It’s now or never for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines

After an embarrassing loss to Ohio State that all Michigan Wolverines fans would love to forget to close out the regular season last season, Jim Harbaugh became the first Wolverines’ head coach to lose four straight games to the Buckeyes.

Jim Harbaugh was unable to figure out a way to beat Urban Meyer.  Meyer who recently retired had the Michigan Wolverines number during his tenure with the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Meyer beat Harbaugh in all four of their meetings; that’s the rivalry Michigan fans most look forward too, that’s the game that sets the bar.

With Urban Meyer stepping away from the Bucks it opens the door for the Michigan Wolverines, and it’s time they take advantage.  The fact that Jim Harbaugh couldn’t find a way to beat Urban Meyer will always be there though, something he will be reminded of over and over again moving forward with whatever happens.  As much as I hate to say it, Urban was a tremendous recruiter and a legendary college football coach.  He’s everything the Michigan Wolverines hoped Jim Harbaugh would be; it’s yet to happen.

The problem for Michigan is that Ohio State is still Ohio State.  They will continue to land top recruits as Michigan so it will come down to coaching.  It’s time Jim Harbaugh figures things out.  He can be so stubborn at times.  He’s been so reluctant to change his philosophy in the past but this year should be different as he’s handed the offense over for the first time since he’s returned to the Michigan Wolverines as the head coach.

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Newly appointed offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will be calling the plays for the Wolverines this upcoming season. The 35-year-old coach will serve as a fresh of breath air, the offense that had been stuck in the ’80s with the power run, including plenty of fullback running plays is expected to be very modernized and explosive.  Gattis spent last season as the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach with the power-house Alabama Crimson Tide.

For a coach who by all accounts continues to feed a big ego, it’s a huge step forward for Jim Harbaugh.  During his time with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, he often butted heads with general manager Trent Baalke.  The team was a Super Bowl contender, so they dealt with the internal issues and survived all while owner Jed York swept them under the rug.  As the team eventually imploded, the franchise decided to part ways with both.

It wouldn’t be right not to mention the teams’ inter-state rivalry either.  Considered as the teams’ second largest rival; the Michigan State Spartans have fared well thus far against Jim Harbaugh through his first four years as the Wolverines head coach.  The two teams have split the four-game series alternating wins each year oddly enough a series that’s seen the road team winning each time.

The Michigan Wolverines also haven’t fared well in their bowl appearances under Harbaugh’s direction.  They own a 1-3 record that’s seen them lose three in a row.  Overall Jim is 2-4 coaching in bowl games when you include his time as the head coach in Stanford.  During his first two years with Stanford, he failed to reach a bowl game.

It’s now or never for Jim Harbaugh; he has a star quarterback in Shea Patterson returning to the program.  Patterson the Ole Miss transfer is expected to excel in his second season with the Wolverines potentially playing himself into a first-round pick in a projected quarterback-heavy draft.

That mixed with better play calling, the explosive offense we’ve talked about and the fact that Michigan will be hosting the majority of their big games bodes well for them in 2019, as they attempt to finally make the College Football Playoff.  Michigan will host Michigan State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame in Ann Arbor this upcoming season.