Michigan Football: The pros and cons of firing Jim Harbaugh
Right now, Michigan football finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place with Jim Harbaugh and here’s a look at both sides of the argument.
Just about every fan, analyst and pundit has made their feelings known about Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh. One person we haven’t heard from though, is Warde Manuel.
Manuel is Michigan’s athletic director and as far as Jim Harbaugh’s job security, his opinion is really the only one that matters.
When the Wolverines first started struggling, it seemed like a long shot that Michigan football would move on from Harbaugh, especially after both he and Manuel openly talked about their desire to do an extension.
Some have even speculated a contract may already be done and signed, it just wasn’t announced during the pandemic. That’s just a rumor and I don’t believe it to be true, but the two men could essentially have some sort of verbal agreement in place, otherwise why was Harbaugh so nonchalant about it?
A lot has changed since Harbaugh said he had “bigger fish to fry” than his contract and now that his team is 2-4 and looking like one of the Big Ten’s worst teams, you wonder if he regrets not getting a deal done earlier.
But while most fans, although not all, want Harbaugh to go, the ball is in Manuel’s court and one way or another, he needs to act fast — either give Jim a new deal or his walking papers.
There really isn’t any middle ground here, which makes it even more difficult.
Harbaugh can’t go into next season as a lame-duck head coach. That’s no way to try and build a staff or recruit.
So basically that leaves Manuel with this choice: Extend Harbaugh or fire him.
It’s not an easy call and no Michigan fan should have arrived at the place where they want Harbaugh to leave easily.
It hurts seeing him fail. I honestly believed he was Michigan’s Urban Meyer or Nick Saban and it just has not come true. Can it with more time or is it time to cut bait?
We weigh the pros and cons for each side.