Paul Finebaum has been one of Jim Harbaugh’s harshest critics.
Not that the Michigan football coach has made it hard for one of ESPN’s most prominent college football talking heads. But Finebaum has consistently been hard on Harbaugh during his tenure in Ann Arbor.
SHAWN WINDSOR:Harbaugh isn’t Michigan football’s savior. He never was.
RAINER SABIN:Harbaugh was hired to win championships. He’s brought disappointment instead
U-M O-COORDINATOR:Our preparation was lacking vs. Michigan State
And, over the years, Harbaugh has fired back at Finebaum, the host of his own national radio show/TV simulcast and the unofficial “Mouth of the South.”
[ From 2017: Harbaugh fires back at ‘SEC water carrier’ Paul Finebaum ]
On Wednesday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up” show, host Mike Greenberg put Harbaugh on the tee once again.
And Finebaum pulled out the proverbial driver and took a swing just days after U-M’s upset loss to Michigan State at home.
“Well Greeny, I’m bored criticizing Jim Harbaugh because it’s just become so easy,” Finebaum said. “I like a challenge. Maybe talk about a coach that may be a tweener.
“I think it’s time for, not to fire Jim Harbaugh – they’re not going to do that, because every time I say that, Jalen Rose pops out of the desk and tells me how wrong I am. But the point is, they just need an amicable divorce. He has another year on his contract after this. It’s not going to get any better, so let’s sit down, work this out, and let Jim Harbaugh look for a job in the NFL.”
[ How Harbaugh nearly settled feud with Paul Finebaum ]
To Finebaum’s point, Harbaugh, the fourth-highest-paid college football coach in the country at $7.79 million this season, has yet to get an extension on his deal that is scheduled to end after the 2021 season. He is the lone Power Five coach that has less than two years remaining on his contract.
And while the profile of Michigan football is as high as ever, the results on the field have lacked. Under Harbaugh, U-M is 3-3 against MSU, with all losses coming at home, and 0-5 against Ohio State, with the last two losses coming in blowout fashion.
The Wolverines have yet to win the Big Ten East Division with Harbaugh at the helm, certainly underperforming against those championship expectations.
Contact Kirkland Crawford: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @HiKirkHere.
