oldblueypsi

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.

With tongue firmly implanted in cheek, I must report: NEWS FLASH!! Tom Monaghan was named interim head football coach at the University of Michigan this afternoon. Said Dave Brandon, Michigan AD, "Tom built a pizza empire out of nothing. At one time, he didn't even have a building. At least we have a building." Monaghan was quick to announce that off-season conditioning would consist of the football players delivering pizzas on foot (no motorized delivery) and that all pizzas would arrive within 30 minutes. Monaghan recently signed an outsource pizza delivery contract his old firm, Domino's. For the delivery service in the greater Ann Arbor area and other unspecified responsibilities, Domino's will pay the University Sports Department an annual fee of $2.5 million. Brandon glowed as he introduced his former mentor. Asked about the "interim" designation for Monaghan, Brandon replied: "One of Tom's responsiblities will to assist in hiring the next permanent head coach. Tom brings a personal fortune to the table. If the person we want as head coach is unwilling or unable to leave his current employer, we'll simply buy that corporation and reassign the individual."

The Black Stallion3

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 3:25 p.m.

You have to admit....so far I am right....tomorrow you will see the rest of the prediction come true.

The Black Stallion3

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.

Like I said this morning....Jim Harbaugh will be coming to Michigan football program, the announcement will be made Wednesday January 5, 2011. RR will be fired today.

Enforcer

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.

Well it is starting to hit the news waves that Rich has been fired

Enforcer

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.

Good point XTR

XTR

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.

"What was it, seven years(?), that Harbaugh spent on the sidelines watching Michigan coaches (Bo) and assistant coaches (LC, GM, his dad) BEFORE he played for UofM? How's that "being developed" by other programs? Harbaugh is smart and learned a lot on the sidelines as a kid." Errrrr... You did not understand my point? When Jimmy applied as QB coach at Lloyd's staff where was Michigan? When Univ of San Diego offered Jimmy where was Michigan? When Stanford offered Jimmy where was Michigan? 3 years ago when Lloyd retired where was Michigan? Why is it when these aces were not established, Michigan ignores their own produce and went with coaches from West Virginia! lol! Now that Les is a National Champion coach and Jimmy is a BCS bowl winning coach, it will be harder to get them come back. It was LSU that gambled and gave Les an opportunity to coach and it was Stanford that gambled to give Jimmy a chance to prove themselves as coaches. Michigan only calls after they have proven something.

Enforcer

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 2:12 p.m.

I hope you are right J. Dean. For Michigan's sake, and my sanity

J. Dean

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 2:10 p.m.

@Chris, Don't put too much stock in that article yet. There have been three or four "confirmed sources" saying three or four different things, so right now nothing's settled.

Enforcer

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.

I always liked Harbaugh, but it appears he will not be coming. Now what? Here is the link to the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5987608

XTR

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 12:09 p.m.

It will only be over when JH speaks to the media on what he will do AFTER he speaks with DB and was offered the UM job. Why would JH comment or think about a job that is not even offered to him? DB should dismiss Rod, then goes and talks to Jim afterwards. UM AD should be sharp to recognize coaching aces before they are discovered by other programs. Jim and Les would easily go back to AA before they were discovered by Stanford and LSU. If they already established themselves in other programs, it will be hard for them to go back. Is Brady Hoke a big time coaching ace? We will never know for sure. But some big program from a big conference will poach him from SDS sooner or later and give him a chance to prove his worth. BH will come to UM now with ease, if he strikes gold somewhere else later on, it will be hard to come back.

Joe

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 11:20 a.m.

I just read that DB and RR will meet early this afternoon and then meet with the team at 7:00PM tonight. I kind of gather that the meetings, and any announcements will only address the RR situation, but if all we find out today is that RR is gone.....WOOOOOOPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

michboy40

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 11:09 a.m.

Why is this news? Jon Harbaugh himself said last week that his brother would probably end up right back at Stanford. If not that, then the Niners, Broncos, or Panthers in that order. Michigan is 5th on the list, and has been for the whole month. Michigan is not going to attract a big name coach with all of the nonsense going on in the program, the media, and the fan base. Michigan is not special. I may have been at one time in the past, but the rest of college football does not see us the same way we see ourselves. We should have taken a chance on Harbaugh 3 years ago, but instead all you heard was, "he's not ready", and, "he has not proven himself at this level"...blah blah blah. Stanford had faith in him and it paid off. Who we hire, or retain, is not relevant. Getting the fan base behind that coach and supporting him is what is important. SO far, the fans and media have not shown an ability to do that. We are screwing ourselves. So do us all a favor and welcome the new coach and his ideas, and give him a fighting chance. If Brandon keeps Rich Rod, then give him a ligit chance to see what he can do with a new D coordinator. I don't know why I'm bothing, because I know it's just going to be a blitz storm if Harbaugh is not our coach by the end of the week.

mgoblue48348

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:59 a.m.

