Historic first (for me): a word of praise for Harbaugh

[Jerry]

He announced he's donating all his contracted bonus money -- already $2 million for winning the Division, winning the conference championship, and making the CFP -- to the Michigan athletic department employees who had their pay reduced because of Covid.

At a time when other coaches are either bailing for big bucks or renegotiating for big bucks (arguably unmerited by their records), that's a nice move on Harbaugh's part...and I say this as a person who hates Michigan as much as anyone.

One other note about Harbaugh. He's taken a tremendous amount of heat, justifiably due to a years-long record of underachievement and disappointment. But one big year...and a couple big wins...and it's all forgiven. Which goes to show the worm turns very quickly in the world of college football...sometimes in just one season...or even one week.

 

[OhioLion]

Annoying Klatt asked Saturday night at the end of the broadcast if this is “the changing of the guard in the big ten”. Yeah, ok.

OL

 

[butchnitt]

Annoying Klatt asked Saturday night at the end of the broadcast if this is “the changing of the guard in the big ten”. Yeah, ok.

OL

Did Franklin ever donate to anything?

 

[psuro]

Did Franklin ever donate to anything?

Just to the stress level of this board.

 

[Obliviax]

Annoying Klatt asked Saturday night at the end of the broadcast if this is “the changing of the guard in the big ten”. Yeah, ok.

OL

Well, it will be interesting to see tOSU moving forward. Day did great with Urban's kids. But we are beginning to see cracks form. They had a lot of dissension on the team this year (one kid walking out mid-game) and now a lot of transfers. I am not saying that tOSU is in trouble, just saying that Day hasn't been there long enough to prove he can manage a program, not just a season.

 

[Tri-Power65]

Did Franklin ever donate to anything?

Hold that thought. Franky is now re-negotiating his contract for an Outback Bowl bonus.

 

[PSUEngineer89]

Hold that thought. Franky is now re-negotiating his contract for an Outback Bowl bonus.

That's not funny...well, ok, maybe a little bit.

 

[PSUEngineer89]

He announced he's donating all his contracted bonus money -- already $2 million for winning the Division, winning the conference championship, and making the CFP -- to the Michigan athletic department employees who had their pay reduced because of Covid.

At a time when other coaches are either bailing for big bucks or renegotiating for big bucks (arguably unmerited by their records), that's a nice move on Harbaugh's part...and I say this as a person who hates Michigan as much as anyone.

One other note about Harbaugh. He's taken a tremendous amount of heat, justifiably due to a years-long record of underachievement and disappointment. But one big year...and a couple big wins...and it's all forgiven. Which goes to show the worm turns very quickly in the world of college football...sometimes in just one season...or even one week.

As regards this original post - It's important to acknowledge when someone does something good.

Even if it is a person we don't like or disagree with.

So, good job, Jerry.

It's hard to not respect what Harbaugh did here.

I still hate Michigan.

 

[LMTLION]

As regards this original post - It's important to acknowledge when someone does something good.

Even if it is a person we don't like or disagree with.

So, good job, Jerry.

It's hard to not respect what Harbaugh did here.

I still hate Michigan.

I agree wholeheartedly. It is tough not to respect this accomplishment, even if they do get slaughtered in the playoffs. I hate him and his school, but truly, he did a great job. He also had a little help from his brother. What is frustrating is that this PSU team was good enough to beat UM and win it all but a few key injuries occurred with a poor plan b for those positions and the result is 7-5.

 

[heckmans]

I applaud Harbaugh. I'm actually shocked though. He seems to be so awkward and emotionally unintelligent that I wouldn't think he could recognize this obvious and necessary move. Let's review:

Harbaugh previously made $8M/yr for which scUM got an annually 3rd/4th place in the B1G East in return and Dockers saw a run on Khaki pant demand and national side-eyes for creepy sleep overs with recruits.

COVID hits, and scUM tells Harbaugh he is way overpaid for his performance, especially amid the financial hit from COVID and he agrees to a contract at $4M/yr. Who else would hire this guy in 2020?

As with many employers, scUM AD employees take a COVID pay reduction of 5-10%.

Harbaugh has his first successful year in 2021 and after collecting somewhere in the neighborhood of $50M from scUM during his tenure, he donates what amounts to ~3% of his total tenure comp to make the little people whole. Frankly, keeping the money would have been bad form - imagine the highest paid person in the AD getting a 7-figure bonus while the equipment manager, ticket takers, and swimming coach take pay cuts due to reduced AD revenues. Would have been plenty of people that support the AD mission and make JH's life easier that would have been annoyed. A massively rich guy giving money he won't miss to the people that support him is the easiest decision in the world - of course, I'll repeat that I am shocked that JH figured this out.

