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What if we find out *FOR SURE* that Ross is helping Michigan get Harbaugh

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by ASOT, Dec 29, 2014.

  1. ASOT

    ASOT New Member

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    What if verification and irrefutable evidence comes out that Ross is actually helping Michigan get Harbaugh, and is allowing the Dolphins to wallow in mediocrity ?

    I would then have to start to question my loyalty. At least as long as that man is the owner.
     
  2. jim1

    jim1 New Member

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    It wouldn't surprise me if in fact Ross's first loyalty is to Michigan. The "Philbin is safe" thing after the Vikings still strikes me as a bit odd, with a tinge of clearing the path for Harbaugh to Michigan. I get the feeling that Michigan is the wife and Miami is the mistress in this triangle.


    "Steve Ross's cell phone rings to Michigan's fight song "Hail to the Victors." And he has awoken in the middle of the night after a Dolphins loss and needed an Ambien to go back to sleep.

    He once ranked his top things in life as his family and the Steve Ross School of Business at Michigan. And in that same conversation he called owning the Dolphins, "living the big dream."

    This is the strange, high-stakes intersection Ross finds himself regarding the two football loves he holds close to heart and wallet. On Saturday, he often flies to watch Michigan play. On Sunday, he flies to wherever the Dolphins play."

    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...e-dolphins-harbaugh-1219-20141218-column.html
     
  3. FinNasty

    FinNasty Alabama don’t want this... Staff Member Club Member

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    Of course he is...

    But if he got word Harbough didn't want to come here but had some interest in Michigan.... then why not try to bring him to Michigan?
     
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  4. RGF

    RGF THE FINSTER Club Member

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    What if ??? Like it really matters at this point if it is true or not, nothing changes, it is what it is. Ross can outright say he lobbied for Harbaugh to go to Michigan and theres not a damn thing we can do about it. We would still have to suffer with his Philbin decision no matter what.
     
  5. GARDENHEAD

    GARDENHEAD Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Glad to get Harbaugh out of the NFL.
     
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  6. MAFishFan

    MAFishFan Team Tannehill

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    Why would Harbaugh want to come to Miami?
     
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  7. Larryfinfan

    Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member

    Would that make a difference to this Fins team ?? Doubtful. I'm sure that IF Harbaugh were in any way interested in coming here, he and Ross would have talked by now and Ross wouldn't have said that Philbin were staying. I just can't see that he'd choose his money-making NFL franchise over his alma mater...he didn't get to be a billionaire by making those kinds of decisions...
     
  8. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    Don't doubt for a second that Ross cares much more about Michigan than the Dolphins. He'll make money off of the Dolphins even if they continue to suck.
     
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  9. Itsdahumidity

    Itsdahumidity X gonna take it from ya

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    ASOT it wouldn't surprise me one bit if ross lobbied for JM to get the Mich job first. There's no love, there's no passion for our Dolphins coming from ross. Mich will always be number 1 to him. Heck it can be argued ross' 2nd favorite team won yesterday at sunlife. My sig isn't simple tongue-in-cheek. Based on ross' actions he continues to have ny jest envy.

    Brah, don't ever question your loyalty. Just take solace that ross eventually will have to sell. We were fans before his arrival, we'll be fans after his departure.
     
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  10. gunn34

    gunn34 I miss Don & Dan

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    ...because fans will still buy tickets to the games.
     
  11. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Man, that's awesome that you know Stephen Ross so well. Can you maybe, you know, the next time you're at his place with him see if he can get me an autographed Marino jersey since Dan works for him now? I mean, you guys seem really tight since you know him so well, maybe you can ask him to do that favor for me?
     
  12. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    There's really no doubt that Ross is helping Michigan get Harbaugh. He's basically writing the check.

    I think you've got to question if he kept Philbin this year to avoid the appearances of a conflict of interests.
     
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  13. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    That's quite the assumption.
     
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  14. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    That Steve Ross had something to do with Michigan pursuing Harbaugh?

    No, that's not an assumption. It could be an assumption, a well-supported assumption at that (Ross is to Michigan what the Knight family is to Oregon). However, it happens to not be an assumption. Ross was involved.
     
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  15. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    He almost fired last year and held his feet to the fire over Mike Sherman, this year he gave him a stamp of approval early and appears totally unwilling to reconsider despite clear evidence he should.

    There's some really suspicious behavior going on here.
     
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  16. Sumlit

    Sumlit Well-Known Member

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    More importantly than Ross helping secure Harbaugh for Michigan is that he retained Philbin. He could have both helped Michigan sign Harbaugh and helped the Dolphins replace Philbin. Harbaugh is not the only viable candidate to upgrade Philbin.

