How Jim Harbaugh can take Michigan to Ohio State’s level
By Robert Judin
Staring down the barrel of The Game, here’s how Jim Harbaugh can turn the tides of a great rivalry.
It was supposed to be an easy beginning, a “gimme game” to say the least. The No. 5 ranked Michigan Wolverines were locking in on a potential run at the national championship.
On Sept. 1, 2007, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. was yet another packed house. The sound of “Go Blue” echoed throughout the state. Wolverines fans woke up to a variety of possibilities with head coach Lloyd Carr entering his 13th season, but they fell asleep to the demolition of their beloved football program.
Michigan, to this day, still has a calculated amount of hatred toward Appalachian State for winning that football game. It was the beginning of the end. Rich Rodriguez replaced Carr the next year and only won 15 games in three seasons. Rodriguez was replaced by Brady Hoke in 2011, and the latter appeared to be the answer after winning 11 games in his first season. But even that went sour when the amount of wins decreased during the next three years, and a 5-7 record in 2014 led to Hoke’s firing.
So here we are. Jim Harbaugh is the new head coach, and Michigan fans are absolutely enamored with him — as they should be. He seems like the guy, like the savior. The Wolverines have hardly sniffed the championship-level expectations they had before the 2007 season began, but under Harbaugh those expectations are creeping back in.
The 2015 season was supposed to be another rebuilding year. In spite of the excitement gathering around Harbaugh’s hiring — being that he’s a Michigan man himself and won at the highest level — those “Go Blue” chants were tame entering the season.
Harbaugh’s 2015 recruiting class ranked No. 37 in the nation with only 14 commits — six had four stars and eight had three stars. The class, on paper, was anything but glamorous.
We’re still months away from National Signing Day, but Harbaugh’s 2016 class shaping up to be one of the best in the country. With 21 commitments, the No. 8 ranked recruiting class has eight four-star prospects and 12 others with three stars. And, as of now, the class is headlined by four-star offensive tackle Ben Bredeson.
Michigan has a very strong chance at landing the No. 1 ranked prospect in the nation, Rashan Gary, a defensive tackle from Paramus, NJ. It also is in the mix for the No. 1 ranked running back, Kareem Walker, a former Ohio State commit.
But even if Harbaugh finds a way get those two guys in blue for the next three years, there’s still going to be a big gap between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes. So that begs the question, “How does Michigan get to Ohio State’s level?”
The answer is Harbaugh.
In one season, Harbaugh has revamped the culture of Michigan’s football program. Last season, the Wolverines defense gave up at least 20 points in seven games. In 2015, it’s been a completely different story. The Wolverines are ranked No. 2 in total defense, giving up 263.1 yards of offense, and No. 6 in scoring offense, allowing only 14.9 points per game.
So, what exactly does Harbaugh need to do in order to bring the program to the Buckeyes’ level? He needs to recruit. It’s that simple.
Whether Urban Meyer is the best in-game coach around is certainly debatable, but he’s undeniably one of the best recruiters in college football. And one thing Meyer has done well since joining Ohio State is hold onto recruits from Ohio, as well as dip into Michigan’s backyard for talent.
Harbaugh needs to start by reclaiming the state of Michigan. The emergence of Michigan State makes it a little tougher, but the brand of Wolverines football should be enough to set them apart from the Spartans.
Four-star linebacker Daelin Hayes may be the next step. He’s from Ann Arbor, but Notre Dame seems to be the favorite for his commitment. If Harbaugh can land Hayes, he’ll start the process of turning Michigan’s top recruits into almost guaranteed future Wolverines. The same can be said for four-star wide receiver Donnie Corley, from Detroit.
The other key would be legitimately stealing recruits away from Ohio State. Landing Walker would be bigger than most people realize. He’s 6-foot-1, 210 lbs, and he could very well turn into a bell cow back of an offense.
Obviously, winning games helps in recruiting. Michigan might not be in line for a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff, but there is one contest circled on the Wolverines’ calendar that may mean more: The Game. It’ll be a good ol’ fashioned showdown between Ohio State and Michigan. If Harbaugh can out coach Meyer for this one game, it may help him win more recruiting battles down the road.
This isn’t just another game. This is a chance for Michigan to erase the last eight years. It’s an opportunity to finally restore a historic program. It’s one game with a million ripple effects.