headwinds next year, and those headwinds would arguably significantly de-value what he has accomplished. He also doesn't want to be forced to admit he was "less than truthful" to the NCAA.

He can avoid basically all of that by moving on to the next challenge. The NCAA won't chase him if he is gone. It will be a lot easier to display EUTM if he isn't under some kind of NCAA cloud, even if in the end he could avoid more suspensions. He can declare victory and move on, or he can stay and fight it out. I am betting on the former, but I also think it depends on the NFL offers. Unlike most on this board (it seems), I don't think there are NFL teams lining up to take JH. He has baggage that raises questions.

I think Harbaugh leaves:
1) the firing of Pete Carrol and the deterioration of Belichick just shows you gotta do the NFL when you’re young. The clock is ticking on Harbaugh and you know the Superbowl ring is his ultimate prize. Carrol won the Superbowl when he was 62, and he got fired at 72, and Harbaugh is 60.

2) The beauty of leaving Michigan now is that you know they will always welcome him back, no matter the penalties. College has more job stability for your later years in life, especially when it’s your Alma Mater and you’ve delivered in the past.

3) Harbaugh leaves, Michigan is sanctioned,its wins vacated, its scholarships and bowl appearances possibly reduced. Years later he can always come back after Michigan has served all the punishments and prostrated itself and apologized as an institution. Pretty sweet, actually.

[Snorlax94]

While I think this point of view has a lot of merit, I also believe that Harbaugh, like many "successful" people, is always looking for the next challenge and is also willing to re-define "success" dynamically. He is going to face some NCAA headwinds next year, and those headwinds would arguably significantly de-value what he has accomplished. He also doesn't want to be forced to admit he was "less than truthful" to the NCAA.

He can avoid basically all of that by moving on to the next challenge. The NCAA won't chase him if he is gone. It will be a lot easier to display EUTM if he isn't under some kind of NCAA cloud, even if in the end he could avoid more suspensions. He can declare victory and move on, or he can stay and fight it out. I am betting on the former, but I also think it depends on the NFL offers. Unlike most on this board (it seems), I don't think there are NFL teams lining up to take JH. He has baggage that raises questions.

I think Harbaugh leaves:
1) the firing of Pete Carrol and the deterioration of Belichick just shows you gotta do the NFL when you’re young. The clock is ticking on Harbaugh and you know the Superbowl ring is his ultimate prize. Carrol won the Superbowl when he was 62, and he got fired at 72, and Harbaugh is 60.

2) The beauty of leaving Michigan now is that you know they will always welcome him back, no matter the penalties. College has more job stability for your later years in life, especially when it’s your Alma Mater and you’ve delivered in the past.

3) Harbaugh leaves, Michigan is sanctioned,its wins vacated, its scholarships and bowl appearances possibly reduced. Years later he can always come back after Michigan has served all the punishments and prostrated itself and apologized as an institution. Pretty sweet, actually.