I'd say Harbaugh really needs this one. A win over a big name like Alabama might distract some people from the 9-3 and 10-3 seasons he cranks out like a broken record.
Michigan under Harbaugh is experiencing the worst kind of success. In 5 seasons he's winless against their arch-rival, 1-4 in bowl games, and averaging 3 or more losses per year. They're also going bowling every year and winning 9 or 10 games which is enough to keep most coaches in D1 employed. Yet, looking at this Michigan program and entering Harbaugh's 6th year I don't see anything telling me he'll build the Wolverines into an elite program. But they're winning 9 or 10.... it's the worst kind of success.
I should have commented earlier but there was no way Michigan was going to beat Bama. Harbaugh has been a massive disappointment and until I am proven wrong (which probably won’t happen), it’s pretty clear that he just isn’t the elite college coach that everyone anticipated, including me. Harbaugh should cut his loses and return to the NFL, now. It would be better both for him and MI.
Alabama ran the same play 3-4 times in a row - simple dive play. Michigan couldn't or wouldn't stop it. Could Bama have taken a knee? Sure. Could Harbaugh not have been such a shithead about the camps? Sure. Saban's message was two fold: 1) Your team quit on you 2) Keep your ****** little camps north of the Ohio River
Saban has done this more times than I got fingers and toes during his time at Bama. The only message is "I am pissed that we didn't get in the playoffs and I am going to score as much as I possibly can".
Agree. He knows starting high in the polls make a making the CFP a lot easier (the CFP people will dispute this). Alabama will be no lower than 3rd in the initial poll.