Jim Harbaugh accused of not giving Michigan the courtesy Kalen DeBoer gave Washington

Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan was somewhat unexpected. Coming off a 15-0 2023 season that finished with a 34-13 triumph over Washington, Harbaugh took the Los Angeles Chargers’ $80 million and left the Wolverines on January 24.

Michigan’s offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore, was named his replacement – but as On3’s Andy Staples pointed out, the chance to nab a top transfer portal quarterback was already gone. Harbaugh didn’t recruit a serious JJ McCarthy replacement during his time there, and Moore was unable to effectively replace him. He didn’t try to, and Davis Warren’s uneven two-interception effort against Texas and a 155-yard 15/25 day facing Fresno State was the result.

Kalen DeBoer didn’t do that to Washington; a connection Staples brilliantly made with Michigan a few weeks out from a first-ever Big Ten conference game in Seattle.

“To understand the difference between a coach planning to leave and a coach not planning to leave, consider this scene from warm-ups before the national title game in Houston between Michigan and Washington,” Staples prefaced before saying, “Will Rogers, a four-year starter at Mississippi State, wore a Washington jersey and sweatpants as he threw a ball on the sideline surrounded by his future teammates.

“Why was Rogers there? Because then-Washington coach Kalen DeBoer had picked Rogers to replace Michael Penix Jr. DeBoer, as of that Monday night, planned to be Washington’s coach in 2024. He had no idea Nick Saban would retire that Wednesday and he’d be Alabama’s coach that Friday, so he planned for the future. Harbaugh didn’t. At least he didn’t plan for Michigan’s future.”

Washington in better shape than Michigan after Kalen DeBoer, Jim Harbaugh departures

UW is closer to championship contention under Jedd Fisch than Michigan is under Moore. Harbaugh handing the reins over to someone who was unprepared turned out to be a malicious move, intent or not.

Meanwhile, the Huskies have their QB, an up-and-coming coach who rose naturally in his progression to the job, and more hope than the Wolverines may have in a long time.

Remember: we’re at the tip of the iceberg with Michigan’s recruiting violations and spying scandals.