Stewart Mandel lists the top 25 college head football coaches (LINK). Unlike his buddy Bruce Feldman, Mandel doesn’t have Jim Harbaugh in the top 25. How does a guy who’s won 10 games in three of the last four seasons not end up in the top 25? I listened to The Audible, Mandel and Feldman’s podcast, and Mandel’s excuse was that the expectation should be higher at Michigan. By the way, Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern (Mandel’s alma mater) is #17.
Here’s the longer Rich Eisen interview with Chase Winovich:
The COLDEST routes of the season ??? pic.twitter.com/HeLrV35o13
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) March 7, 2019
You need to login in order to vote
Funny how many sports writers and coaches are jealous of Jim Harbaugh.
I think Michigan’s growth under Jim Harbaugh was set back by Greg Frey and Pep Hamilton. For whatever reason neither worked out well at Michigan.
Ed Warinner is righting the ship in area of the O Line. Hopefully the offensive coaching moves will right the passing game. I’, leery about that though. I wish Harbaugh had hired people with much more experience.
You need to login in order to vote
I listened to the same podcast. I don’t think Mandel gives Harbaugh enough credit given the two prior disastrous coaching regimes. I also think program in better shape than it was under Carr, at least towards the end of his career. If we consistently win 10 games with a chance at Big Ten championship every years and NC in some years, don’t see how he does not make top 25. It is not like Michigan is a blue chip state, unlike OSU.
You need to login in order to vote
Not in the top 25 is absurd on its face. Are there 25 other coaches who’ve done better than 10 wins in 3 of the last 4 years? I get that he’s grading on a curve, but even if you compare Harbaugh to coaches at peer programs (USC, Texas, Tennessee, etc.), he’s doing fine.
What hurts Harbaugh is the (erroneous) belief that M and OSU should be equals because they’re rivals.
You need to login in order to vote