Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich blame Jim Harbaugh for Michigan loss

Jim Harbaugh ought to seek shelter and disappear for a few days in the aftermath of Michigan’s College Football Playoff semifinal loss to TCU, because his name is taking a mud bath this week. Bright and early on Monday morning’s edition of ESPN’s Get Up, SEC Network star Paul Finebaum did a full heel-turn, going in on Harbaugh for the loss after getting his hopes up for Michigan ahead of the game.

Here was Finebaum’s New Year’s statement on the Wolverine head coach:

“A couple of things we know about. This is the day after New Year’s. Right around this time every year, we all anticipate the ball dropping in Times Square, and we also anticipate Jim Harbaugh choking a postseason game.”

Whew. Paul Finebaum not holding back after another blown postseason game for the Wolverines. In fact, he even has a new nickname for Coach Harbaugh.

“This is the sixth straight time it’s happened at Michigan. Why is anyone surprised? I listen to the same thing you did last week, and I kept wondering…is this the same Jim Harbaugh? Well, it’s been the same Jim Harbaugh during the regular season, and it’s Postseason Jim all over again.”

Harsh words from the SEC Network host. But he wasn’t alone. College football insider Heather Dinich backed Finebaum’s assertion that Harbaugh was to blame for the loss.

“The reality is they were out-coached. They were out-coached! I mean, when you start that game and Max Duggan is doing what he does, I’m sitting there and I’m like, ‘wait, I know he’s going to run then ball, how does Michigan look so unprepared?’ 3-13 on third downs. I mean, wow. Then you have the two pick-sixes.”

Dinich also pointed to the end of the game as the best example of Harbaugh’s coaching failures against TCU.

“At the end of the game, you have your quarterback looking right, you have the snap going wrong, and everything just seemed to be discombobulated. And that goes back on the coaches. Some questionable play calls. And Jim Harbaugh, to his credit, he did say that he would like to have that call back again, the trick play on fourth down. You go inside the five twice when you’re Michigan and come away with zip? I mean, that’s on the coaching.”

Jim Harbaugh taking it on the chin from the ESPN crew after coming up short of the title game once again despite being a contender all year. Going to be a long offseason in Ann Arbor.