Michigan football fans are conflicted at the moment.
On one hand, if you told them in 2014 that Jim Harbaugh would be their head coach, he’d stay in Ann Arbor for nine years, and that his tenure would culminate in three straight wins over Ohio State and a national championship, they would have taken that in a heartbeat.
In fact, many fans and people in the media predicted Harbaugh would bolt to the NFL if he ever won a national championship. Which is precisely what he did.
However, much of the Wolverine ecosphere has directed blame on athletic director Warde Manuel for Harbaugh’s departure. However, in speaking to The Detroit News’ Angelique Chengelis on Thursday night (subscription required), Harbaugh not only knew he was wanted in Ann Arbor, he said “there is no villain” associated with his leaving for an NFL job.
“I know I was wanted (at Michigan),” he said. “In the sixth grade, my English teacher introduced the concept of critical reading. This concept of (not) believing everything you hear or everything you read … it’s all good. And you know what? The proof was in the pudding.
“There is no villain. I’ve long thought this: When a coach leaves, the only way everybody’s happy is if that coach dies. They’re either mad at him for leaving, or he’s mad at them for firing him. Glad I’ve got a future. Glad I’m alive. What I’m sad that I’m not going to be a part of is this passing of the torch from, for example, J.J. (McCarthy) to Jayden Denegal or Alex Orji. The day J.J. declared, out on the field were Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, and they’re throwing to Kendrick Bell, and I walked by, and I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s beautiful.’”
Harbaugh has entertained NFL jobs each of the last three years and while it would require the perfect opportunity (which the Los Angeles Chargers appear to be for him), it’s been something he’s sought.
According to another report by Chengelis, Michigan offered terms that reflected his requests at the 11th hour, and while that drew the ire of fans, what’s most likely is he was ready to move on to the professional ranks to chase a Lombardi Trophy after having conquered the college football world.
Though it’s enticing to reflect and question what could have kept him in Ann Arbor for another go-round, the man himself is saying this is what he wanted. And given that he brought home a championship, it’s hard to ask for more.