Thanks Dave

mgoblue48348

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:58 a.m.

AZ Thats more wishful thinking on the freepass than fact, anyone can say whatever they want at that paper. There is no editor there if there were he would have had the practice-gate article rewrote by Angelique so it would have some jounalistic integrity toward the School. Until we call a press conference it will be a free for all of at the Freepass on what will or won't happen concerning a possible coaching vacancy.

Bluewolverine

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:53 a.m.

Brady Hoke is a great choice and would bring the same excitement that Jim Harbough has to offer. These two coaches are built for Michigan football. Did anyone notice how much the tight end was used in the Stanford game, thats Michigan football. Don't worry fans Jim or Brady would be great fits but RR has to go! Someone mentioned how impressed they were with the way the Stanford players handled themselves thats discipline, respect and team work. Michigan needs that back before they can be a powerhouse again.

David Vande Bunte

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:53 a.m.

mgoblue48348, Cam Cameron is currently the offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens, I think. It is unlikely that he would leave the Ravens to come back to the college right now, given that the Ravens are in the NFL playoffs. Wouldn't that be interesting though, Michigan getting a coach that currently works for Jim Harbaugh's little brother John? LOL

mgoblue48348

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:45 a.m.

Does anyone know the where-abouts of Cam Cameron? He was the QB coach years ago at Michigan then he landed the head coaching job at Indiana, he was let go but I felt he would make a great head coach somewhere. He went pro I am thinking Carolina or somewhere like that but I am not sure what he is doing today.

J. Dean

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:22 a.m.

I say Les Miles. He can work with this group, and get a stronger defense if nothing else.

azwolverine

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 9:50 a.m.

I read in the Freep and heard on ESPN this morning that Harbaugh is not coming to Michigan. Brandon better have a plan B, because RR returning to Michigan is unacceptable.

J. Dean

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 9:46 a.m.

So if not Harbaugh, then who?

David Vande Bunte

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 9:36 a.m.

You can choose to take the Freep article at face value, or not. Wasn't it also sources extremely close to the situation that supposedly told Kirk Herbstreit that Les Miles was signed, sealed, and delivered 3 years ago? There are a couple of ways to take the Freep article. 1. It is the truth. If that is the case, Jim Harbaugh isn't coming, and there is nothing we can do about it. 2. It is a deliberate attempt at misinformation, in which case Jim Harbaugh has already made up his mind to come to Michigan, and is trying to keep the news of it on the down low. 3. The source isn't as close to Harbaugh as they claim, and really have no inside information. This would mean that Jim probably hasn't made up his mind yet. 4. The supposed source close to the information is none other than Kirk Herbstreit, and he is attempting to sabotage Michigan AGAIN because he sucks. Haven't we learned by now that until something actually happens, we can't trust a word that comes out of a coach's mouth? The Freep article might be true, but it might not. Until Jim Harbaugh actually accepts a coaching position somewhere, holds a press conference to announce he is staying put, Dave Brandon holds a press conference to say RichRod gets another year, or something like that, take anything you read about the situation with a grain of salt.

I love Michigan Football

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 6:58 a.m.

Wow, the Harbaugh to Michigan went south real quick in the media the past 24 hours. Shefter reports he thinks it's Michigan last week and that was the only source to that point that knew anything. Now all of a sudden all these reporters have inside guys getting their info even though Harbs isn't saying a word to the media. We just have to sit and wait, and hopefully things will work out in the end. I think it is possible that he just stays at Stanford, but who knows? I just hope Rodriguez isn't our coach by Thursday.

DennisP

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 6:51 a.m.

3 and Out, you really hit the nail on the head. If Martin didn't screw up royal with his arrogant attitude and that of his rich alumni buddies, he could have easily hired Harbaugh back in 2007. By now we would have beaten OSU and been in a BCS more than once. And, we wouldn't have paid millions and need to pay millions more. Still, no sense in crying over spilled milk. Brandon needs to pull every card out he can and try to get Harbaugh here. The problem isn't the NFL, the problem is the 49ers. It's easy to accept millions from them and stay at home in the San Fran area where Harbaugh has a huge following. Any improvement in the 49ers and Harbaugh will own N. California. Hard to compete with that.

bluenuts

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 6:50 a.m.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that everyone is saying that they're sure Harbaugh is going to either stay at Stanford, go to Michigan, or go to San Francisco. In other words, its all speculation. Until the announcement is made no one will know.

BlueGator

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.

