The Michigan Wolverines are heading towards yet another underwhelming season in the Jim Harbaugh era, and sure, he's only about to wrap up in his third season in Ann Arbor, but so far he's been mostly hype and little substance.
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Harbaugh was expected to be the savior of Michigan football, the coach who could finally restore the Wolverines to their glory years. Big Ten titles were supposed to be a given, but College Football Playoffs and National Championships were the expectations.
Michigan has yet to make it to the Big Ten title game though, and following a 24-10 loss to No. 5 Wisconsin, that's certainly going to be the case again this season for the 8-3 Wolverines. They've been good, but not great, especially against good opponents. Michigan's three losses this season have come against in-state rival Michigan State, No. 2 Penn State and now the Badgers. And with one more game against bitter rival Ohio State coming up, currently ranked in the top ten, it's very likely Harbaugh's team finishes the season with four losses.
That's not great for year three, and Harbaugh is taking the heat as a result:
Jim Harbaugh's tenure at Michigan:
Year 1- Paid $7 mil, finishes 3rd in B10 East
Year 2 - Paid $9 mil, finishes 3rd in B10 East
Year 3 -- Paid $7 mil, likely going to finish 4th in B10 East— John Talty (@JTalty) November 18, 2017
That's a hot take from an Alabama columnist, but it's worth noting that he's simply just stating the facts.
Notably, ESPN's Paul Finebaum came even hotter to the "pile on Harbaugh" party, though:
Yea, but he is taking his team to Venus and Mars for spring break. https://t.co/Jwz4jlIo4z
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 18, 2017
Finebaum is referencing Harbaugh's eccentricities as a head coach. Sure, he's put Michigan back on the map with his recruiting circus in the offseason and he's even taken his team on some great trips — which has probably helped lure in some talent — but ultimately the points being made here about Harbaugh are simple.
He's been all sizzle and no steak for Michigan, especially for a coach who's making a ton of money.
