Soooo……I bin thinkin’
Is the 2019 football season ‘crunch time’ for not only Harbaugh but also for Warde?
Harbaugh’s contract is up after the 2021 season; 2 and a half years from now; and I’m wonderring at which point in time Manuel either extends this or gives Harbaugh a new one or lets it simply expire and Michigan & Harbaugh part ways?
Difficult for Warde to give Harbaugh a new one If after 5 or 6 years (maybe by year 7?) he hasn’t won any kind of championship coupled with Harbaugh’s dismal record against the Buckeyes.
Also, Warde doesn’t at all, I wouldn’t think, want to be ‘that guy’ who basically has to ‘fire’ Harbaugh by simply letting his current contract run out.
Let me get this on the record – Harbaugh has been very good for Michigan. This cannot be denied:
In terms of National PR, Fan interest, recruiting, $$$ flowing into the AD and profits funneled to the University, etc BUT! if this guy can’t produce results on the field at some point Michigan WILL have to move on forcing Warde to make a very hard & tough decision that no one realy wants.
At what point does this time arrive? what events will have to take place?
Harbaugh’s predecessor, Hoke, was done in by a declining failure of on field results followed by fan apathy by not attending home games (an emptying Big House) and an ensuing lack of interest by potential recruits…….. this all lead as well to a declining positive image of the University of Michigan, in general.
The 2019 season is, I’m thinking, extremely pivotal for Warde Manuel and Michigan Football. Warde absolutely needs Harbaugh to have a successful season this fall meaning either beating OSU or winning the Big Ten East or both in ordered to justify giving/extending a new Harbaugh contract.
Without this on field success Warde simply cannot justify it and yet without it, it may be the beginning of not only Fan Apathy but also a negative effect on future recruiting IF these potential recruits begin to sense that Harbaugh won’t be there…….. The very things that lead to Hoke’s removal.
The 2019 Michigan Football season, then, is at a historical crossroad. If successful the Harbaugh era most certainly will continue; but if not it may be the beginning of its end.
As I See It………….INTJohn
