Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan to coach the Chargers is a massive step down for him

We kind of feel bad for Jim Harbaugh.

This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.

Goooood morning, folks! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thank you for rocking with us here at FTW today. We appreciate you taking the time.

The Jim Harbaugh news we’ve been waiting on for over the last few weeks is finally here, folks. After coaching Michigan to its first national championship since 1997, Harbaugh is heading to Los Angeles to coach the Chargers.

To be sure, this is a great hire for the Chargers. Harbaugh has a proven track record of success at every single level he’s coached at. He’s led a team to the Super Bowl. He’s also got a proven track record as an NFL quarterback (who also used to play for the Chargers!). L.A. kind of has a full-circle thing going on here.

While Chargers fans and NFL folks are certainly happy to see Harbaugh coming to LA, I personally just cannot shake the thought of this being a massive step down for Harbaugh.

That probably sounds a bit harsh — especially to you, Chargers fans. But think about it. I mean, really think about it. This is like going from eating dinner every night at Ruth’s Chris to eating at Chili’s every week.

Don’t get me wrong — there’s nothing wrong with Chili’s! But those baby back ribs probably don’t hit the same spot that tomahawk ribeye steak did.

That’s what going from coaching at Michigan to coaching the Chargers is for Jim Harbaugh. Despite this being an NFL job, it’s a massive step down for him and it’s really not that close.

Michigan is one of the most storied college football programs ever. The team has 12 national titles including the one Harbaugh just won. As long as you win, the boosters are going to support you and you’ll always be flush with cash. The players will always respect you. There’s no “losing the locker room” in college football.

The Chargers on the other hand? This is a team that’s been to one Super Bowl in its 64 years of existence. It’s been a consistent playoff team in recent decades, but it’s also marred with failure. First-round embarrassments. Second-round exits. Name a way to lose and the Chargers have probably done it. That’s what Jim Harbaugh is stepping into here.

Now, of course, it’s his own fault. His last season at Michigan came with a championship, but it came with scandal, too. There was more coming, too, which is why Harbaugh is making this move in the first place. He made his bed. Now he has to lie in it.

But, hey, man. there are worse things to be than an NFL head coach — even for a team that’s failed for pretty much its entire existence.

Good luck, Jim Harbaugh. You’re going to need it.

 

A Kaiju battle happened last night

(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Most of you probably didn’t know this, but it’s NBA “Rivalry Week.”

If you didn’t know, don’t trip. It’s not really a thing. It’s just the NBA trying to sell us on certain high-profile matchups this week as rivalries. For example, we got Lakers-Clippers earlier this week. We’re getting Nikola Jokic vs. Joel Embiid again later this week. You get it.

Some of these matchups aren’t even really rivalries, but the NBA just wants to sell the thought of these head-to-head matchups being a thing. The games have been pretty compelling — even if the substance isn’t exactly there.

There is one matchup that does feel like a rivalry brewing, though. That’s Chet Holmgren vs. Victor Wembanyama.

Those two say there’s no rivalry there — and there isn’t just yet. But there’s definitely something brewing between these two. That’s clear just by the way they go at each other in these games with no stakes.

The Thunder and Spurs played last night. OKC crushed San Antonio 140-114. But Chet and Wemby went off:

— Wembanyama had:  24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks

— Holmgren had: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks

For six straight minutes in the fourth quarter of an absolutely pointless game, these two did this. 

Yeah, man. Sure. This isn’t a rivalry, I guess, because the games haven’t mattered yet. But when the games do matter? When we get this in a series? Or somebody has to win to make the playoffs? Whew, boy. Sound the alarms.

I can’t wait.

Tonight’s the night

. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

LSU vs. South Carolina, folks. Dawn Staley vs. Kim Mulkey. Two of the best programs in women’s college basketball going at it. I can’t wait.

These two sides have had drastically different seasons:

— South Carolina has lots of new talent and roster turnover but has consistently remained the best team in women’s college basketball despite falling short last season.

— Meanwhile, LSU won it all last year but suffered two pretty shocking losses to Colorado in November and to Auburn more recently. This team is 9th in the country despite its plethora of star talent.

Kim Mulkey gave a quick assessment of what she thinks this game will be.

“In close games, if it should be a close game, I’m not outcoaching Dawn. Dawn’s not outcoaching me,” Mulkey said.  “It’s going to be ballers out there making plays and that’s going to be fun for all of us to see.”

The hasn’t been competitive in years — South Carolina has won 14 straight games against LSU.

Let’s hope Mulkey’s assessment here is spot on.

Quick hits: A quick roast for Doc Rivers … Gifts from Angel Reese … and more

— Mike Breen hilariously roasted Doc Rivers after he took the Bucks job and left ESPN. Cory Woodruff has more.

— Angel Reese had gifts for her teammates ahead of their matchup with South Carolina. Hopefully, LSU locks in. Meghan Hall has more.

— Cory spoke with Kirk Cousins about his Achilles recovery, the Lions playoff run and his favorite movies. Lock in with this one.

— Here’s Christian D’Andrea on the most impactful non-QBs left in the NFL playoffs that could pave the way to a Super Bowl for their teams

— When will Jim and John Harbaugh face each other? Robert Zeglinski has an answer for you.

— Prince Grimes says Doc has put himself in an impossible situation by taking this Bucks job.

That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading today. We appreciate you! Tap in with us again tomorrow. Be safe out there. Peace. We out.

-Sykes ✌️