Jim Harbaugh’s decision to join the Los Angeles Chargers after leaving Michigan is the greatest sports story of the day.
However, the majority of the coverage has concentrated on how Harbaugh will perform upon his return to the NFL, leaving aside the issue of college football losing both its head coach and one of its biggest stars, the current national champion.
In order to dissect the latter, ESPN’s First Take turned to Paul Finebaum. And when asked about the college football impact of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, the longtime radio host didn’t mince words.
“I think it’s a positive, frankly,” Finebaum said. “I hate to interrupt the coronation of a new pope, but let’s remember a couple of things about Jim Harbaugh, my friends…”
Finebaum went on to share his belief that Harbaugh’s leaving could ultimately wind up being a positive for even the Wolverines, as his absence could lessen any potential punishment the program receives as a result of the ongoing investigations. He also conceded that college football is losing its biggest coaching star, especially in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement earlier this month.
When it comes to Harbaugh, Finebaum has had plenty to say — although he’s reversed course on his stance about the former Michigan quarterback a few times. But while his points about the ongoing investigations into the Wolverines program are legitimate, it’s hard to imagine that Finebaum really believes that losing Harbaugh is a net positive for college football — at least from a content perspective