 

[Jerry]

I applaud Harbaugh. I'm actually shocked though. He seems to be so awkward and emotionally unintelligent that I wouldn't think he could recognize this obvious and necessary move. Let's review:

Harbaugh previously made $8M/yr for which scUM got an annually 3rd/4th place in the B1G East in return and Dockers saw a run on Khaki pant demand and national side-eyes for creepy sleep overs with recruits.

COVID hits, and scUM tells Harbaugh he is way overpaid for his performance, especially amid the financial hit from COVID and he agrees to a contract at $4M/yr. Who else would hire this guy in 2020?

As with many employers, scUM AD employees take a COVID pay reduction of 5-10%.

Harbaugh has his first successful year in 2021 and after collecting somewhere in the neighborhood of $50M from scUM during his tenure, he donates what amounts to ~3% of his total tenure comp to make the little people whole. Frankly, keeping the money would have been bad form - imagine the highest paid person in the AD getting a 7-figure bonus while the equipment manager, ticket takers, and swimming coach take pay cuts due to reduced AD revenues. Would have been plenty of people that support the AD mission and make JH's life easier that would have been annoyed. A massively rich guy giving money he won't miss to the people that support him is the easiest decision in the world - of course, I'll repeat that I am shocked that JH figured this out.

Agreed, it should indeed be an easy decision, though that doesn't make it less generous and gracious.

Moreover, call me cynical, but I doubt that many other coaches would have done the same. I mean, $2 mil (and counting) ain't chump change even for prosperous football coaches.

We live in a world where greed is glorified, and enough is never enough. More...more...more...it's an attitude extending far beyond the profession of coaching. So when a guy bucks that tide, regardless of his motives or means, it's worth noting.

 

[The Kid Twist]

I applaud Harbaugh. I'm actually shocked though. He seems to be so awkward and emotionally unintelligent that I wouldn't think he could recognize this obvious and necessary move. Let's review:

Harbaugh previously made $8M/yr for which scUM got an annually 3rd/4th place in the B1G East in return and Dockers saw a run on Khaki pant demand and national side-eyes for creepy sleep overs with recruits.

COVID hits, and scUM tells Harbaugh he is way overpaid for his performance, especially amid the financial hit from COVID and he agrees to a contract at $4M/yr. Who else would hire this guy in 2020?

As with many employers, scUM AD employees take a COVID pay reduction of 5-10%.

Harbaugh has his first successful year in 2021 and after collecting somewhere in the neighborhood of $50M from scUM during his tenure, he donates what amounts to ~3% of his total tenure comp to make the little people whole. Frankly, keeping the money would have been bad form - imagine the highest paid person in the AD getting a 7-figure bonus while the equipment manager, ticket takers, and swimming coach take pay cuts due to reduced AD revenues. Would have been plenty of people that support the AD mission and make JH's life easier that would have been annoyed. A massively rich guy giving money he won't miss to the people that support him is the easiest decision in the world - of course, I'll repeat that I am shocked that JH figured this out.

I wish Franklin would figure this out. Hey, don't kid yourself. Harbaugh is an ELITE coach. He could have jumped to the pros at anytime and they would welcome him with open arms! If Franklin were to try and jump to the pros they would make him equipment manager. Franklin is no where near in the same class as Harbaugh. I say good luck to him in the CFP! We could have been in the CFP this year too but we didn't have the coach to do it.

 

[heckmans]

I wish Franklin would figure this out. Hey, don't kid yourself. Harbaugh is an ELITE coach. He could have jumped to the pros at anytime and they would welcome him with open arms! If Franklin were to try and jump to the pros they would make him equipment manager. Franklin is no where near in the same class as Harbaugh. I say good luck to him in the CFP! We could have been in the CFP this year too but we didn't have the coach to do it.

IDK...someone in the NFL would probably give him a job, but he wore out his welcome at Stanford and SF in well-publicized manners. While at Mich, he has continued his weird behavior. I'm not so sure that any well-managed teams with openings would be rushing to hire JH.

 

[Gitzit]

WOW! I will still hate Michigan, but I will be a Harbaugh fan now.

 

[walleye38]

He announced he's donating all his contracted bonus money -- already $2 million for winning the Division, winning the conference championship, and making the CFP -- to the Michigan athletic department employees who had their pay reduced because of Covid.

At a time when other coaches are either bailing for big bucks or renegotiating for big bucks (arguably unmerited by their records), that's a nice move on Harbaugh's part...and I say this as a person who hates Michigan as much as anyone.

One other note about Harbaugh. He's taken a tremendous amount of heat, justifiably due to a years-long record of underachievement and disappointment. But one big year...and a couple big wins...and it's all forgiven. Which goes to show the worm turns very quickly in the world of college football...sometimes in just one season...or even one week.

