Not a fan of Jim Harbaugh, but:

[PSUFTG]

After a dismal season during 2020 (during which he also took a voluntary pay cut),, Harbaugh takes a contract for 2021 at 1/2 the salary (roughly), with the opportunity, if his team does really well in 2021, to earn back significant portions of the forfeited salary via performance bonuses. When Michigan, under Harbaugh, does have a great year, including a Big Ten east championship, and a good chance at the Big Ten title - which will earn him $2 million or so in performance bonuses - he donates any and all bonus money to the benefit of athletic department staffers who saw their salaries reduced during the 2020 COVID year.

Our guy, at Penn State, does not take a salary reduction during COVID 2020, has another dismal year in 2021, and spends his time working to void his existing long-term deal, and get even more money.

No matter how much one might despise the Maize and Blue, or how little one might think of Harbaugh as a coach, the class and character of the Wolverine's coach in this instance draws a dramatic difference between himself and Franklin.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh to donate bonuses to athletic department employees (msn.com)

 

[Tom_PSU]

After a dismal season during 2020 (during which he also took a voluntary pay cut),, Harbaugh takes a contract for 2021 at 1/2 the salary (roughly), with the opportunity, if his team does really well in 2021, to earn back significant portions of the forfeited salary via performance bonuses. When Michigan, under Harbaugh, does have a great year, including a Big Ten east championship, and a good chance at the Big Ten title - which will earn him $2 million or so in performance bonuses - he donates any and all bonus money to the benefit of athletic department staffers who saw their salaries reduced during the 2020 COVID year.

Our guy, at Penn State, does not take a salary reduction during COVID 2020, has another dismal year in 2021, and spends his time working to void his existing long-term deal, and get even more money.

No matter how much one might despise the Maize and Blue, or how little one might think of Harbaugh as a coach, the class and character of the Wolverine's coach in this instance draws a dramatic difference between himself and Franklin.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh to donate bonuses to athletic department employees (msn.com)

I think that’s a little one sided. Harbaugh should be commended for the rebound and his generosity. However don’t short Franklin. In our World you have to claw and scratch for everything you can get in a limited time frame. And if you find people dumb enough to handsomely reward you for failing to attain all your goals, then good for you. Unfortunately there’s different ways for people to measure personal achievement. This is an example of two of them.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

I'm not a fan of Harbaugh either.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Class and character are not typically words used in complementary fashion with meatchicken’s Coach. Jimmah has enough coin in the bank from his playing and NFL coaching gigs. Not saying Franklin is starving or anything, but the two aren’t exactly in the same financial stratosphere.

 

[PSUFTG]

Class and character are not typically words used in complementary fashion with meatchicken’s Coach. Jimmah has enough coin in the bank from his playing and NFL coaching gigs. Not saying Franklin is starving or anything, but the two aren’t exactly in the same financial stratosphere.

If that were true (For what it's worth, Franklin, from Penn State alone, has been paid $53 million over 8 years thus far. Not sure how much he was paid during his stint at Vanderbilt. So crying poor mouth seems like a galactic stretch, doesn't it?), how does that mitigate the very dramatic differences in character displayed by Harbaugh vs Franklin in these matters?
I am no fan of Harbaugh, for many reasons, but the facts remain, obviously, that I get it, its a fair question, but the differences couldn't be any more stark, obviously.

 

[nepalion]

I think that’s a little one sided. Harbaugh should be commended for the rebound and his generosity. However don’t short Franklin. In our World you have to claw and scratch for everything you can get in a limited time frame. And if you find people dumb enough to handsomely reward you for failing to attain all your goals, then good for you. Unfortunately there’s different ways for people to measure personal achievement. This is an example of two of them.

right. that harbaugh measures his worth the way he does, and franklin has demonstrated his way, just proves that harbaugh is the better man. and better coach, by the way.

 

[Ceasar]

I have been observing Harbaugh for the past two years and I have to say, he is growing on me and not just because he produced an outstanding team. Many of us, me included, have probably ridiculed him for being a bit odd. But another way to look at that is, maybe he is genuine and not trying to always be the slickest and most polished guy (this is not a comparison to CJF in case anyone thinks otherwise...). There is no way to spin his generosity, just a really decent act and I have a lot of respect for him for thinking of others.

