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Jim Harbaugh’s long-anticipated departure to the NFL may be the most amicable divorce in the history of college sports. He came to Michigan as the savior, restored his alma mater’s prominence and left on the heels of its first national championship in decades.
He stayed nine years – longer than most thought he would. He leaves as a hero because he did the job he was supposed to do.
Now it’s up to Michigan to make sure his work isn’t wasted. Truth is, that may prove more difficult than anyone understands.
No matter what happens next – and the strong likelihood is that offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore will be elevated to replace Harbaugh – the next handful of years probably isn’t going to look like the last handful.
Because what made Michigan great wasn’t really about the program. It was mostly about Harbaugh: Unquestionably one of the great college coaches of the modern era.
Yes, Michigan is technically the winningest program in the history of college football, a designation it cherishes and promotes proudly. It has the Big House, the fight song everyone remembers, the iconic uniforms and a long list of alums that includes some of the greatest football players of all-time.
But it is not a top-tier college football powerhouse in the same way that Alabama or Ohio State has been. Before this season, it owned half of a national title since the sport was integrated. It doesn’t have a massive amount of in-state talent that it can draw from to churn out top-10 recruiting classes. And it’s a place where, as we’ve seen, things can go wrong pretty easily.
Between Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr, the two coaches who followed Bo Schembechler, there were some pretty good seasons and quite a few mediocre ones. Rich Rodriguez was flat-out lousy in his three years. Brady Hoke, who somehow lasted four, was something…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jim-harbaugh-leaves-alma-mater-021700514.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-25 02:17:00
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