Harbaugh back to Stanford?

[Panthro]

Michigan just cited one of the reasons they didn't not sign Harbs was him heading to the NFL. He was their first choice.

[Gazi]

Carroll won national titles. Harbaugh got what? Not even Pac-10

[Adrenaline]

Hell, pay him for a few years then can him if he is demanding too much control or not doing well with the control that he has, if that gets Luck under contract to the Panthers, I have no problem with that.

[Mr. Scot]

Pete Carroll got a five year deal at $6.6 million per along with control over their football operations

(source) http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/11/sports/la-sp-carroll11-2010jan11

I would think that Harbaugh will ask for the same control and 7 to 7.5 million per year. Stanford's offer on the table is for three million per. Plus he would have Luck for only one more year (or none at all). And there are the rumors that he is really interested in a NFL job and you always strike while the iron is hot.

I think he is out of Stanford by Monday.

Given the rivalry he and Carroll had, you might expect he'd want a similar deal (or better).

[wakecooper]

Looks like we officially aren't a candidate according to Sorensen:

"The Carolina Panthers have no interest in hiring Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, sources say. The Panthers will hire an NFL assistant, most likely an offensive or defensive coordinator, to replace John Fox as head coach. This precludes Harbaugh."

I couldn't disagree more with this thinking (especially if it isn't a lock Harbaugh will leave Stanford), especially given this:

"If Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck declares for the draft, the Carolina Panthers will select him, sources say. Luck is a redshirt sophomore. He has until Jan. 15 to declare. The Panthers have the first pick in the NFL draft."

If you want Luck, hire Harbaugh and force him to declare!

[Panthro]

Michigan just cited one of the reasons they didn't not sign Harbs was him heading to the NFL. He was their first choice.

I heard,

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Edit: Nevermind, that's Fiz' fake account.

Thank so much for all the awesome fan support. You guys are great! Next job is going to be local, so I'll be at tons of Trees games!

http://twitter.com/Jim_Harbaugh/status/22374822818353152

Headed to the Niners?

[Chaos]

Yes, Luck is the fish, Harbaugh is the very expensive bait. The bait of course will get eaten, but the prized fish would be ours. We can find more bait later.

Marty "the hook" Hurney, get out there and fish, boy!

[Kevin Greene]

I'm beginning to believe it might just happen, and here's why.

Word was that the teams most in play for him (Panthers, Broncos, 49ers) all had reps at the game.

This morning, you have the Richardson press conference (and likely obfuscation, but nevermind that for now) and you have both the Broncos and 49ers putting out feelers for other candidates (Mike Mularkey in Denver, Hue Jackson and Perry Fewell in San Francisco).

Couple that with Gantt's reports talking about Harbaugh wanting things that the organization wasn't willing to give, and the wheels start turning.

It may be that Harbaugh is asking for the kind of control that nobody is willing to give him.

That being the case, his likely choice would be to go back to Stanford, try to put together an even better season next year, and let that be his launching point.

The real bad news for us? If that happens, then in all likelihood, Andrew Luck stays in school

The question becomes whether that threat be enough to make you want to give him what he wants.

I've been thinking Harbaugh may not be the only Coach to over estimate his position to make demands.

Bill Cowher may be in the same situation.

Of course hiring a head Coach when there is competition for their services is a Poker Game and anything less than a Poker face from front Offices would be foolish.

[Chaos]

http://twitter.com/Jim_Harbaugh/status/22374822818353152

Headed to the Niners?

This has got to be fake, right?

Right??

[Mr. Scot]

Michigan just cited one of the reasons they didn't not sign Harbs was him heading to the NFL. He was their first choice.

Squirrel had this earlier...

Scratch Michigan from the Harbaugh Race

The tweet Kurb just posted makes it sound to me like he's headed to the Niners, but it could also mean Stanford.

[Hairless Cat]

JR made it plain today that it isnt about what the head coach wants anymore

[Gazi]

http://twitter.com/Jim_Harbaugh/status/22374822818353152

Headed to the Niners?

That's not him

[CatMan72]

Well, the 49ers and Broncos are going to have to interview at least one other candidate anyways to satisfy the Rooney rule and any responsible team will interview several candidates as a matter of due-dillegence in the hiring process... so I wouldn't read much into the 49ers and Broncos requesting interviews with other candidates.

If Harbaugh wants to make the leap to the NFL, the time is now - he'll never have a better opportunity. He may come out with "pie in the sky" type demands initially and then back off those if it means he's not going to get an NFL gig.

I could also see Harbaugh staying at Stanford if he can get a commitment from Luck to stay one more year. With the complete dismantling of VT last night, Harbaugh and Luck may be thinking they can contend for a nat'l championship next year?