Hmmmm...the plot thickens. Ireland has a history with the Harbaughs it turns out. http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-12-3...dinator-rumors Briefly: Stanford defensive coordinator Vic Fangio predicted that all three of the Hokies' tailbacks - junior Darren Evans and sophomores Ryan Williams and David Wilson - will play in the NFL. "They've got depth and quality at the running back position I don't think many teams have in college football," he said. ... Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland and Harbaugh's father, Jack, attended the team's practice at Barry University, along with athletic director Bob Bowlsby. The session wasn't open to the media. ... The players and their families enjoyed a beach outing at their hotel, the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. ... Safety Delano Howell said he'll again play with a cast on his right wrist to protect a broken bone. Come on Ross. Land Harbaugh and lets crank it up!!!
This is actually one GOOD thing about being 7-9...the only good thing. If there could be a good thing....is the anticipation that something big news worthy is gonna happen. This feels like what we went through with the Saban search all over again....
Most def makes alot of sense...doesnt mean he was there for Jim Harbaugh at all...and the RB look over is very logical. Not what I am hoping for, obviously, but very logical non the less.
The really good thing is the connection between Ross, Harbaugh, and Ireland. The next few days should be very interesting!
I really didn't see Harbaugh coming here. But, given the following: 1) Ross and Harbaugh are both Michigan men; 2) Harbaugh, it appears, is not interested in another college job but wants and NFL job; 3) The connection with Harbaughs and Ireland; 4) I suspect that Ross has been told by the likes of Peterson that Ireland is not a bad personnel man; I can see this potentially happening. It would be great to see Jim come in, keep Ireland and Nolan, and revamp the entire offensive staff. That might be the one scenario that would give me hope for the future.
Harbaugh hasn't spent a lifetime in college. And the whole college coach thing is interesting. Most of the ones that have tried it went to terrible teams that stayed terrible for sometime after they left. Perfect example is Mike Reilly. When he went to SD, they had the #2 pick and took Ryan Leaf. If he had Peyton Manning he'd still be in SD. It's about the players.
I disagree. The list of college coaches who failed is too long and consistent for me to ignore. Of the top of my head, the following guys failed miserably: -Dennis Erickson -Butch Davis -Steve Spurrier -Nick Saban -Bobby Petrino -Mike Riley
My guess is Ireland saw a great opportunity to 1) evaluate Andrew Luck and 2) chat with Jim Harbaugh. Why the hell would you not take it? Hell, I'd tell Harbaugh that, if he chooses Miami, we'll do what is necessary to bring Luck here.
This is worth noting. But of the top 3 candidates, at least IMO, two are former superbowl winners and Harbaugh is a "college coach". We all know no coach has won a superbowl with 2 different teams. And college coaches tend to struggle in NFL. Which is the bigger gamble? Given the fact that I think a coach not winning a superbowl with 2 teams probably has more to do with how hard it is to win the superbowl than anything else, I'd argue taking a college coach is more dangerous. I still think Harbaugh has more upside though than Cowher or Gruden.
I think Harbaugh's extensive...and fairly recent experience as an nfl player would exclude him from that stereotypical "college-ball/pro-ball coach" scenario. If anything, he's less experienced to the college game.
Pete Caroll just lead his young team to the playoffs in his first year..... Edit - well, first year back
Fat Rex's dad blew off Jimmy Johnson as a "college coach" until he built a dynasty in Dallas 20 years ago.
I think Saban's extensive...and fairly recent experience as an nfl coach would exclude him from that stereotypical "college-ball/pro-ball coach" scenario. If anything, he's less experienced to the college game. Oh...is this 2008 again? Here we go with another savior....
No past SB winning coach (e.g., fitting the category of a Gruden, Cowher) has EVER successfully won a SB with a different team. Ever. Edit: didn't see MonstBlitz post before I put this one up. Similar point. I'd take Harbaugh - with his NFL experience; with his brother's success; over Cowher or Gruden.
Really and where did u hear the bolded part from? Link please? here is mine. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5984291
Umm. John and Jim are not brothers---not anywhere I've read anyway. I hope we can trade up for Luck, and get Harbough. It would be a fresh start with two guys who know eachothers capabilities. No feeling out period where you learn what makes each other tick and tock. Keep Nolan to run the D, and Clean house everywhere else. Maybe bring Lucks QB Coach and Coordinator to keep familiarity and help him succeed.
They're brothers. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/spo..._future_plans_unclear_to_his_own_brother.html
hmm...thanks for showing me that. I wondered the same thing last month and couldnt find anything. I actually found one saying they weren't related lol.
This argument is the most laughable thing I've seen in quite awhile. Watch a game or 2. Harbaugh is NOT the other guys, and it's so damn obvious to anyone who watches Stanford play. -Dennis Erickson never played in the NFL, and spent 25 years as a college coach before going to the NFL. -Butch Davis never played in the NFL, and spent 14 years as a college coach before becoming an NFL HC. He did spend 5 years as an NFL assistant under Jimmy Johnson and the SB winning Cowboys however. -Steve Spurrier was in the NFL for 11 seasons, but mostly as a backup. He then spent 24 years in the college ranks before going pro. -Nick Saban never played in the NFL. He spent 28 years in the college ranks as a coach before going pro, with 4 years in between as an NFL assistant. -Bobby Petrino never played in the NFL. He spent 21 years in the college ranks before going pro with 3 years in between as an NFL assistant. -Mike Riley never played in the NFL. He spent 24 years in the college/cfl ranks before becoming an NFL headcoach Of all those you named, only one has ever played in the NFL, and he was a career backup. Everyone of them spent at least 14 years in college before going pro, with all of them except Butch Davis spending over 20 years in college before going pro. As for Harbaugh. He spent 14 seasons in the NFL (playing as recently as 2001), starting 140 of 177 games. He was a good NFL QB, who won many games, even made a pro bowl and was inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor and earned the nickname Captain Comeback. He started off as a QB coach for the Raiders after his retirement in 2001. A raiders team which made the SB with Rich Gannon having the best season of his career. He's coached up one of the best NFL QB prospects in quite some time. He runs arguably the best pro style offense in college football. This whole "Because other college coaches who don't resemble Jim Harbaugh in the slightest didn't pan out, that means Harbaugh won't pan out" argument is a giant crock of **** that's only being spewed by people who have no idea what to look for in a coach. And it's obvious to anyone who watches Stanford football, Harbaugh is an NFL coach coaching college. Seriously, it amazes me how the hell there's some people not seeing this.
I pray it was to see Andrew Luck. I pray that Ireland is prepared to give up whatever we have to to get Luck. WHATEVER we have to.
FWIW, as a U of Mich "homer" who endowed the school with a $100million contribution and has the business school named for him, Stephen M. Ross may have been there to pitch Harbaugh on his alma mater rather than on his franchise. Just putting that out there.
Interesting thought, but I doubt it. Ross has much more at stake with his investment with the Dolphins than he does at Michigan. Im sure he was lobbying for Big Blue though, if Harbaugh didn't want to make the jump to the NFL yet.