Getty Image / Gregory Shamus
In a shocking development, Michigan fans and former players are voicing their frustrations with Jim Harbaugh after the Wolverines fell at home to rival Michigan State last weekend. Plenty of fans and alumni have done with Harbaugh in Ann Arbor for years now, but after a home loss to a Spartans team that lost to Rutgers in their season opener, it seems a new boiling point has been met.
Braylon Edwards, who played wideout for the Wolverines in the early 2000’s, is one former Michigan man that has simply seen enough. Not only has Harbaugh gone winless against Ohio State in their five meetings since he’s been there, he is now just 3-3 against Michigan State.
There are two major factors holding Michigan back from firing Harbaugh: he’s making $8 million this season as the fourth-highest paid coach in college football and there may not be a coach out there at the moment that could immediately step in and flip the script for Michigan.
In Edwards’ opinion, it’s a slippery slope if Michigan does elect to let go of Harbaugh due to the thin market out there of viable coaches.
“If it’s not Jim, then where do you go from Jim?” Edwards asked during an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show. “I don’t think he’s done enough to continue the position, but at the same time, you’ve got to have somebody ready in the wings, somebody waiting in the wings. You can’t just bring in somebody else and we go from Lloyd Carr to a Rich Rod to a Brady Hoke and you spend another 11 years trying to figure out Michigan football.”
Interestingly enough, Edwards did admit that he’s been keeping a close eye on Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell who has the Bearcats at 5-0 this season and has posted a 31-13 overall record thus far as the man in charge in Cincinnati. Edwards thinks maybe he could be the right guy for the job.
“I love Luke Fickell,” Edwards said. “I like Luke Fickell a lot, and I like what he’s done at Cincinnati. . . . [He’s shown] you what Cincinnati football is all about. They play defense, they play offense, and they have a lot of fun with it. I don’t think there are any egos down there in Cincinnati. I think it’s a committee. It’s a win and lose by committee type of program. So I like Luke Fickell a lot. I’ve been keeping my eye on him for the past three years. I like Luke Fickell a lot.”
Fickell may not be the sexiest name out there, but maybe that’s not what the Wolverines need in their next coach. He’s still young enough at just 47-years-old to likely get fans excited and could thrive on one of the biggest stages in the game if given the chance.