My take on Harbaugh is that he is at his best being an executive style head coach, finding the right employees (many of Stanford's assistant coaches are still from the Harbaugh era), setting the culture, addressing structural needs (getting a stadium, enlisting aid, changing the admissions process) and bringing an enthusiasm previously unknown to finding every advantage possible. I think he's a great fit for college because enthusiasm (and charisma, at least to some high schoolers) can translate into a sustainable recruiting advantage there. I think he is willing to out-satellite-camp, out-sleepover-in-a-sleeping bag, and out-eat-mom's-home-cooking any coach in the college game.
I don't think he's ever been famous for being an x's and o's guy or being an innovator.
I didn't like the drama. And he seems to wear out his welcome with some administrator/owners, some fans, and some players. I suspected he was willing to sacrifice the long-term well-being of his players in a way that I may not be comfortable with, but before there was a strong pattern, he was off to his next job.
In terms of him supposedly being so amazing, I think he has a track record of getting oh-so-close and then having it slip away (Stanford-Oregon, NFC championship game, Superbowl, Michigan-Michigan State game). While the Stanford SC game may have been the game that started this era, IMO Harbaugh has not had a marquee win as impressive as Stanford-Iowa.
I think probably no coach could have turned around Stanford like Harbaugh did, but I have been glad he's gone every day since he left, and I suspect his brutal style, lack of perspective, and personal dramas will eventually cause problems even at Michigan, especially if he keeps coming so close and failing. He'll get a ton of leeway there, far more than Stanford would ever give anyone, and he may get Paterno-esque leeway, which is not a good thing and may lead to regrets.
To anyone who disagrees, I say, what's your deal??? ð
And a final plug, David Shaw has been involved in the two greatest football games I have ever attended, Stanford-Iowa 2016 and Stanford-Cal 1990.
I don't think he's ever been famous for being an x's and o's guy or being an innovator.
I didn't like the drama. And he seems to wear out his welcome with some administrator/owners, some fans, and some players. I suspected he was willing to sacrifice the long-term well-being of his players in a way that I may not be comfortable with, but before there was a strong pattern, he was off to his next job.
In terms of him supposedly being so amazing, I think he has a track record of getting oh-so-close and then having it slip away (Stanford-Oregon, NFC championship game, Superbowl, Michigan-Michigan State game). While the Stanford SC game may have been the game that started this era, IMO Harbaugh has not had a marquee win as impressive as Stanford-Iowa.
I think probably no coach could have turned around Stanford like Harbaugh did, but I have been glad he's gone every day since he left, and I suspect his brutal style, lack of perspective, and personal dramas will eventually cause problems even at Michigan, especially if he keeps coming so close and failing. He'll get a ton of leeway there, far more than Stanford would ever give anyone, and he may get Paterno-esque leeway, which is not a good thing and may lead to regrets.
To anyone who disagrees, I say, what's your deal??? ð
And a final plug, David Shaw has been involved in the two greatest football games I have ever attended, Stanford-Iowa 2016 and Stanford-Cal 1990.