[needle]

At the time, I think I probably gave Harbaugh a fan grade of a C for how he publicly handled the ongoing drama of his potentially imminent departure.  The Kansas thing was kept pretty low key, all things considered. I seem to recall Harbaugh saying at one point he hoped to stick around for 10 years or so. Who bought that? No one who really followed the situation very closely, but the message got delivered with the right tenor to have at least a shred of sincerity--that, at least, Stanford wasn't just a way station to a better gig anywhere else. Comments from I think John H. and maybe even Jack H. about how Jim H. really dug the Stanford culture also helped ameliorate any simmering fan anger about the flirtatious nature of Jimbo.

But it's night and day the difference between Harbaugh and Shaw already on this front. The message, delivered very forcefully and repeatedly, is that Shaw is a Stanford coach first and foremost. That never came close to happening with Harbaugh.

[needle]

At the time, I think I probably gave Harbaugh a fan grade of a C for how he publicly handled the ongoing drama of his potentially imminent departure.  The Kansas thing was kept pretty low key, all things considered. I seem to recall Harbaugh saying at one point he hoped to stick around for 10 years or so. Who bought that? No one who really followed the situation very closely, but the message got delivered with the right tenor to have at least a shred of sincerity--that, at least, Stanford wasn't just a way station to a better gig anywhere else. Comments from I think John H. and maybe even Jack H. about how Jim H. really dug the Stanford culture also helped ameliorate any simmering fan anger about the flirtatious nature of Jimbo.

But it's night and day the difference between Harbaugh and Shaw already on this front. The message, delivered very forcefully and repeatedly, is that Shaw is a Stanford coach first and foremost. That never came close to happening with Harbaugh.