The Harbaugh Era

About five years ago I took a crack at defining the major “eras” of Michigan football. One question I had concerned defining the correct end of the Schembechler era, and if it ended, what was it called, etc.

With U-M’s victory over Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday, I feel we have an answer–Jim Harbaugh cemented a new era at Michigan. Here’s a look:

While there’s a temptation to bundle the bad stretches into their own special era, keep in mind that every one of these eras ended badly–as in somewhere between a mess and a complete disaster. In fact, there are three defining characteristics of these eras:

  • Each involves a powerful central figure, of course.
  • Each arises from a mess or crisis in the football program, and
  • Each requires an axis-tilting moment with our main rival (at the time) and restoration to glory.

A rundown:

  • Club Era: I wrestled with the naming of this period but I think the ‘Club’ label works. As noted on the chart it’s really this period where the inmates run the asylum — generally speaking the team is run by active players or recent grads. It’s not to knock it – it was the pre-dawn of big-time college football. The B1G was formed at the tail end, and the 1898 conference title gave us ‘The Victors.’
  • Yost and Crisler Eras. These seem rock solid to me, at least as far as the labels go. Yost runs up to the Kipke firing (a complete disaster). Crisler’s arrival and the promise Fritz would take over as AD when Yost retired basically made Hurry Up a lame duck. And while Oosterbaan played for Yost up through his junior season (1926), his defining moment as head coach was taking the reins/system/players from Crisler and delivering the 1948 national championship.
  • Schembechler (Bo) Era. This span is crystal clear at least through Lloyd Carr’s retirement. But Bo’s shadow remained after LC hung up the whistle. While the RichRod and Hoke coaching periods are odd and messy, I’m resisting the notion of bundling it up into its own doggie bag. Again, remember that every one of these eras ended very badly. And Hoke has direct ties to Bo through Lloyd Carr and RichRod through his mentor Don Nehlen.
  • Harbaugh Era. Yes, with back-to-back wins over the Buckeyes and a likely return to the College Football Playoff, the Harbaugh era is here. To me, the most appropriate comparison to this is the Crisler era, where Fritz restored the program to legitimacy (from disaster) but it took six tries to kick it in gear and take down the Gophers (and win the Big Ten title).

Now the one thing Harbaugh is missing? The national title of course, which shows up in each of the three eras that precede him

6 Comments

  • Alton

    I think we are still clearly in the Schembechler era. Michigan has hired 5 coaches since then, and all 5 of them were connected to Bo either through 1st-level coaching tree (Moeller, Carr), 2nd-level coaching tree (Rodriguez, Hoke) or ex-player (Harbaugh).

    Michigan’s last 3 athletic directors (Brandon, Hackett, Manuel) also are ex-players under Bo.

    Given all of that, plus the fan base’s continuing obsession with Schembechler, it’s pretty obvious that we are still in the Schembechler era.

  • Vasav

    Alton makes a good point. I was going to write in that we may look back on Rod and Hoke as part of an “interregnum” of sorts. But Harbaugh is clearly a Bo disciple, and it is fair to call him a part of the same dynasty/era. Is Rich Rod really connected to Bo’s coaching tree?

  • Michael Yost

    Thank you for your historical perspective of Michigan football and the personalities that helped shape the tradition…..Michael Yost

  • Alton

    RichRod is really conntected to Bo’s coaching tree. He played under, and assisted under, Don Nehlen. Nehlen was Bo’s QB coach from 1977-79, and then West Virginia’s head coach from 1980-2000.

  • Snarling

    Does every season we’ve played need to be part of an era? I feel like 2008-14 should be treated as an “interregnum” or whatever its football equivalent would be.

  • Jil Gordon

    After watching Michigan history on 11.26.22, a fellow M fan (his wife is an alum), snarkily remarked, “well Schembechler was great but never won a national championship” and I responded, “When Jim Harbaugh gets to or wins the national title, it will be BECAUSE of Bo Schembechler. There would be no Jim Harbaugh without Bo Schembechler.”
    The guy could not respond.

    With so much in society being dissolved, ignored or disrespected, “tradition” means human connection and must remain. I think Bo would say, “Jim, this is yours. Glad to be of help.”

    GO BLUE! Forever.