Good for Coach, That is a very generous thing to do. He deserves high praise for his donation.

 

[The Kid Twist]

IDK...someone in the NFL would probably give him a job, but he wore out his welcome at Stanford and SF in well-publicized manners. While at Mich, he has continued his weird behavior. I'm not so sure that any well-managed teams with openings would be rushing to hire JH.

I think a lot of his "weird' behavior is just his shtick. You can tell he doesn't like to deal with media (what coach does?) so he comes up with these crazy sayings (some are actually funny) and acts goofy for laughs and to get through these press conferences. Kinda like Mike Leach. I like it better than being just an angry dick to the media like Belichek or Brian Kelly.

His players seem to love him based on those post game interviews and I always like the way he defers all success to the players themselves and their work ethic and leadership. He is a class act. Like him much better than a real dick like D'Antonio.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

He also did everything in his power, some might say running up the score, to get to 42 pts and honor Tate Myres, who was shot and killed while trying to take down the shooter at Oxford HS last week.

 

[Marylovesthelions]

I agree wholeheartedly. It is tough not to respect this accomplishment, even if they do get slaughtered in the playoffs. I hate him and his school, but truly, he did a great job. He also had a little help from his brother. What is frustrating is that this PSU team was good enough to beat UM and win it all but a few key injuries occurred with a poor plan b for those positions and the result is 7-5.

??? Hate? He is a man of great character. With all the sleeve bags who show themselves in sports today, why hate a throw back who has shown rare character instead of greed? I hate UM, but now,I have great respect for Harbaugh

 

[The Kid Twist]

He also did everything in his power, some might say running up the score, to get to 42 pts and honor Tate Myres, who was shot and killed while trying to take down the shooter at Oxford HS last week.

You know what? After the crap Ferentz and his coaches (and FANS!) pulled by making fun of our injured players during our game and saying our injuries were fake and all that other BS in that classless post game press conference, I love that Harbaugh ran them over and humiliated them on national TV!! Couldn't have happened to worse fan base!

Rest in Peace Tate Myres you left us to soon.

 

[Jerry]

You know what? After the crap Ferentz and his coaches (and FANS!) pulled by making fun of our injured players during our game and saying our injuries were fake and all that other BS in that classless post game press conference, I love that Harbaugh ran them over and humiliated them on national TV!! Couldn't have happened to worse fan base!

Rest in Peace Tate Myres you left us to soon.

If you bet the under (44), you're none too happy that Jim's offense didn't take a knee there, but I can't fault the guy for playing until the clock says 0:00.

Plus I totally agree with you about Iowa. If any team deserves to have it rubbed in, it's Iowa and their chickenshit fans. I lost a lot of respect for Kirk Ferentz this year.

 

[brupsu]

As regards this original post - It's important to acknowledge when someone does something good.

Even if it is a person we don't like or disagree with.

So, good job, Jerry.

It's hard to not respect what Harbaugh did here.

I still hate Michigan.

Yes but that was a really nice thing to do.WTG coach

 

[The Kid Twist]

If you bet the under (44), you're none too happy that Jim's offense didn't take a knee there, but I can't fault the guy for playing until the clock says 0:00.

Plus I totally agree with you about Iowa. If any team deserves to have it rubbed in, it's Iowa and their chickenshit fans. I lost a lot of respect for Kirk Ferentz this year.

Agree. I always admired Ferentz. I knew Iowa fans were Dbags on the level of Pitt and Rutgers fans but Ferentz always acted classy to me until this year. It was Karma baby and it is B*TCH!!! I just hope Cael an company can crush them on the wrestling mat this year and REALLY ADD TO THEIR MISERY!!!

 

[heckmans]

I think a lot of his "weird' behavior is just his shtick. You can tell he doesn't like to deal with media (what coach does?) so he comes up with these crazy sayings (some are actually funny) and acts goofy for laughs and to get through these press conferences. Kinda like Mike Leach. I like it better than being just an angry dick to the media like Belichek or Brian Kelly.

His players seem to love him based on those post game interviews and I always like the way he defers all success to the players themselves and their work ethic and leadership. He is a class act. Like him much better than a real dick like D'Antonio.

Maybe, but it was widely reported how he couldn't play nice with his bosses at both Stanford and SF. There was some success and then relatively quick departures. I think he gets a longer leash at scUM b/c they have made train wreck hires since Carr left. Time will tell how this plays out in Ann Arbor

 

[Chickenman Testa]

??? Hate? He is a man of great character. With all the sleeve bags who show themselves in sports today, why hate a throw back who has shown rare character instead of greed? I hate UM, but now,I have great respect for Harbaugh

Bump

 

[hoflane]

He announced he's donating all his contracted bonus money -- already $2 million for winning the Division, winning the conference championship, and making the CFP -- to the Michigan athletic department employees who had their pay reduced because of Covid.

