By Mark Wilson
December 30, 2014

Arrogant Asses.

It’s the phrase former Michigan State football coach Darryl Rogers busted out in 1978.

He used it to describe anyone, and everyone, surrounding Bo Schembechler and the University of Michigan. “Arrogant Asses” was obviously a play on “Ann Arbor”

To Rogers, when he saw A.A., he saw… Arrogant Asses.

Guess what Darryl?

The Arrogant Asses are back in town!

Before you tweet, email, send a Devil-gram, etc. understand that I mean that in the most flattering of terms.

Arrogance in an Ass kind of way is exactly what’s been missing with Michigan football the past seven years.

Hell, make it a full decade.

Jim Harbaugh is the new Wolverines’ football coach and he’s here to bring back the better part of the “old days.”

As a player from 1983 through 1986, Harbaugh personified the arrogant ass mentality.

He was a mini-Schembechler on the field as quarterback following the Leach/Wangler/Smith days. Harbaugh’s charge was to keep the intensity that Bo thought so necessary to compete each year in the Big Ten.

When “Harbs” opened the 1984 season as a first year starter, his first game was no big deal. It was only against defending national champion Miami.

Remember, he was a frosh in 1982 who was redshirted and then threw only five passes in 1983.

Jimmy Johnson was a rookie head coach with the Hurricanes having replaced Howard Schnellenberger when Howard left Coral Gables for the USFL.

It was basically the debuts for both Harbaugh and Johnson that day in Ann Arbor, September 8th.

Miami was ranked #1 in the nation.

When the day was over, Harbaugh had the smile and Johnson had the ziggy and mussed up hair.

22-14 Michigan.

Thus began three years of Jim Harbaugh at the helm of the good ship HMS Schembechler.

Actually, 1984 ended abruptly halfway in when Harbaugh broke his arm. Chris Zurbrugg replaced him and led Michigan to its worst season under Bo.

The 6-and-6 campaign ended with the loss in the Holiday Bowl to eventual national champ, Brigham Young.

1985 and ’86 were all Harbaugh.

I could go through all the games but it’s a waste. You can do that at your leisure.

Suffice it to say, no greater impact in Michigan football history had been made than Harbaugh’s GUARANTEE of victory over Ohio State in ’86.

“We’re going to play in the Rose Bowl this year, I guarantee it.” He said in a clip you can see on youtube.

“We’ll beat Ohio State and we’ll be at Pasadena on January first.”

To this day, it ranks right up there with Joe Namath’s guarantee of the Jets beating the mighty Colts in Super Bowl III.

I think it’s even better.

THAT is your new coach Ann Arbor.

He can be arrogant and he can be an ass.

Arrogant Asses.

It’s just what the Michigan doctor ordered.

Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke could be arrogant too. Sometimes, they could be asses. But, this is different. Harbaugh has a different type of swagger.

The swagger served him well in his college playing days culminating with a third place Heisman Trophy finish in ’86.

He led Michigan to a #2 national rank in ’85, highest in Bo’s two decades, and the guaranteed victory over OSU and Pasadena trip in ’86.

The swagger served him well in a long NFL playing saga, mostly in Chicago and Indy, which earned him the nickname, “Captain Comeback.”

It served him well after his playing days as an NFL assistant coach in Oakland where he coached in a Super Bowl his first season with the Raiders.

Each job after… swagger helped.

University of San Diego, Stanford and ultimately the San Francisco 49ers; Harbaugh played the “arrogant ass” swagger card to perfection.

It even bought him his pink slip in San Fran.

With great swagger comes great responsibility.

Not everyone will LIKE your swagger.

As it turns out, the front office of the Niners hated it.

The 49ers were barely finished with their season-ending triumph over Arizona, 8-8 in Harbaugh’s swan song, when the press release hit the “twitter-verse” that the team and the coach were parting ways.

Philosophical differences, you know.

Uh huh. Yeah, right.

Despite three straight trips to the NFC Championship Game and a spot in a Super Bowl, Harbaugh’s “philosophy” just didn’t mesh with the good peeps of Santa Clara.

New Levis Stadium? Say goodbye to OLD Jim Harbaugh.

It was weeks ago that the rumors began about Jimbo to Michigan.

I got a call from a reliable source saying, it was a “done deal.”

How I hate those words, “done deal.”

Done deal makes it sound like there actually is a deal and… that it is done.

It’s one of those sports axioms that is overused but given a wide scope of authenticity.

