Paul Finebaum reveals what Jim Harbaugh to the NFL means for Big Ten, Ryan Day

With Michigan losing Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, immediately ahead of four new teams joining the Big Ten, the power dynamic in the conference appears ready to shift. That change, as analyst Paul Finebaum knows, is going to put a lot of pressure on coaches in the Big Ten.

While speaking about the shift in power on Get Up, Finebaum noted that Michigan isn’t overly worried about Harbaugh leaving. The Wolverines already have a plan in place.

“It’s a big blow, but it’s also a relief in some circles because Jim Harbaugh brought so much controversy,” Finebaum said. “That NCAA investigation is still out there. It has two prongs to it. Without Harbaugh, I think it will abate. They’ll still get some sort of sanctions but I don’t think it will be nearly as serious.”

Michigan is expected to make offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore the team’s next head coach. While Jim Harbaugh was suspended, he took over as interim coach, consistently winning. So, Michigan has a plan for the future.

“The other part of it is the pressure. Sherrone Moore will likely get the job in a couple of days once the legal time period has ended. He did a phenomenal job. He was the coach for six games last season, he handled himself very well, but it’s also worth remembering the road Jim Harbaugh took to get to this point,” Finebaum said.

“Two years ago, exactly, he went to Minnesota to interview. Then, to get in the good graces of Michigan officials he said that’s the last time I will ever interview with the NFL. We saw how much Jim Harbaugh’s word is worth, but here he is, leaving.”

According to Finebaum, there is more pressure on Ohio State head coach Ryan Day than anyone else right now. The Buckeyes have a very talented team and after consistently losing to Jim Harbaugh’s teams, he can’t afford to start losing to Sherrone Moore’s.

“But the pressure in the Big Ten won’t be on Jim Harbaugh’s successor, Sherrone Moore. It will be on Ryan Day because of having lost to Harbaugh three straight years, he is the beneficiary. He has the best team in the Big Ten. But he better not lose to a first year coach at Michigan.”

Paul Finebaum: Jim Harbaugh move from Michigan to LA Chargers an ‘unbelievable script’

Reflecting on Jim Harbaugh’s move to the NFL, Paul Finebaum compared his time at Michigan to an unbelievable script.

“Well, he’s going to the right place because even Steve Spielberg and Hollywood could not have come up with a more unbelievable scrip. Here’s a guy who three years ago nearly gets fired at the University of Michigan. His contract gets cut in half. What does he do? He wins the national championship,” Finebaum said.

“And don’t forget, two years ago he literally waits in the waiting room, eating sacks, while the Minnesota Vikings are about to call him in and they turn him down. It’s absolutely humiliating. He tucks his tail, goes back to Michigan, and what does he do? He makes three straight runs at the Playoff, he wins a national championship, and then he leaves behind a very complicated legacy, but a national championship.”