When Jim Harbaugh first took over a ghastly Stanford program in 2007, two things stood out about his early stewardship:
1) He installed a winning attitude that would eventually see the Cardinal to a BCS bowl this season.
2) He ripped his alma mater Michigan for its coddling of football players when it came to academics
In the late summer of 2007, SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER columnist Glenn Dickey had this from Harbaugh:
“College football needs Stanford. We’re looking not for student athletes but scholar-athletes. No other school can carry this banner. The Ivy League schools don’t have enough weight [because of their low athletic level]. Other schools which have good academic reputations have ways to get borderline athletes in and keep them in.”
Harbaugh includes his alma mater, Michigan, in that indictment.
“Michigan is a good school and I got a good education there,” he said, “but the athletic department has ways to get borderline guys in and, when they’re in, they steer them to courses in sports communications. They’re adulated when they’re playing, but when they get out, the people who adulated them won’t hire them.”
The former star quarterback for the Wolverines then didn’t back away when confronted about the remarks by the DETROIT FREE PRESS:
“I would use myself as an example. I came in there, wanted to be a history major, and I was told early on in my freshman year that I shouldn’t be. That it takes too much time. Too much reading. That I shouldn’t be a history major and play football.”
That prompted 2007 Michigan football captain Michael Hart to later say of Harbaugh, “He’s a guy I have no respect for.”
At the time, Harbaugh’s comments were thought to be an unforgivable sin in Ann Arbor.
Times change.
As current UM coach Rich Rodriguez twists in the win, Harbaugh is now the obvious favorite to take over the Michigan program if Rodriguez is jettisoned by school Athletic Director Dave Brandon.
Somehow even more ironic than Harbaugh’s criticism of Michigan in ‘07 was the words of quarterback Tate Forcier today in an interview with the DETROIT FREE PRESS.
On the subject of academics, Forcier said:
“I was always the kid who was street smart but not that smart classroom-wise. You really have to try to flunk out here. All you have to do is go to class, it’s not that hard.”
Forcier is a C student majoring in one of the path-of-least-resistance UM majors Harbaugh had earlier referred to: Kinesiology.
Not only is there a legitimate chance that Harbaugh may soon be first in line to take over the Michigan program, if he want its, but today one of the current UM quarterbacks he might be coaching in that scenario confirmed himself as a case study for the remarks the coach was once assailed for by his fellow Michigan men.
Best part: Forcier’s brother Jason, a former backup quarterback for Michigan (2005-06), transferred to … wait for it … Stanford.
7:38 pm on December 28th, 2010
Wow, and the Big 10 likes to whine about the SEC and their academics. I find that funny as the SEC has a great APR all in all.
7:39 pm on December 28th, 2010
‘Adulated’ probably is a word (obscure) - but Harbaugh doesn’t sound very smart either. And why he keeps taking shots at UM is strange - what did they do to him.
@Evan, please, I think we’ve had enough SEC vs. ‘other conferences’ silliness. All the big time schools coddle some rockheads in the name of gridiron glory. This is not new news.
8:16 pm on December 28th, 2010
If only 50 people at Standford can achieve true scholar athlete status what are the rest of the players in college for at all?
How is this different from Slavery pre civil war? Young black men exploited by old white men and given out of proportion punishments when they try and make money on their own.
8:35 pm on December 28th, 2010
@jd wow, comparing college football to slavery. yes its an exploitative relationship, but so is, for instance, any musician vs the record publishing monopoly (to name one of many such examples).
get a grip on reality my man. college athletes are used, but its on the way to them making millions of dollars if they perform and play their cards right. you look like a moron when you make such hyperbolic comparisons.
8:48 pm on December 28th, 2010
Eh, last I knew kinesiology is definitely not an easy degree. It involves a full load of science and lab work all the through human anatomy (cadavers), organic chemistry, and biochemistry.
9:34 pm on December 28th, 2010
@jd, a college education has been proved to be worth hundreds of thousands (in increased salary over someone’s life) - just because black football players all think they’ll make millions in the NFL and are too stupid to get a degree - you deem them ‘exploited’? Judge Smails (Caddyshack) had you in mind when he said “the world always needs ditch diggers.”
10:57 pm on December 28th, 2010
Harbaugh will follow the Bill Walsh path and go from Stanford to San Fran. Wouldn’t be shocked if he and Luck get there at the same time.
11:14 pm on December 28th, 2010
AngryGrowler, I remember Ohio State saying something along the lines of academic standards being higher in Ohio after losing to Florida in the BCSNC. Of course, the UF president lit him up with actual statistics vs. conjecture. This is why I brought it up. Get over yourself.
Facts are facts. Now look at the Big Ten. Pathetic.
11:30 pm on December 28th, 2010
Adam, yes - kinesiology is generally a very difficult major -> What the author is referring to, however, is the fact that at UM, football players can skate by and earn a kinesiology degree taking classes taught by coaches and other football slappies.
Kin is definitely not a bs degree at most institutions but for football players at UM, it certainly is, along with “General Studies”. Take a look at the declared majors for UM’s football team. It’s not a secret.
Also, Evan, UM does not represent my Big Ten, much like I’m sure a UGA alum and football fan wouldn’t want to be represented by Alabama in a discussion about over-signing.
12:05 am on December 29th, 2010
Phil -
What are you talking about “UM doesn’t represent your Big 10?” It’s the second best academic institution in the conference behind Northwestern.
NW is #12 and UM is #29 in the country according to US News and World Report. No other Big Ten school comes close. Among public schools UM is #3.
3:49 am on December 29th, 2010
Ohio State tops Michigan in the department of players who aren’t well-adjusted for life after college - even if that life is being an NFL “QB”.
10:27 am on December 29th, 2010
Guess what. I hear tell Tate went to a particular class. Every day. He did nothing else. He failed. F. Street smart? He couldn’t even spell CAT if you spotted him the K and the T.
10:34 am on December 29th, 2010
Shut up Tate!
10:42 am on December 29th, 2010
As a 30 y/o black male, I hate hearing the comparisons to slavery. Just because these athletes don’t value the monetary value of an education doesn’t mean they should be paid. How many students would gladly accept $40k a year plus the benefits, traveling, bowl game swag, prestige to pay for school? There are strip clubs full of women who would love the opportunity! Lol
10:44 am on December 29th, 2010
@Clark…. The point you are missing is athletes vs. general students at uOFm. It has been very well documented how their football, basketball and hockey players barely have to show up to class let alone do anything. Ever heard of private one on one classes at Michigan in “How to use a day planner?” The grade counts as does the credit. Do your homeowork. Michigan is a great academic institution, just not for high level athletes. It’s a joke.
11:34 am on December 29th, 2010
AngryGrowler, adulate is a real word and it is not obscure. You should probably not make comments about how smart other people sound when you are not even smart enough to google a word before posting.
1:21 pm on December 29th, 2010
Evan is correct. There’s is not a single star at ANY SEC school that would not gain admittance to ANY of the Legends and Leaders schools. Their little act that their players are held to higher standards or that every conference placement decision places academics first is laughable.
5:36 pm on December 29th, 2010
Tate b keepin it reel.
10:34 am on December 30th, 2010
All you good players come on down to Alabammy and we will get you enrolled in History of the Southern Twang major.
8:36 pm on December 30th, 2010
Didn’t Tate Forcier just flunk out?
8:22 am on December 31st, 2010
Kinesiology is just the modern term for PE; no organic chem requirements.
4:12 pm on January 12th, 2011
Obviously he spoke too soon, after being ruled ineligible for their bowl game I just got an ESPN alert that Forcier will not longer be a part of the Michigan football program.