Harbaugh gets the weakest extension ever

MuskieCy

Well-Known Member
Nov 4, 2006
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A $2M buyout, dropping by $500K over the 4 years of the extension,

Is that a pat on the back or a kick in the a$$?

 

B787

Hates Money
Sep 4, 2018
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A $2M buyout, dropping by $500K over the 4 years of the extension,

Is that a pat on the back or a kick in the a$$?


The $2M is if he leaves and takes another job. The firing buyout starts at $4M and decreases $1M/year. Still not great, but better than anything else coming his way this off-season.

“Michigan would owe Harbaugh $4 million if it fired him in 2021, a guarantee that goes down $1 million each subsequent year of the contract. Harbaugh's buyout to leave Michigan begins at $2 million in 2021 and drops by $500,000 in each subsequent year until 2025.
 

exCyDing

Well-Known Member
Nov 29, 2017
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This isn’t much a vote of confidence, but probably a strategic and reality-based move by the Michigan AD. Aside from this year, Harbaugh has been decent at Michigan. Aside from the financial hit this year, there’s the question of who they can bring in that could close the gap with tOSU. The contract gives them some flexibility when revenues get back to normal and they can answer that question. Probably a smart move, particularly when viewed in comparison to Texas and Auburn.
 

Scruff

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Mar 11, 2008
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Coralville, IA
I don't typically follow Michigan. Hiring Harbaugh a few years ago seemed like a great idea to me with what he did at Stanford and the 49ers. Forgetting this year, I don't believe he's had a horrible run. No one in the Big 10 is competing with OSU right now. He's had a few good years despite being in a reasonable tough division. Props to the AD for not firing him like the media wanted. Double props for getting him to agree to a pay cut. Not sure if Jim should be applauded for agreeing to a pay cut because I don't know what else he had available to him. Seems to me Michigan would be a better place to work than Auburn or Texas, both of which fired coaches with similar pedigrees.
 

Gorm

With any luck we will be there by Tuesday.
Jul 6, 2010
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Cedar Rapids, IA
Do they think that recruits are really that gullible? The number of years has no teeth if the buyout is THAT weak.

Michigan's program is really just a better branded Nebraska program.

On the plus side Steve Deace will likely have an absolute meltdown over this...
 

Scott34

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Mar 16, 2007
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Not really sure they had much choice especially this year. He also hasn't been terrible there so I'm not sure why they would fire him to begin with. As for the contract, it seems like they are making a deal in the schools favor in the case that they have to go in another direction at some point.
 

MeowingCows

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2015
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Iowa
At least our bad extensions were done in confidence... this extension is the exact opposite of "confidence".