At a time when other coaches are either bailing for big bucks or renegotiating for big bucks (arguably unmerited by their records), that's a nice move on Harbaugh's part...and I say this as a person who hates Michigan as much as anyone.

One other note about Harbaugh. He's taken a tremendous amount of heat, justifiably due to a years-long record of underachievement and disappointment. But one big year...and a couple big wins...and it's all forgiven. Which goes to show the worm turns very quickly in the world of college football...sometimes in just one season...or even one week.

There’s was once this coach for PSU who did the same….he repeatedly gave back to the University….his name seems to be escaping me……is it Franklin? Definitely not! It was and is the great Joe Paterno!

 

[hoflane]

Maybe, but it was widely reported how he couldn't play nice with his bosses at both Stanford and SF. There was some success and then relatively quick departures. I think he gets a longer leash at scUM b/c they have made train wreck hires since Carr left. Time will tell how this plays out in Ann Arbor

Yeah, he’s not a “yes man” unlike this other coach I know…..I’m not a UM fan at all, but I have a ton of respect for Jim Harbaugh. He’s a great football coach!

 

[The Spin Meister]

I applaud Harbaugh. I'm actually shocked though. He seems to be so awkward and emotionally unintelligent that I wouldn't think he could recognize this obvious and necessary move. Let's review:

Harbaugh previously made $8M/yr for which scUM got an annually 3rd/4th place in the B1G East in return and Dockers saw a run on Khaki pant demand and national side-eyes for creepy sleep overs with recruits.

COVID hits, and scUM tells Harbaugh he is way overpaid for his performance, especially amid the financial hit from COVID and he agrees to a contract at $4M/yr. Who else would hire this guy in 2020?

As with many employers, scUM AD employees take a COVID pay reduction of 5-10%.

Harbaugh has his first successful year in 2021 and after collecting somewhere in the neighborhood of $50M from scUM during his tenure, he donates what amounts to ~3% of his total tenure comp to make the little people whole. Frankly, keeping the money would have been bad form - imagine the highest paid person in the AD getting a 7-figure bonus while the equipment manager, ticket takers, and swimming coach take pay cuts due to reduced AD revenues. Would have been plenty of people that support the AD mission and make JH's life easier that would have been annoyed. A massively rich guy giving money he won't miss to the people that support him is the easiest decision in the world - of course, I'll repeat that I am shocked that JH figured this out.

He also came from the Niners where he made big bucs. Probably made millions on endorsements. Donating his bonus is just a good tax write off.

 

[Gitzit]

Bump

It was a kind gesture, but I think only a michigan fan would bump this thread

 

[Marylovesthelions]

He also came from the Niners where he made big bucs. Probably made millions on endorsements. Donating his bonus is just a good tax write off.

Love your posts but never demean generosity. There is so little of it in NCAA sports or anywhere else.

 

[Jerry]

I was surprised to see this thread resurrected. (Note the date of the OP: Dec 6, 2021.)

I've always been conflicted about Harbaugh. On a personal basis, I think he's a guy of strong character and values...and his actions highlighted in the OP attest to that.

As a coach, his record is mixed. Yes, he's finally brought Michigan all the way back to football glory. But it wasn't all that long ago that many Michigan fans wanted him fired. Some of his teams underachieved, and he lost to Ohio State 5 times in a row.

His personality tends to be abrasive, he pisses people off, and I personally think he skirts the rules. For example, it's laughable when he says he knew nothing about the sign-stealing.

All this said, if he were to leave Michigan tomorrow, which I wish to God he would, he'd instantly be fielding a number of job offers.

 

[84Lion]

I've always been conflicted about Harbaugh. On a personal basis, I think he's a guy of strong character and values...and his actions highlighted in the OP attest to that.

As a coach, his record is mixed. Yes, he's finally brought Michigan all the way back to football glory. But it wasn't all that long ago that many Michigan fans wanted him fired. Some of his teams underachieved, and he lost to Ohio State 5 times in a row.

Well, Franklin's lost to Ohio State 7 times in a row now (twice to Meyer, and the remaining games with Day as HC), so I guess there's hope for our Jimmy yet!

 

[The Spin Meister]

Love your posts but never demean generosity. There is so little of it in NCAA sports or anywhere else.

Very true. He was under no obligation to do so. Zero. Wish more followed his lead. Just not ready to nominate him for sainthood.

 

[OKLionFan]

Did Franklin ever donate to anything?

That’s his own private business. Some people donate without turning it into a PR event.