Urban Meyer

Yeah, I don't think too many people blame Harbaugh for the Niners missing the playoffs. They had injuries all over the place and they play in the league's best division, by far, IMO.

Considering what that franchise was before he got there, he deserves a lot of credit for turning that team around as quickly as he did.

 

I ask this in all seriousness: Urban is an unusual first name. How the fuck did he get that?

 

I still think he fronted Ultravox before turning to the glories of coaching football.

 

He's Roman Catholic. I believe he was named after a Pope.

 

Perhaps. The Seahawks also sucked before Carroll arrived. Not only has be won a SB, he's kept them atop the division. I think Harbaugh's an excellent coach, but also is someone whose reputation outweighs his actual accomplishments.

 

Thanks. Just googled that and there are at last three, maybe eight, Urban Popes. Learn something new everyday....

 

I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in the 49ers this season reflecting poorly on Harbaugh -- the entire front office spent a whole year back-stabbing and sabotaging him in order to run him out. Very few if any coaches could win like that. They were also a very old team. Before this season happened, he was the first coach ever to take a team to a conference championship game three years in a row. They were a play away from winning a Super Bowl, with a quarterback who took over two-thirds of the way through the season for basically his first action ever. Those are pretty strong "actual accomplishments." I guess if it's CHAMPIONSHIP!!!11!1!11! or GTFO then that isn't enough.

Carroll the Seahawks have it going on with young talent and the perfect organizational model, primarily because they don't have a spoiled brat as a Snyder-type active owner. Worth noting, though -- Harbaugh's record in four seasons was 44-19-1. Carroll after four NFL seasons was 33-31.

 

To compare coaches simply on record assumes all coaches have the same talent.

 

Yeah, a flaw to be sure ... in the cases of Carroll/Harbaugh though, it seems the teams they took over were at roughly the same starting spot. (Not the post-Parcells Patriots, obviously.)

 

Not disputing that he's an outstanding coach. But I'd bet many assume he's won a SB (he didn't) or more than one bowl game (he hasn't).

 

It helps in recruiting inner city kids

 

Not going to put James Franklin among the top tier, but what he did at Vandy was darn good. I'd say he is in the 10-20 range.