HOUSTON — There was a not-so-subtle question lingering Monday night as Jim Harbaugh walked off the NRG Stadium field after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship. The ultimate Michigan Man had become a maize & blue legend beating Washington 34-13 for Michigan‘s first national title since 1997.
Now what?
That query will continue hanging in the air longer than some of Michael Penix Jr.’s misaimed passes Monday night. In continuing not to provide an answer in the aftermath of the Wolverines’ dominant victory over the Huskies, Harbaugh was as stalwart as his defense that held down the nation’s No. 1 passing attack.
“I just want to enjoy this,” Harbaugh told the media. “I hope you give me that. Can a guy have that? Does it always have to be, ‘What’s next? What’s the future?'”
It does when a now-national championship coach is stiff-arming not only his employers but his program and its adoring fans. They deserve to know sooner than later because Harbaugh is just that damn good. Perhaps too good for Michigan at this point.
“He certainly has fulfilled [his destiny],” Michigan president Santa Ono said. “I hope he stays. I’m going to do everything I can to encourage him to stay, but if he doesn’t, the Michigan tradition will move on.”
Add college football to that list of entities hanging on Harbaugh’s decision. With Harbaugh donning his block “M” cap, Michigan threatens to become a dynasty. Without him, well, what is that saying about never being the guy to follow the guy? The next Michigan coach — suspected to be offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore if there is an opening — has a big pair of khakis to fill.
And no matter what comes from the dual ongoing NCAA investigations, it has become clear that Monday’s achievement will ultimately overshadow it. Harbaugh’s name will be etched in granite somewhere around Michigan Stadium with the likes of Fritz Crisler, Bo Schembechler and the last coach to win it all 26 years ago, Lloyd Carr. Maybe Harbaugh will even get a statue.
Vacated wins? You can’t vacate what we saw on the field. For the first time in CFP National Championship history, two running backs went for more than 100 yards on the ground (Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards). The Wolverines’ 303 yards rushing were not only more than the Huskies’ total yardage in the game (301) but the most on the ground by a national title winner in the BCS/CFP era…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CBSSports.com Headlines…