    So no, I do not care if he helped Michigan get Harbaugh.

    I do care that he retained Philbin when he should have in fact replaced him.
     
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  17. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Fair enough then. I understand the connection. I know it as a Michigan fan, and frequent visitor to the campus. I'm still looking for the proof though. Yes, I'm a Michigan fan, but I'm a Miami fan first, as I don't care as much about NCAAF as I do the NFL. I understand he's probably helped line it up for Michigan, but I think the stretch here is that people think and assume Ross would rather have him at Michigan than here. That's the part we dont know, if that comes out as fact, then hell yes, tar and feather Ross. I'm all for it.

    For all we know, Ross may have asked Harbaugh if he'd like to come here or Michigan. Unless we know that isn't the case as well. I mean Ross does seem clueless enough as an owner to actually think Philbin did a good job this year because we were close to beating some good teams (GB, Det, Den)

    That's all I'm sayin... I'd love to know for sure what really went on before speculating more. I know Ross put him in touch with Michigan kind of thing... but I don't think we'll ever know if Miami was never in the cards.
     
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  18. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

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    to the OP:

    Well... you could no longer be a fan of the team... stop buying their products... go support some other team...


    Talk to you later...
     
  19. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    My speculation, and this is just speculation, is that the conflict did indeed exist in Steve Ross' mind but that there was no nefarious scheming to rob Miami in order to benefit Michigan. I think the choice is and was always Harbaugh's and Ross just wanted Harbaugh to choose one of his two teams.

    That said, if there was no conflict of interest, he could have gone much, much more aggressively at Harbaugh and actually tried to out-compete Michigan to the point of hurting the school's bid. I think that is what Oakland is attempting...but I don't think that was ever on the table for Ross because of the conflict of interest.
     
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  20. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I agree. That's the point I'm trying to make here to some who are just running rampant with "Ross loves Michigan more than Miami". We just can't honestly say that. I honestly think Harbaugh just wants to be back in college. Free from the restrictions of a salary cap, and a GM picking his talent for him. At Michigan he's free to go out and recruit, build his own empire again, stock the shelves with his talent that he can mould into the players he wants, he gets kids again, that would respect him in any and all situations etc. etc. etc.

    Given the history between Ross and Harbaugh and Miami last time around... I think you'd have to think that may have stuck with him too.

    I just think if we look at it objectively, it could go either way, but ultimately this was Harbaughs decision. You're right though, Ross sure could have begged him and bribed him with more cash than Michigan to get him here instead, but if Harbaughs heart wants to be back in Michigan and in the college game, then that's just throwing away money and setting the franchise back further when he pulls a Saban.
     
  21. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Honestly I believe the conflict of interest is a problem. By all means he SHOULD have been going after Harbaugh for Miami like a dog that smells a ***** in heat. The fact that his dual love for both programs most likely softened his stance that way, even possibly to the point of going all nihilistic and sticking with a dipsh-t like Joe Philbin simply because he's depressed and doesn't think anyone short of Harbaugh would be better than Philbin...that's a bad, bad thing. That should not happen. He's the owner of the Miami Dolphins and he should be advocating EXCLUSIVELY for the Miami Dolphins.
     
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  22. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

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    Great point. As egregious as Ross acted with the Scarano-Harbaugh situation in trying to get him to come here over SF - Ross is clearly aggressive if he really loves a coach - so he'd have gone all-in for Harbaugh if Michigan had a coach. And, clearly, Ross is all-in for Harbaugh to go to Michigan.

    And, at the same time, it still is astounding that Ross seems to like Philbin. One wonders if he put out feelers for Rex (as there were rumors that the NYC-Ross liked Rex) and Ryan was not real interested in us and so he thought there was no real candidate out there?

    It's just a ridiculous soap opera with this owner.
     
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  23. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I agree 100%. Maybe he secretly offered Harbaugh more money to come to Miami, maybe he did make a more aggressive push. He likely knew both sides of the situation and the offer being presented. Again though, if Harbaugh wants to leave the NFL, nothing is going to change that. Even the phone call the Raiders made this morning.

    Like I said earlier, I agree with what you're saying, what I don't agree with is the people spouting off as if it's fact that Ross screwed Miami over in favor of Michigan, because we simply don't know that was the case. I get it, it seems like it though, but perception isn't always reality.

    I get what you're saying though.
     
