After absolutely dominating what everybody thought would be a solid Minnesota team in Week 1, Michigan went into Saturday’s game against Michigan State as a three-touchdown favorite.
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But if you actually watched the entire game, it was clear that Michigan was the better team, and Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh should be embarrassed with his team’s performance.
Following the loss, plenty of national media members bashed Harbaugh.
Here are some of the highlights (or lowlights):
Michigan is in the middle of the most unusual contract situation in college football, employing a coach it purportedly wants to keep for a long time but whose deal will expire after the 2021 season.
At some point between now and then, Michigan will either have to make another expensive and long-term commitment to Jim Harbaugh or cut bait and admit that he simply can’t get done there what once seemed inevitable.
The answer is starting to become clear: The Harbaugh era is doomed to mediocrity, frustration and unfulfilled promise, and both sides need to figure out how to engineer a graceful exit.
Defending Jim Harbaugh is starting to feel like a losing proposition. #SpartyParty
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) October 31, 2020
Amid its sixth season, the Jim Harbaugh experience at Michigan has officially flipped. It began with carnival barker attention and overzealous amounts of Big Blue optimism. It teased within inches of national prominence on the infamous J.T. Barrett fourth-down play at Ohio State in 2016.
But after No. 13 Michigan’s 27-24 home loss to 24-point underdog Michigan State, the Harbaugh experience has spiraled into a predictable heap of uninspired mediocrity.
Michigan has failed its brand and history so resplendently that opposing fan bases are openly rooting for Harbaugh to get a lifetime contract. Don’t laugh, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said just last year he wants Harbaugh to “retire here.” Hail to the Underachievers, this is one topic the Big Ten can finally all agree on. Even Nebraska.
The latest Michigan flop under Harbaugh marks the low point of his unremarkable tenure at Michigan. Michigan State entered the game fresh off a brow beating from Rutgers, and instead of burying Mel Tucker’s recruiting juice locally, Harbaugh delivered a triple shot of adrenaline to his nascent tenure.
Folks, is it time to move on from Jim Harbaugh or just accept that this is what Michigan is now?
