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Jim Harbaugh: Should Michigan Fans Still Fear a Move to the Colts?

By Chris Peterson

Feb 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks to the media during the special event, "Signing of the Stars," at Hill Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY NETWORK
Feb 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks to the media during the special event, "Signing of the Stars," at Hill Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh may not leave anytime soon, but are Wolverine fans justified in their fears of him bolting for the Indianapolis Colts?

Unless you have been under a rock someplace, if you are a Michigan football fan, you know about satellite camps.

Related Story: Jim Harbaugh has made Michigan an NFL factory

Well yesterday, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh hosted one such camp in Indianapolis, near his old stomping groups, as he was the Colts’ starting quarterback from 1994-97, helping the team to the playoffs twice and earning a Pro Bowl berth in 1995.

Certainly, Harbaugh’s camp yesterday had nothing do to with the Colts, except for the fact that it was in Indianapolis, but then, the coach removed his sweatshirt, which revealed him in a blue #12 jersey that belongs to one Andrew Luck.

Luck, who was groomed by Harbaugh at Stanford, is, of course, the Colts starting quarterback. He’s also one of the biggest reasons why the Colts are seen as one of the few teams that could lure the Michigan man back to the NFL.

And even though I consider myself a rationale Michigan follower, I have to admit I found something unsettling about Harbaugh sporting Luck’s number.

Assuredly, it was just about promotion and paying homage to not only the player, but the team and the city. However, that doesn’t mean that someday that nightmare scenario could turn from a bad dream into a reality.

Many may roll their eyes at this idea and honestly I don’t blame you. I only ask that you hear me out.

I know that the Colts and current head coach Chuck Pagano just agreed on a four-year extension, but in the NFL contracts mean squat. If the Colts go 4-12 next season, you really think Pagano would still have a job?

Now that’s not likely to happen, especially not if Luck is healthy and back in full force.

Does Jim Harbaugh want another shot at coaching Andrew Luck?Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Does Jim Harbaugh want another shot at coaching Andrew Luck?Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

No, the fear of Harbaugh bolting for Indy isn’t about next season, or even the following one, but after that, if the Colts still haven’t won big with Luck, then all bets are off.

If say, by the end of the 2017 season, the Colts are still stuck in neutral, you think they would hesitate for fire Pagano and pursue Harbaugh with all they’ve got?

Yea me neither.

And while I certainly don’t expect Harbaugh to leave Michigan, his alma-mater, after just a few seasons, the lure of Indy, the NFL and Luck would could be hard for him to pass up.

Harbaugh is a quirky guy and he’s tailor-made to coach college football. But he loves to compete and he loves challenges.

Right now, he’s focused with the challenge of winning and winning BIG at Michigan. There is no doubt about that. And truthfully, I don’t see him leaving until he achieves that goal.

However, it seems that a Big Ten Championship and even a berth in the College Football Playoff could happen much sooner than expected and if it does, would Harbaugh feel good enough about Michigan football to leave it in the hands of someone else?

I know I’m being crazy, but that’s part of fandom. I think we are all getting used to Michigan being back among the elite programs in college football and Harbaugh, more than any other, is the reason why.

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In the end, we can’t predict the future, we can only enjoy the present, but here’s hoping that someday, we will count the Harbaugh era by decades (like with Bo) not just years.

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