Michigan & Harbaugh: What's Next?

Jim Harbaugh at his introductory presser today in Ann Arbor *Bleacher Report* 

"Jim is home. Jim is home as much as you are, sitting at home reading this. And this most be distinctly understood if anything wonderful is to come of the story I am about to relate." - Charles Dickens (Kinda Dickens...ya know with a twist). Okay please tell me you got both Dickens  references there.... Okay back to Jim.

Yes, Jim Harbaugh has arrived. The savior has come to bestow his grace, khakis, turtlenecks, headset, and craziness to Ann Arbor. Yes, he chose to come home. He shunned the NFL, the shield has been shunned for the world of college football. How could he? Why for Michigan of course. As much as I can go on about the glory of Michigan, and why anybody wouldn't want to come back to the hallowed halls of Michigan; football here is a religion. If you're a fan, a student, an alumni, or a player you know the importance of football at the University of Michigan. This university lives and dies with it's football program. Once you're apart of the legends, and the leaders and best you're in it for life. Even if you drift over the lands far from Ann Arbor, the loud, ringing cheers of the Big House echo and call you back to the holy cathedral that is Michigan. Harbuagh has grown up here and had a life long course in the doctrines of Michigan. He's a Bo disciple and player.

"Like you know your name, I know Michigan football and believe in Michigan football," said Harbaugh Tuesday at his noon press conference in Ann Arbor.

He knows the importance, and expectations because he lived them firsthand. He signed his seven year $35 million contract and his work begins now. This is the nice beautiful surface, now it's time to grow the garden in the home he wants to build at Michigan. He can't hide the fact there is work to be done. And work it is.

Harbaugh during his playing days as the Wolverines QB *Grantland.com*

The only guarantee is that he is the next coach of Michigan. There is no guarantee that a W will come every Saturday in the fall. This team has a lot of work needed. The first is the QB position. Denard Robinson was the last good "QB" who carried the wolverines down the field, and his replacements, Devin Gardner and Shane Morris, were about as much a replacement as a red door on a green car. Still a door but just bad looking, it gets the job done, just not very well. Shane Morris is the only one in the QB corps who has played a down of college football. Alex Malzone, the highly touted Brother Rice recruit, hasn't even strapped on a winged helmet, who knows how good he will be on the college field; where every player is just is good talent-wise as he is. Wilton Speight, is the red-shirt freshmen who is in the same boat as Malzone. Another concern is the offense in general. Zero run game, no passing game, and a horrible offensive line. The defense as well loses a key guy at each level. Getting guys to fill the spots during recruiting is where it have to be done.

Recruiting is a small percent of the battle of winning on the grid iron. Recruiting is looked at as the crystal ball for future success. It's not; not even close. Yes, getting the best players in the country is obviously a wonderful thing. It's not the only thing; developing players is. Brady Hoke had great recruits but the results of all that talent were nothing. Harbaugh is inheriting those Hoke recruits, and they have massive amounts of untapped talent. Harbaugh will have to develop them into the best players they can be. Once that is done, the W's can and will flow in. It's not a question of can he but will he?

Harbaugh's words at his introductory press conference convey the message that he is here to stay. He wants to carry on the traditions of Michigan. He's not comfortable being the savior of Michigan and he can't be looked upon as such. It's unfair to him. Michigan fans cannot have high hopes right away and anyone who knows the game, knows that it will take a few seasons before Michigan is back to national prominence. We cannot look too far into the press conference. After all, Hoke had a great presser. Look where that one ended up.

Dont get me wrong. Harbaugh is a great coach and he has succeeded at all levels. We won't know how he has succeeded at Michigan until he starts winning. Again it's not a question of can he? It's will he?

