Michigan fans lauded the hiring of Jim Harbaugh when he descended from the NFL heavens into Ann Arbor. While he has undoubtedly improved the program since arriving, the ultra-competitive Harbaugh has fallen to 0-3 as a head coach in The Only Game That Matters.
Harbaugh, ostensibly a quarterback guru, watched his offense flounder Saturday without competent QB play.
Sure, John O'Korn is his third-string quarterback. But three years ago, Urban Meyer, coincidentally in his third year, rode a third-string quarterback to a national title. That's what separates the elite from the very good.
Ohio State lost the greatest statistical quarterback in history to a renegade cameraman, and a redshirt freshman elevated its offense. The Buckeyes have a true freshman quarterback (Tate Martell) that would've started today for Michigan on the darkest timeline. He took snaps as a scout team running back this week because Michigan quarterbacks can't run.
This isn't to say Michigan will fire Harbaugh. He will coach in Ann Arbor as long as he wants.
For all his kinks, he is a very good coach. But unfortunately for him, in this day and age, very good doesn't cut it in The Rivalry against Urban Meyer, who is off to a historic start against Michigan after sentencing Harbaugh to a fate only shared by Rich Rodriguez.
The honeymoon is officially over. Harbaugh's salary ($7 million in 2017) is now more humorous than any of his glib antics (like podcasting during of the season).
Maybe this is acceptable to Michigan fans. After all, it's hard to win the big game when a cabal of refs from Ohio collude against your team.
If Urban Meyer started 0-3 against Brady Hoke after expectations he conjured by accepting the job, the national guard would be needed to quell the civil unrest in this great state of ours. Columbus would cannibalize him and find a new guy.
But for Michigan, there is no other man. This is it. He is their undisputed champion, and he's getting his ass kicked so far.
