Michigan Football: Has Jim Harbaugh been treated unfairly?

Jim Harbaugh has drawn a lot of criticism in his three seasons as Michigan football head coach but is all of it warranted?

When Jim Harbaugh became the head coach of the Michigan football program, many viewed him as the savior — as the man who would finally turn the Wolverines back into a national program.

And as he gets ready to enter his fourth season, there are a lot of mixed opinions about the job he has done as Michigan football coach. Some think he should be on the hot seat and many are critical of his poor record in big games and against his main rivals.

In three seasons, Harbaugh is 0-3 against Ohio State and 1-2 against Michigan State. Beyond that, Harbaugh has struggled to beat other good teams. He does have one top-10 win, over Wisconsin, but that’s it.

Yet, while many say Harbaugh has failed to meet expectations, the question is, what were those expectations in the first place?

When Harbaugh came to Ann Arbor, it was on the heels of Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez. After Michigan football won 11 games in Hoke’s first season, the Wolverines trended down to eight wins, then seven and then five in 2014.

During Hoke’s final two seasons, the Wolverines posted a record of 6-10 in Big Ten play. Not only was UM not a national title contender, it wasn’t even a contender in the Big Ten.

Fast forward to 2015 and what did Harbaugh do with many of the same players? He won 10 games that first season and posted a 6-2 record in the Big Ten. Going into the final weekend, Michigan had a chance to win the Big Ten East, had it been able to beat Ohio State and get some help.

Obviously, it didn’t happen but at least the team contended again. The Wolverines were a contender in 2016 too. They finished 10-2 but had a few bounces and one really bad call (J.T Barrett spot) gone their way, they would have won the division, maybe the Big Ten and probably played in the College Football Playoff.

Last season was obviously a disappointment, but UM still went 8-5 and Harbaugh nearly beat the mighty Buckeyes with John O’Korn, yes John O’Korn as his starting quarterback. Michigan lost last November to Ohio State but not because it has an inferior coach.

When Harbaugh came to Michigan, he brought the hype with him and he pushed it as far as he could to re-establish Michigan as a hot name in college football recruiting. But looking back, that also allowed expectations to spiral out of control.

We all knew it was going to take Jim time to build a national title contender. Incredibly, he had Michigan football competing with the best within two years. Now, in year four, the Wolverines have a stud quarterback, a great defense and a chance to contend again in the Big Ten and beyond.

Many want to say it’s a make or break year for Harbaugh and many more have called him overrated but they are wrong. He’s one of the best coaches in college football. He has proved it for three seasons and he’s just reaching the surface of what he can achieve at Michigan.

Harbaugh will still have his critics, likely until he gets Michigan to the College Football Playoff. However, to say he is one of the most overrated coaches in the country is pure nonsense. The truth is that he has done an extraordinary job at UM, he just doesn’t get the credit he deserves.