  24. CrunchTime

    CrunchTime Administrator Retired Administrator

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    Ross has a business college named after him at Michigan and he is the universitys biggest contributor .He donated 200 million dollars to the university last year.Together with fellow alumni Harbaugh they are seeing how OSU under Meyer will be dominating the Big 10 for many tears to come and they want to make Michigan competitive.

    IMO Michigan is a passion for Ross.The Dolphins are a hobby .
     
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  25. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

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    Thee...Ohio State University
    That's very accurate imo.
     
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  26. PhinsRDbest

    PhinsRDbest Transform and Transcend

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    the next dimension
    I truly believe if the Michigan job was not open Ross would be doing whatever he could to bring him here. Now he gets best of both his worlds. He can keep the guy he hand picked and his favorite coach is going to coach his favorite team. We have a terrible owner
     
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  27. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Well it's my opinion that Ross needs to sell the Dolphins to an owner that it's Miami first in every situation.I did not think we had a chance for Harbaugh,but was hopeful none the less. But for the Life of me and all Miami fan's,We DESERVED BETTER than Cautious Joe Philbin.
     
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  28. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    And to think...people complained about Joe Robbie....
     
  29. PSG

    PSG Clear Eyes. Full Hearts.

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    I don't give a sh*t about Michigan. I care alot (or used to) about the Miami Dolphins.
    He could have help Michigan get Harbaugh and fired Philbin. That's what should have happened.
     
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  30. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I would see it as irrelevant. The decision was always Harbaugh's. I don't believe that Ross had much influence either way other than being behind a boatload of cash from either place.
     
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  31. cdz12250

    cdz12250 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Ross doesn't have one billion dollars. He has over four of them. He could write any check that Harbaugh could reasonably want, if Harbaugh was the least bit interested in coming to Miami. He clearly isn't. If he's interested in Michigan, I see no conflict, as there's only one possibility.
     
  32. Jersey Dolfan

    Jersey Dolfan Active Member

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    People should stop with this already. Harbaugh was never coming to the Dolphins. He did not want to last time and does not now. This wasn't some Dolphins vs Michigan battle and Ross pushed for Michigan.

    Harbaugh was never coming Here. It was all wishful thinking. However, that does not exonerate Ross for keeping failbin and tanking this team for next year. There are going yo be other good candidates out there. Ross is still a stooge of epic proportions, but umich has nothing to do with it.
     
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  33. Onehondo

    Onehondo Senior Member Club Member

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    I know it is just speculation on my part but I don't think Ross ever had any idea of replacing Philbin. I believe he is totally committed to Philbin no matter what. We almost beat some good teams last year and we almost beat some good teams this year but that doesn't change the fact that we finished 8-8 and are mired in mediocrity. Once again we only have next years draft to look forward to and little to be optimistic about.
     
  34. cdz12250

    cdz12250 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Our only real hope is that there's such a monumental haul of talent over the offseason that they can win despite bad coaching.
     
  35. ASOT

    ASOT New Member

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    I know I just find it galling to toy with us fans in this way. It makes me feel like if the owner doesn't care, why should I ?

    I guess this thread is just because I am so frustrated as a fan.
     
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  36. Samphin

    Samphin Κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

    Harbaugh was never linked to Miami on this go 'round. I am not sure why people are making up reasons to vilify Ross when there are plenty of valid ones to work with.
     
  37. ASOT

    ASOT New Member

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    Not likely to happen since I've been a fan of the team since 1966, and went to my 1st game in 1967.

    But it bothers me A LOT that our owner is more interested in helping Michigan than the Dolphins. Yes it's an assumption, but it's one that has pretty high chance of being right. I feel like our owner is making a fool of us.
     
  38. ASOT

    ASOT New Member

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    I agree and wasn't sure others saw it that way too.

    And given that, as long as he is the owner, I'm not sure we'll ever be a dominant team in the NFL, unless its by accident. He's just not dedicated enough to make Miami a winner.

    Too bad for us Dolphins fans. :pity:
     
  39. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Harbaugh was never going to come to Miami.

    Why would a coach who probably had his pick of head coaching jobs want to come and take over a team owned by Ross? I have to doubt that it is probably widely known around league circles that Ross is clueless as an owner. That is why no top coaching prospects or top GM candidates have shown any interest in these jobs when there have been openings in recent years.

    I think the reality for Ross was that he couldn't do any better than Mediocre Philbin and that is why he took a three point win over a bad Vikings team at home as an opportunity to spring the fact Philbin was returning next year.

    Funny how silent Ross has been after the thumping his home team Jets laid on the Dolphins this past weekend.
     
  40. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    He did go to a team that is practically owed by Ross. It is the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
     
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