 

[PSUFTG]

I have been observing Harbaugh for the past two years and I have to say, he is growing on me and not just because he produced an outstanding team. Many of us, me included, have probably ridiculed him for being a bit odd. But another way to look at that is, maybe he is genuine and not trying to always be the slickest and most polished guy (this is not a comparison to CJF in case anyone thinks otherwise...). There is no way to spin his generosity, just a really decent act and I have a lot of respect for him for thinking of others.

Harbaugh is goofy as a squirrel on crack - and probably comes off that way because he is likely afflicted with some degree of Aspergers, which is a tough thing to deal with, but does, in some instances, lead to the tendency to be able to be completely focused on a task. I have a tough time not "not liking" him, but on this metric he is, obviously, a far more admirable person than our own guy, and many others in the business. I get it.

 

[DaytonRickster]

I think that’s a little one sided. Harbaugh should be commended for the rebound and his generosity. However don’t short Franklin. In our World you have to claw and scratch for everything you can get in a limited time frame. And if you find people dumb enough to handsomely reward you for failing to attain all your goals, then good for you. Unfortunately there’s different ways for people to measure personal achievement. This is an example of two of them.

Perhaps Franklin has given money to the university anonymously and it is not public? We don't know.

 

[Pennst8]

After a dismal season during 2020 (during which he also took a voluntary pay cut),, Harbaugh takes a contract for 2021 at 1/2 the salary (roughly), with the opportunity, if his team does really well in 2021, to earn back significant portions of the forfeited salary via performance bonuses. When Michigan, under Harbaugh, does have a great year, including a Big Ten east championship, and a good chance at the Big Ten title - which will earn him $2 million or so in performance bonuses - he donates any and all bonus money to the benefit of athletic department staffers who saw their salaries reduced during the 2020 COVID year.

Our guy, at Penn State, does not take a salary reduction during COVID 2020, has another dismal year in 2021, and spends his time working to void his existing long-term deal, and get even more money.

No matter how much one might despise the Maize and Blue, or how little one might think of Harbaugh as a coach, the class and character of the Wolverine's coach in this instance draws a dramatic difference between himself and Franklin.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh to donate bonuses to athletic department employees (msn.com)

Harbaugh is a nutjob that has had one year of true success based upon expectations at Michigan. Using him and them as an example of smarts and class is absurd. One shared natty since Television was invented at that place, Bo was the king of choke and harbaugh a clown prince of mediocrity. I'll stick with our guy.

 

[Shadow99]

Perhaps Franklin has given money to the university anonymously and it is not public? We don't know.

Excellent point...definitely not intending to suggest that in this specific instance Harbaugh purposely made his charitable contributions known for the associated recognition, but nevertheless it is undeniably true that many people do prefer to give anonymously to purposely avoid trumpeting it for the associated acclaim and for a variety of other reasons...

 

[ODShowtime]

Great. This is where we're at. Polishing the knob of that the booger-eating revenge tour guide freak.

Good times.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

If that were true (For what it's worth, Franklin, from Penn State alone, has been paid $53 million over 8 years thus far. Not sure how much he was paid during his stint at Vanderbilt. So crying poor mouth seems like a galactic stretch, doesn't it?), how does that mitigate the very dramatic differences in character displayed by Harbaugh vs Franklin in these matters?
I am no fan of Harbaugh, for many reasons, but the facts remain, obviously, that I get it, its a fair question, but the differences couldn't be any more stark, obviously.

Fair points…I digress. That said, Jimmah is still a total douche-nozzle.

 

[Nits1989]

Excellent point...definitely not intending to suggest that in this specific instance Harbaugh purposely made his charitable contributions known for the associated recognition, but nevertheless it is undeniably true that many people do prefer to give anonymously to purposely avoid trumpeting it for the associated acclaim and for a variety of other reasons...

LOL, I knew a guy who was interviewing to run for political office who revealed to the interview team that he donates anonymously. How’s that for self-defeating behavior?

