New book explains why Jim Harbaugh left Michigan football

Jim Harbaugh is now the head coach of the Chargers and appears to be loving life. However, according to a new book written by John Talty and Armen Keteyian titled, “The Price: What It Takes to Win in College Football’s Era of Chaos" Harbaugh actually wanted to remain as the Michigan football head coach.

Looking back, this probably won't surprise Michigan football fans. It felt like the Wolverines could have kept Harbaugh if they offered what they did at the end, much earlier in the process. It was hard to figure out why they didn't and I still don't get why it felt like everything possible wasn't being done.

I said that Michigan should have offered to make Harbaugh the highest-paid coach the same day the NCAA allegations about "burger gate" came out. Or they could have signed him to an extension during the Big Ten's tom-foolery, but U-M didn't do that and paid the price. Here's an excerpt from the new book:

“During a two-day getaway with his wife Sarah on Coronado Island off the coast of San Diego, Harbaugh unloaded to longtime friend Todd Anson. He told Anson he wanted to remain at Michigan but believed Manuel—no matter his public pronouncements—was not the advocate he needed in his corner, particularly in front of the Board of Regents. He also raged against Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who before the three-game Big Ten suspension had promised to meet Harbaugh in Ann Arbor and brief him on what the conference was doing, only to stand him up. [Through a spokesperson, Petitti declined an interview request.]"

Harbaugh's attitude toward Manuel changed once the Chargers interviewed him, according to the book, but by then it was too late. Whoever showed Jim the love was going to get him and that wasn't Michigan football, thanks to Warde Manuel.