Harbaugh and Schembechler Part 2

First year Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh has a more comprehensive and impressive resume than his mentor Bo. For example, the All-American and Heisman candidate Harbaugh was Bo’s quarterback. Quarterback Harbaugh’s was a first round NFL draft pick in 1987, and played 14 years in the NFL. He was also an assistant football coach at Western Kentucky and an assistant NFL coach with the Oakland Raiders. He then became head coach at the University of San Diego; Stanford; and the San Francisco 49ers. Unlike Schembechler, Jim Harbaugh was in high demand by the NFL before he accepted the U of M coaching position by interim athletic director, Jim Hackett. The Michigan Wolverines did not fare well after head coach Lloyd Carr’s retirement. Head coaches Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke did not stop the beatings by Ohio State; nor was Michigan a football powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination. The attendance was still good at the Big House, but Bo Schembechler was turning over in his grave because of the less than stellar football, played during those years. Wolverine football was at its crossroads hoping for the Messiah. Then, coach Harbaugh became available and was immediately hired; given an enormous salary; with the keys to the Big House. Although, it’s much too early to give the crown to Jim Harbaugh, we can compare his first few years in Ann Arbor to his mentor.