New Look

For those of you who followed The "Original" Conference Gazette well this is it now. I've changed the name and the things I cover. Now it's all about Michigan and Michigan State. For my schedule, trying to cover all 14 teams was becoming too hard. Focusing now on the two teams I know best I'll be able to bring better writing to the sports table. This blog will mainly focus on the two Big Ten teams in the Great Lakes State. I hope any of you who followed along will still stick around now especially if you are a fan of MSU or U of M. Paul Bunyan Nation will provide commentary and coverage of Michigan and Michigan State sports as well as university news. I encourage both MSU and U of M fans to follow along as I cover both teams. I hope that those of you who read this will enjoy!

-Stephen

Harbaugh: It'll be good or bad

As news breaks that Jim Harbaugh is headed to Michigan, three words come to mind. Boom or Bust. Either Harbaugh will make Michigan great (and it's not official he's coming yet; his John Hancock hasn't been smeared across any Victors contract) or he'll just continue the trend Michigan has seen recently. The signing of Harbaugh will definitely stop the dumpster fire from burning down Main Street in Ann Arbor but it won't stop the ashes from smoldering. There is no guarantee for success, as it is with all coaching hires. Just think, the 49ers had it good for a bit but now it's a different story.

Harbaugh is obviously a big name. One that will draw attention from all over but his name doesn't guarantee W's at the Big House. It's what he does with what he has. Obviously he inherits Brady Hoke's recruiting class and he'll have to actually develop them. Remember, recruiting is only part of winning; developing talent is the other. Harbaugh's name will cause a stir among recruits but he'll have to recruit for his system. Remember who else was a great recruiter? Brady Hoke. How'd that one end up?

Rich Rodriguez and Hoke were supposed to be saviors of Michigan much as Harbaugh will be. Not everything pans out as supposed to. The victories may not come right away. Michigan has no QB, (Alex Malzone hasn't dawned a winged helmet yet), horrible run game, and atrocious defense. Harbaugh has to turn everything round first before Michigan can win a game. Harbaugh also inherits a Big Ten East Division with talented and fast MSU and Ohio State. Not an easy first year.

Can it be done? Yes it can. But will it? Most likely not. Harbaugh, if he coaches how he is capable he can and will turn around Michigan. The fan base just can't get greedy. Nothing is guaranteed and it will take three years before Michigan will win a Big Ten title. The name Michigan doesn't carry the weight it used to. It can but things will have to be different otherwise those smoldering ashes will find a new spark and com-bust into a larger dumpster fire.

A New Dawn for Michigan

The sun will come up tomorrow. That's been the phrase uttered across maize and blue country recently and when the sun finally breaks on December 3, 2014 a new day will bring a new start for Michigan.

Yes, rejoice and be glad Michigan fans. Your once hailed coach (pun intended), is now riding off into life without Michigan to the tune of millions you owe him. Brady Hoke didn't go out to taps nor will he be recognized on the street as the epitome of the Michigan Man. Hoke will drift off as a distant memory. Sure you'll hear his name muttered over the next few days, weeks, and months, but when the new coach raises his fists to the beat of the Victors you'll have soon forgotten the name Brady Hoke. You'll forget the Sugar Bowl victory and the non-headset, but you won't forget how they made you feel. Perhaps you might find yourself wishing 2011 Hoke was coach, if your new headset wearing man roaming the sidelines at the Big House doesn't win right away. But that won't happen right? This is Michigan for God sakes. (Will the real Rich Rodriguez please stand up?)

Michigan starts the hunt all over again and this time the stakes are higher. From what it sounds like, Interim AD Jim Hackett is steering the ship to where it needs to go. No more Michigan Man nonsense may just be the right path. History matters when talking about history. History doesn't win the game or build the program in 2014. You want to win? Find the guy who wins and get on your knees and beg. No coach is begging to come to Michigan. Step one is admitting you have a problem. Being open and honest is the best policy. Come out and say we made mistakes, and we're going to fix them with all we can muster. It's a new road for a once unblemished program. Now is a new day to start over and rebuild.

Good Luck Ann Arbor.