 

[Nits1989]

It‘s tough to put into words, but Harbaugh seems like a quaint throwback story. Accepted a pay cut and donated his bonus to others. It’s a free market country and there’s nothing wrong with bargaining for a better contract, but there’s character, honor and humility in what Harbaugh did.

 

[JoeBatters1]

Perhaps Franklin has given money to the university anonymously and it is not public? We don't know.

Given that Franklin’s likely propensity to shine the light in his direction and deflect criticism I highly doubt he would keep such a thing secret.

 

[jimjim47]

Given that Franklin’s likely propensity to shine the light in his direction and deflect criticism I highly doubt he would keep such a thing secret.

Obviously

 

[PSUFTG]

Given that Franklin’s likely propensity to shine the light in his direction and deflect criticism I highly doubt he would keep such a thing secret.

Actually, a few years back, there was quite the PR hullaballoo coming out of Franklin/Penn State when he (Franklin) set up some sort of "equity scholarship" fund - I forget the exact name - but it was basically him putting his name (and maybe his wife's, again, I don't recall exactly, maybe someone else does) for other people to donate into - with the goal of endowing a scholarship. I think the goal was something like 1/2 million $ in donations to the fund - which I think they reached, or close to it anyway.
Not Franklin's money, if I recall correctly, but his name on it.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Given that Franklin’s likely propensity to shine the light in his direction and deflect criticism I highly doubt he would keep such a thing secret.

When and how exactly has he deflected criticism from himself? I heard him blame himself for not having the team ready to play against Illinois. Unlike any number of coaches, I don’t recall any instance where he pointed fingers at any of his players or assistant coaches. Please enlighten us with some specifics.

 

[PSUwolf]

I'm waiting to see how this plays out next year. Have a feeling both PSU and OSU will be waiting for the Michigan game next year. Harbaugh might be walking into a buzz saw in Columbus next year after embarrassing them. And I'm sure CJF and the Lions won't forget how they just let the Michigan game slip away.

 

[ODShowtime]

And I'm sure CJF and the Lions won't forget how they just let the Michigan game slip away.

I'll never forget that damn play and where I was when it happened.

 

[PSUwolf]

I'll never forget that damn play and where I was when it happened.

I'm not taking anything away from Harbaugh this year, but I just think he caught lightening in a bottle. Heck, he could have very well been beaten by Nebraska before Martinez fumbled that game away. Just have a feeling him and Michigan are going to have huge targets on their backs next year - especially with PSU and OSU

 

[ODShowtime]

I'm not taking anything away from Harbaugh this year, but I just think he caught lightening in a bottle. Heck, he could have very well been beaten by Nebraska before Martinez fumbled that game away. Just have a feeling him and Michigan are going to have huge targets on their backs next year - especially with PSU and OSU

I don't disagree.

 

[tml132]

Great. This is where we're at. Polishing the knob of that the booger-eating revenge tour guide freak.

Good times.

That's what I was just thinking. I mean, if Mich would have lost to the Buckeye$ this year, I don't think Harbaugh even has a job...

 

[Madsol]

I'm not taking anything away from Harbaugh this year, but I just think he caught lightening in a bottle. Heck, he could have very well been beaten by Nebraska before Martinez fumbled that game away. Just have a feeling him and Michigan are going to have huge targets on their backs next year - especially with PSU and OSU

I agree. I mean if this were Harbaugh's first, second, even third year at Michigan, I think you could more fairly say this season is a preview of coming attractions with him. But this is year 7 for him. It really took him 7 years to get things in place? And if so, that's the sign of a good coach and something to be really worried about? With all of our offensive limitations, Michigan needed a rather flukey 5 yard pass to the TE turned into 47 yard TD because 2 of our defenders ran into each other to beat us. Definitely a wait and see for me as to whether this year is a one-off or the beginning of a trend.

 

[ODShowtime]

That's what I was just thinking. I mean, if Mich would have lost to the Buckeye$ this year, I don't think Harbaugh even has a job...

He was one botched coverage away from losing to us, and we stunk!