If JH is out of the picture, I'm assuming that DB has at least a Plan B. Harbaugh, as good a fit as it might seem, cannot be the only good coaching alternative Brandon sees out there. I just hope Plan B isn't to keep RR.

3 And Out

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:30 a.m.

Freep reporting that Harbs is either 49er or will stay at Stanford. Tough on Brandon...he sort of screwed this up unless he can land a solid coach. That said, in all honesty if Bill Martin would have interviewed Harbaugh in 07, a lot of this could have been avoided then. Harbaugh should have been our coach in 07.... as for now, it looks like it wont happen. Im out.

GettingBluer

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:25 a.m.

XTR wrote "Michigan is now caught up again with going after "established" coaches. Sad thing is that these coaches who came from the UM program were developed by other programs and that will make it harder for UM to attract these coaches back to UM." What was it, seven years(?), that Harbaugh spent on the sidelines watching Michigan coaches (Bo) and assistant coaches (LC, GM, his dad) BEFORE he played for UofM? How's that "being developed" by other programs? Harbaugh is smart and learned a lot on the sidelines as a kid.

XTR

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:17 a.m.

TheBlackStallion - There will not be any announcement on a new coach (JH or not) before the announcement that RR is dismissed (if ever). We are waiting for DB to act on RR first before any news about a new coach.

XTR

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:12 a.m.

Michigan is now caught up again with going after "established" coaches. Sad thing is that these coaches who came from the UM program were developed by other programs and that will make it harder for UM to attract these coaches back to UM. After that win by Stanford and if Andrew Luck returns, it will be really hard for UM to convince anybody who could be running for the national championship next year to come to AA and fix all the mess RR did. Years ago, when Les was with Okla State and when Jim was with USD, these then unpolished coaching aces that the UM program produced, would have came back in a heartbeat to coach at UM. Now that they have established their own programs elsewhere, it will be hard to come back.

The Black Stallion3

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 4:55 a.m.

News Flash...........Jim Harbaugh will be coming to Michigan football program, the announcement will be made Wednesday January 5, 2011.

XTR

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 4:52 a.m.

After watching the game, there is no question that JH is a masterful coach who can detail and get the most of the talent at hand. This coaching situation now is like the lord of the rings. Many sub plots and sub stories on many personalities but everything is so unclear. Will DB fire RR? If so when? Will JH be interviewed or be offered the job? If so will he accept? The pro jobs will be there this year and next and will always pay big money, will JH leave CFB for the NFL? There is the other scenario of just stay put at Stanford, accept the new deal and extension and lead the Cardinal to a national championship run next year with his QB Luck. We will see in the next few days how things work out. We will see what Dave Brandon has up his sleeves.

NoBowl4Blue

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 4:16 a.m.

What does it matter if JH becomes coach as long as Rich Rod aka cry baby isn't it will be a vast improvement.

Bryan

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.

Just because friggin' John Elway was at the game doesn't mean anything Robbies Boyfriend. He went to Stanford and he's the VP or whatever at Denver now, big deal. What does Denver have anyways? 49ers are more set up for success than the Broncos. Harbaugh's heart will lead him back to Ann Arbor.

Mick

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 1:45 a.m.

Hey Robbie, what are you talking about? Huh? Elway went to Stanford, DB has nothing to do with Stanford, ok? It would be classless of DB to have even been there. If Harbaugh wants to be coach at UM, he will have that chance I'm pretty sure. A buddy of mine who supposedly knows someone in the know, says JH is going to Denver, I call baloney on that, but we shall see. Did you guys watch with as much jaw dropping as I did during that game? Man, I mean Stanford looked so organized and there playcalling was so well mixed up and executed. They looked so efficient and the way they conducted themselves in the interview after the game, Holtz was so impressed as were the rest of the ESPN guys. I want that at UM, and can you imagine the CACHE we would have w/JH as coach, makes me salivate in a Football kinda way! Go Blue!! And go get Harbaugh!!!

Jaysham

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 1:29 a.m.

Harbaugh will be our next Head Coach mark it down if I'm wrong I will post on here that I was drinking the Harbaugh Kool-Aid and will change my screen name to Kool-Aid Man. But I know I won't have to. At least Rich Fraud will finally be gone for good and we can look forward to a new era with Michigan Football being relevent again and not some bad turn over prone bad coached pick up style football team with a gimmick offense and gimmick defense with clueless assistant coaches besides Fred Jackson who is a good coach and person. We need to get back to playing with a swagger of old and have a head coach that knows what Michigan Football is all about! GO BLUE!

RobbiesBoyfriend

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.

So john elway was an honarary captain and was on the sideline and I'm still supposed to think there is a chance he comes to Michigan? Where was David Brandon during the game? Was he on the sidelines? Was he in a suite? Was he even in the same state as harbaugh?