For Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, 2016 feels like a long time ago. Heck, so do 2017, 2018 and 2019.
And at this rate, 2021 might never arrive.
After Saturday night's blowout loss to Wisconsin, Michigan is 1-3 for the first time since 1967.
Just how bad was the latest debacle? The Wolverines' 28-0 halftime deficit was their worst in the history of Michigan Stadium. Thankfully there weren't fans on hand to witness it. And the 49-11 final was their worst defeat since 1940, and tied for their second worst defeat in program history.
Uhh, Coach?
"We were thoroughly beaten in every phase," Harbaugh said. "Didn’t really do anything well. Did not play good, did not coach good. Not in a good place with the execution, not in a good place adjusting and what we were doing schematically. Not in a good place as a football team right now, and that falls on me."
Harbaugh added, "I’m at the front of the line in accountability."
This felt like a replay of Michigan-Wisconsin in 2019, only worse. The Wolverines were helpless on defense, especially against the run. And they were inept on offense. They gained one yard in the first quarter. One entire yard.
By then, the game was over.
It was only a few weeks ago that Michigan was ranked No. 13 in the country, after an encouraging season-opening win over Minnesota. Turns out, Minnesota is terrible. Turns out Michigan might be, too.
"Every part is not close to where it should be," Harbaugh said. "Stopping the run, stopping the pass, running the football, the passing game. All things, thoroughly, not where they need to be in terms of execution. As I said, starts with me, starts with our coaches and every person here.
"There’s nothing right now to say that an acceptable job is being done, players or coaches."
At least Harbaugh's being honest. At least he's being real. The first step in fixing a problem is admitting it exists. The question is whether he can execute the steps that come next.
Harbaugh said he and his staff need to do a better job of coaching the players on their assignments.
"Because there seems to be hesitation, there seems to be some confusion, some lack of communication, on both sides of the ball," he said. "Getting things adjusted to, getting things fixed, just identifying how to improve in those areas are some of the first things that we’re going to address."
That will start Sunday for the coaches, Monday for the players. If you think Saturday night was bad, Rutgers is next. A loss to the punching bag of the Big Ten would have felt inconceivable even a year ago. It can't be ruled out now.
Anything was supposed to be possible under Harbaugh -- just not things like this.