Jim Harbaugh has a way of getting in the headlines, mostly for the bizarre. The line between genius and crazy is sometimes blurred. With Harbaugh, we think closer to crazy, so it got us wondering here at Buckeye Wire, what are the top ten times Jim Harbaugh has lost his Maize and Blue mind?
No. 10 – Sleepovers With Recruits
Harbaugh has some interesting recruiting tactics to say the least, but having a sleepover? Isn’t it kind of weird when someone invites themselves over? Especially when that self invite comes from a 50 year old man?
Harbaugh did just that trading in the khakis for some gray sweats and late night Netflix with several recruits. What does a middle aged man and a teenager talk about at a sleepover? This one seems creepy, even for Harbaugh.
To be fair though, he did get the nation’s 2016 top rated kicker, Quinn Nordin, to flip from Penn State to the Wolverines after the overnight stay. Get ’em anyway you can… I guess.
No. 9 – Cannonball In Khakis
No one can say that Jim Harbaugh doesn’t love his alma mater. In 2017, the Wolverines were off to a 4-0 start and on their bye week. The head coach decided to stop in and say hello at the Michigan dive and swim meet.
But Jim likes to make a splash everywhere he goes, sometimes literally. Harbaugh decided to climb up the 16′ platform and participate in the Michigan Water Carnival cannonball contest. Other Michigan sporting coaches participated, but Harbaugh out did them all with his attire.
Although his cannonball was actually a can opener, we’ll give him a 7 on the splash and a 10 for school spirit.
No. 8 – Judge Judy Twitter Shoutout
Apparently Jim Harbaugh is a HUGE (Donald Trump voice) Judge Judy fan. He’s attended live showings and even gave the daytime reality judge a shoutout on twitter for her contract extension.
When Judge Judy tweeted back at Harbaugh, you would’ve thought he had just landed the nation’s No. 1 recruit.
Coach Jim even went as far as to suggest that Judge Judy should be nominated for the Supreme Court.
Jim, you do know Judge Judy is a reality show – right? Maybe we can elect a reality TV star as president too… uh, never mind.
No. 7 – Rap Video
We’ve all secretly wanted to have a mic in our hands performing in front of thousands. For most of us, it would be best to leave that dream hidden far, far away.
Not Coach Jim. He put his talent, or lack there of, on full display while starring in rapper Bailey’s Wolverine beat. The title line is a saying from the Harbaugh family stemming from Jim’s childhood and has become his mantra.
Remember when social media started getting big and we were warned to be careful what we posted because once it’s out there, it’s out there. Harbaugh clearly didn’t listen to this solid piece of advice on this decision.
No. 6 – Milk With Steak
The local Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Ann Arbor decided to run a promotion in 2016 offering a percentage discount for the team’s margin of victory for each win (capped at 50%). Harbaugh decided to take advantage of the discount after a 78-0 win over Rutgers in 2016.
No big deal, right? Take your wife out for a nice steak dinner, sure. But milk with your $100 Filet Mignon? Come on!
Harbaugh has been vocal about keys to “growing up strong” being sleep, milk, water, and steak… but chasing your steak with a tall glass of whole milk? Not sure that’s the paring Ruth’s Chris has on the menu.
No. 5 – The Nose Pick
Dear Coach Harbaugh, you’ve been a head football coach at major college programs and the NFL. Don’t you know there are TV cameras everywhere by now?
This is just gross … and maybe it’s a “Michigan Man” thing. Remember Les Miles at LSU? At least he started eating grass instead.
No. 4 – Shirtless At Camp
Harbaugh decided to find some loopholes to help with recruiting by hosting satellite camps in the south, specifically in Alabama, much to Nick Saban’s chagrin.
Apparently Jim didn’t realize that it’s really hot and humid in the Deep South. Harbaugh showed up in his signature khakis and a polo. However, it wasn’t long before the head coach decided to shed the shirt and let the world view his pasty white skin that hadn’t seen the sun in quite some time.
There’s just some things that will be etched in your mind forever.
No. 3 – Bitterly Disappointed
After a hard fought double overtime loss at Ohio State in 2016 that would help determine the Big Ten East, Harbaugh tried to evoke the ghost of Bo Schembechler by saying “I’m bitterly disappointed with the officiating today.”
Bo famously said that he was “bitterly resentful” after the Big Ten athletic directors voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl in 1973 after being tied for first place with the Wolverines.
Harbaugh, of course, was referring to several instances during the game in which he felt the officials made questionable calls. The only problem, the calls weren’t all that questionable. But this is what you do when you’ve been unable to beat your biggest rival.
No. 2 – Don’t Eat Chicken
This might be one of the wackiest things I’ve ever heard. Harbaugh believes that people shouldn’t eat chicken because it’s a “nervous bird.” What?!
By most accounts, as long as cooked properly, chicken is one of the healthiest proteins one can consume. But not according to Coach Jim.
Maybe this is why Harbaugh hasn’t had much success with his QBs … He’s filling their minds with crazy talk.
No. 1 – Sideline Trantrum
In the biggest game on Michigan’s schedule in 2016, Harbaugh did something every coach in America preaches against and lost control of his emotions.
Michigan had been playing well all day in Columbus and was leading the No. 2 Buckeyes 17-7 late in the 3rd quarter. Then the Wolverines were called for a defensive offsides and Harbaugh lost his cool, throwing his clipboard and slamming his headset to the ground.
A five yard penalty turned into half the distance to the goal and woke a relatively quiet Ohio State crowd. From that moment, the Buckeyes carried the momentum and went on to come back and stun Michigan, leaving Harbaugh 0-2 at the time against his arch rivals.
And the headset is still receiving counseling … as are Michigan fans.
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