Getty Image / Gregory Shamus
It’s that time of the year again where Michigan’s season has officially hit the status of disappointing so the Jim Harbaugh rumors are flying.
The Wolverines are 5-2 on the year with a blowout loss at Wisconsin and most recently a tough seven-point loss at Penn State. Things could be worse in Ann Arbor, but it’s looking like Harbaugh will keep his streak alive of losing at least three games per season as Michigan’s head coach.
The latest rumor to come about is that Harbaugh may just be over this whole college football thing and that he may be trying to get the hell out of there and make a return to the NFL.
A rumor like that does nothing but hurt Michigan on the recruiting front and Harbaugh was quick to write a note to the parents of recruits calling the rumors ‘total crap,’ via Sam Webb of 247 Sports.
“Dear Parents,
I am reaching out to let you know that the recent claims that I am “pursuing an exit strategy” are total crap. It’s an annual strategy driven by our enemies to cause disruption to our program and to negatively recruit. By the way, I don’t even have an “agent or representative.”
I am committed to your sons, their education and to their development as football players and people. Please excuse the informality of this letter but I felt that it was important to get this out to you as quickly as possible.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Happy to discuss.
Go Blue!
Jim Harbaugh”
This could all just be a play for Harbaugh to keep things status quo for just a bit longer at Michigan, but it certainly sounds like he’s all-in with the Wolverines now and in the future.
Michigan is in an interesting spot here as well. Harbaugh is the third highest-paid coach in college football making over $7.5 million per year and his contract has a buyout of $11.687 million as of December 1st of this year.
The expectations for Harbaugh since he stepped foot on campus have been incredibly lofty, and while some things have been blown out of proportion, there’s no hiding the facts that he’s never won more than 10 games at Michigan, hasn’t ever played for a Big Ten title or beaten Ohio State.