Meaning? Use it at your own risk.

Billy Donovan to the Orlando Magic a few years back was a, “done deal.”

In fact, it WAS a done deal right before… it wasn’t.

Donovan did go to Orlando and did have a press conference and did meet the media only to have a change of heart, get homesick for his college job in Gainesville and leave the Magic in about a week’s time.

So, in theory the deal… wasn’t done.

Even if it was.

Understand?

Me neither.

Harbaugh to Michigan?

Yep, THAT was a done deal. As done a deal as a deal can be done without being undone to make it a non- done deal.

“Harbs” old buddy Andy Moeller let the cat out of the bag early.

“Looks like the band is getting back together” tweeted Moeller.

Andy is the son of former Michigan coach Gary Moeller who played with Harbaugh back in the 80’s. He was more than excited to tell his followers that Jimmy was heading back to fun land!

And man, did those dudes have some fun in their half decade in Ann Arbor.

It was a close unit back then.

Harbaugh, Moeller, Doug and Mike Mallory, Mark Messner, Mark and Mike Hammerstein, Jumbo Elliott, Paul Jokish; all running mates in campus life.

Parties were aplenty and fun was never just a premium. It was constant and it was flowing.

Let’s just say those cats should be awfully glad there was NO social media back then.

Hell, there was barely any… media at all.

The Detroit media would cover Michigan on game days and select Bo press conferences. The media in Lansing would come down on occasion too.

Other than the school newspaper, the Ann Arbor News and a radio station, the town is on its own island.

Things can occur (wink, wink) and never get reported. It used to happen all the time in A-squared before the advent of the internet.

Now, there would be 63 cell phone cameras on ya.

All the crap is on Instagram.

The mid-80’s Michigan football group wouldn’t have liked that very much.

Well, they’re back and ready to roll in 2015.

(Cue the Reservoir Dogs slow motion walking shot with music “Gimme All Your Lovin” from ZZ Top).

Shoot all the pics you like.

Harbaugh is back to do a job. He’s back to lead his precious Michigan into the Promised Land. He’s back to have fun, do good work and raise a family in the town where he went to high school and starred next door at the local college.

Makes Ann Arbor Pioneer HS sound bigger.

Jack Harbaugh returns as well.

Jimmy was just nine years old when his father took an assistants gig with Schembechler in 1973. Jim was a ball boy for those teams.

Jack stayed with Bo through 1979.

The family moved next to Palo Alto, California where Jim finished high school. Jack had taken a job with Stanford. Who knew that the son would coach there years later?

When Jack landed his first head coaching position in 1982 back in the state at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, the son accepted a full ride to play for Bo in Ann Arbor.

Ironically, Jack Harbaugh’s tenure with the Broncos mirrored EXACTLY his son’s time with the Wolverines.

Both left in 1987.

Jack went on to be an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh while Jim went on to be a first round NFL draft pick of the Chicago Bears.

14 years a head coach at Western Kentucky, and very successful at the end I might add, Jack finished coaching full time in 2002.

In typical Harbaugh fashion, Jack won his first and ONLY national championship (in division two) that final rodeo at WKY with a 12-and-3 record.

You think Jack Harbaugh isn’t among the proudest papa’s today watching his kid stick a Michigan hat on his head and take over the program at a place called, “Schembechler Hall?”

Oh, you damn better believe he is!

This is a HUGE deal.

Jim could have hung around the NFL and gone somewhere else. It could have been Oakland or Chicago or Atlanta. Reports are the New York Jets would NOT have been interested in Harbaugh’s services.

Yeah, whatever New York. Where’s Namath when you need him?

But, why bother with more pro uncertainty when you can kick back at your alma mater and do some ass KICKING along the way.

Arrogant Asses.

I can see Harbaugh and his UM buddies piling into a campus SUV and driving over to Zingerman’s for a few corned beef sandwiches and brews.

Or, maybe he and Moeller hike it up to “The Brown Jug” for some of that terrific A-squared pizza.

Yummy!

I was just at “the Jug” a month ago and I believe I saw a few Harbaugh pictures on the wall inside the 65 year old restaurant.

It’s an Ann Arbor institution.

C’mon, what a life!

He’s going to make $37-million dollars over the next seven years and probably not pay for anything anyhow. He’ll be the highest paid coach in college, or at least until Alabama restructures Nick Saban’s deal.

And, oh… yeah… they’re doing that as we speak.

