No, the NFL is not on Jim Harbaugh's mind
Michigan football will face ECU in the Saturday opener as a heavy favorite, even with Jim Harbaugh suspended from coaching. The Wolverines are one of the popular picks to get to the playoff again this year, with many even picking them to win it. Former U-M offensive lineman Doug Skene is among those who has the Wolverines going 12-0 this year.
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Skene joined The Huge Show’s Bill Simonson and TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas and John Borton at the Tullymore Golf Resort Fall Football Summit, offering Huge Opinions on Harbaugh’s suspension, Michigan at Michigan State, the Wolverines’ starting 22, and breakdowns on everything Michigan Football:
One of the topics — Harbaugh and his future at Michigan. In a recent survey of 24 Michigan reporters, 12 predicted Harbaugh would still be at U-M next year, while 12 said they expected him to leave. Harbaugh, of course, flirted with NFL Minnesota (and was set to leave, per multiple sources — including him — had the interview gone as planned), and talked to Denver last year.
Several have expressed opinions that a three-game Michigan-imposed suspension led by NCAA allegations about recruiting will have him packing his things as soon as possible. Others close to it, though, say he understands why the athletic department did what it did, and believe he’s more upset with the NCAA and the situation than U-M. Still, people are already throwing his name out for NFL jobs that aren’t even open yet, most recently ESPN’s Harry Douglass. He spoke of Harbaugh as a possible fit with the Cleveland Browns.
One thing we know — that’s not even on the coach’s mind. When Harbaugh is in season, he’s fully concentrating on the team he’s coaching and making sure he’s not cheating his squad. Period. That’s how he’s wired. When a reporter tried to get him to say recent events might push him out the door, he did what he always does in those situations — avoided the discussion.
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“It’s the beauty of my dad’s motto — attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind,” Harbaugh said. “It just frames it right there. Attack each day, attack this day, with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, and living by it daily. And it’s worked.”
If Harbaugh were to lead Michigan to a third straight Big Ten title and playoff appearance, though — which likely means a third consecutive win over Ohio State — it’s possible the NFL would come calling (again). Though there hadn’t been as much interest in him as many might have thought, it only takes one team. And as Skene noted, a more balanced offense this year (which is the plan) would make him that much more attractive.
“If Michigan’s offense improves to the point where it has that dynamic passing attack, and fey inish in the top 10 rushing offense again, which we’re expecting them to do — and then a top 10 passing offense, where you see dramatic development on the edge of the offense and everything to do with the passing game — … I do believe the NFL will give him a shot and, he’d take it,” Skene said. “It’s not so much that he would be running away from Michigan. But he was within a first down or touchdown of a Super Bowl championship. He get a taste of that; his brother got one. If he got over the hump and got a college championship, the only thing left would be to chase the Lombardi trophy … and I wouldn’t blame him.”
Neither should anyone else. He’d have been here for 9 years — 2 more than he promised interim A.D. Jim Hackett when he accepted the job — and has led Michigan to the pinnacle. For now, though, Harbaugh has one thing on his mind, and one thing only — to win at Michigan. He’ll be back in three weeks and return to the sideline against Rutgers with that goal and no thoughts about the NFL or anything else.