Harbaugh will hire a great staff; his buddies and others that he knows will get work done. He’ll have a guy be recruiting coordinator and NCAA compliance guy. All he has to do is delegate authority.

Who does he report too?

You think new president Dr. Mark Schlissel is going to bug Harbaugh? How about “interim” athletic director Jim Hackett? He going to have daily meetings with Harbaugh; micro-manage him?

Hell no!

This sucker is Harbaugh’s to run as he sees fit.

The National Football League RARELY gives you that kind of autonomy.

His wife Sarah and the kids will be treated like royalty in the Huron Valley.

A little cold in the winter? No worries, Mrs. Harbaugh. Here… enjoy a complimentary spa MONTH on us!

Maybe the kids would enjoy a trip up to Frankenmuth to play in the Zehnders indoor water park?

Sure, we’ll have the limo ready to go by 9:30.

You think the freakin Bears or Raiders are going to do that?

Sheeeeet!

Here’s a fun example of Harbaugh at a Michigan basketball game.

“WOW, HI COACH! CAN I GET YOUR AUTOGRAPH?”

“Sure, no problem.”

“HOLY MOLY! THANKS COACH! LOVE YA! GO BLUE!!!”

And that’s just the Michigan Board of Regents.

Just wait until the FANS get a hold of him.

After seven AWFUL chaos-filled insane years, there was no price tag to put on getting Harbaugh back to A.A.

When Lloyd Carr lost that stunner to Appalachian State in 2007, it was the start of the long way down.

Rodriguez and Hoke really did a number on the franchise.

Harbaugh has $37 million reasons to want to fix the issue.

Thanks Rich Rod and Brady, “Harbs” couldn’t have done it without you.

Just imagine if Rodriguez had gotten it right.

What if Hoke’s mark had gone UP every year instead of DOWN.

Hell, if Rodriguez had even remotely embraced the “Michigan Man” thing, there might not have even BEEN a Hoke sighting.

And that’s another dealio.

Hackett purposely “ended” the Michigan Man era 25 years after Schembechler said it. Hackett made it clear at his press conference when he replaced David Brandon.

So, why was a “Michigan Man” hired?

There was just about ZERO consideration for anyone else.

I’m a Spartan and even I can see the magnitude of this hire.

I get it.

Harbaugh cedes the Michigan Man idea. He’s a new MAN in a Michigan MAN’s clothing.

Remember, it’s been nearly THIRTY YEARS since Harbaugh called the “Diag” and various campus housing on Hoover and State… home.

The last dozen years have been spent out west.

He spent more time in Chicago, Charlotte, Indianapolis, San Diego (player and a coach), Baltimore, Palo Alto, San Fran and even Bowling Green, Kentucky than he has in Michigan over the past three decades.

It’s not like he was hanging around “The Ark” waiting for his turn in the big Bo chair.

Simply put, Harbaugh is a NEW AGE Michigan Man; a 21st Century Wolverine outlaw!

For Hackett, it was MORE than good enough.

Arrogant Asses.

This is the kind of day that Darryl Rogers would just shake his head and say, “See— I told you so!”

It was as if NO ONE ELSE in the entire United States of America could be allowed to coach Michigan football.

Not after Rich Rod and B. Hoke screwed it up.

Even Les Miles likes the hire.

He took time out of his busy bowl-bound LSU day to comment about Harbaugh’s coronation and it was all positive!

OH, shake Fritz Crisler from the company tree! I believe we have a winner!

Come on Bump Elliott, at age 89, give it two thumbs up.

The ghost of Fielding H. Yost is doing a jig in the afterlife!

Can I get an “AMEN,” Bennie Oosterbaan?

Bo Schembechler… is finally resting comfortably.

Hallelujah!

All past Michigan coaches present (even if most dead) and accounted for.

By the way, Bump turns 90 on January 30th. Just mentioning that in case Jim is looking for a new offensive coordinator with Michigan ties.

At the press conference Tuesday, Fred Heumann asked Harbaugh if he had any thoughts on being labeled as a “savior” of the program.

“I’m not comfortable with that at all,” he said to resounding laughter.

Then he started laughing himself.

“I’m standing on a foundation that’s been built for over one hundred years by some great men.”

No more laughing.

“Feel like I am standing on their shoulders.”

See aforementioned ex-Michigan coaches.

“I want to do a good job,” Harbaugh continued. “I want to win. I want to win at practice; wanna win in the classroom, the community and win on fall Saturday afternoons. We’ll have great expectations for that.”

Jennifer Hammond of FOX 2 asked him if he had any guarantees or anything about Ohio State or Michigan State.

Back to laughter.

“They’re outstanding programs. No, I make no guarantees. I made a guarantee a long time ago and I’ve learned from that… I’ve grown.”

He laughed along with the assembled crowd again.

“I understand that you don’t make guarantees.”

Even though HIS famous guarantee worked out in legendary form.

“Top to bottom, Michigan is about excellence,” he added. It’s about greatness and you have my pledge that I will carry forward the traditions of excellence at the University of Michigan.”

If grown men were allowed to swoon? Harbaugh had them SWOONING.

He’s already married, for a second time, but he could have easily won “The Batchelor” on ABC with that presser.

Give that man… a rose.

How apropos. A rose. As in… Rose Bowl.

Wearing a nice navy blazer with a Michigan tie and a Michigan pin, James Joseph Harbaugh said all the right things. In short order, it went from “Hokey” to “Harbaugh-y”

He poured it on thick without being committal. He brought the assemblage to its cotton pickin maize and blue knees.

Carr was there. Gary Moeller, shunned at the school nearly 20 years ago, was there. Bo’s widow, Kathy Schembechler, was there. His old college buddies, alumni, university employees and a few passers-by… were there.

They were ALL there.

Arrogant Asses.

In a GOOD way.

Funny thing. As Jim stood at the podium in his Wolverine finery, he didn’t look much older than the Jim that would speak in confident terms as a player in the 80’s. He even has pretty much all of the same hair. It’s a little shorter, but not much different.

He looks like the same fresh-faced kid who wanted to beat the hell of out every opponent.

Those current Big Ten opponents watched that presser today, I GUARANTEE it.

From Urban Meyer at Ohio State to Kirk Ferentz at Iowa and everyone in between, they watched with great interest from their various computers.

Some still have bowl games to prepare for but they watched.

One thing Harbaugh has on EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM is that quarterbacking career in the NFL.

None of the other 13 head guys in the B1G have any NFL playing experience.

Zero.

Five of them spent time in the NFL coaching.

Ferentz was with the Browns and then Ravens for six seasons. Randy Edsall of Maryland spent four years with the Jaguars. Mike Riley, now at Nebraska, was the Chargers head coach from 1999-2001 and he employed new Wisconsin mentor Paul Chryst during those years. James Franklin of Penn State had one season with the Packers.

The other 13 guys are no match for Harbaugh’s NFL resume.

One thing I’ve learned? High school kids want to play for NFL people. They believe they have a better shot at a pro career if they play college ball for a guy who knows the ropes in the NFL and had success there.

Harbaugh will be unmatched on the recruiting trail against those other baker’s dozen.

A hater on twitter told me there is no way Harbaugh could EVER out-recruit the SEC teams for blue chip prep talent.

I told him… he was wrong.

Urban is doing it in Columbus and Jimmy will match Meyer player for player. I know he will.

Being the good Spartan that I am, I would prefer he DID NOT match Meyer, but that would be ignorant of me.

Or maybe… I am just being an arrogant ass.

Dantonio won’t bust the old Rogers line out any time soon but he might be thinking it. He knows more than any point since he got back to MSU in 2007, Michigan has him in their sights. Harbaugh will be comin’ for both Mark and Meyer.

I doubt either is very scared.

It is still predicated on Harbaugh to match the power of the Spartans and Buckeyes. It is NOT the other way around.

And the cupboard isn’t bare.

Harbaugh inherits some decent running backs. He has Shane Morris at quarterback with incoming freshman Alex Malzone waiting in the wings.

There’s enough in the trenches, linebacker and secondary to believe the Wolverines can compete right away.

Jim just needs to get his staff back together, or… the gang back together as Andy Moeller tweeted, and get to work.

The work begins now.

Harbaugh got a thunderous ovation at the Michigan basketball game vs. Illinois. They shook the roof off Crisler. Sorry Chris Webber, it rarely gets that loud in that building.

For Jim; it was loud.

And why not? He said it. It’s a “homecoming” for him. The prodigal son returns to the land of the academia and the home of the corned beef sandwich.

Yes, Jim Harbaugh is the new head coach at the University of Michigan. The good folks in Ann Arbor are in seventh heaven. They could WALK on the Huron River; they are THAT confident and happy. They are “roll your eyes” happy. Even Darryl Rogers knows it.

Arrogant Asses.