Death, taxes and Michigan beating Indiana on the gridiron have long been considered certainties in life.
Well, guess you can throw out the latter...
Indiana devastated the Wolverines Saturday. It shouldn't be a surprise - despite it being the Hoosiers' first victory in the series since Michael Jackson's "Bad" was the No. 1 song, the nation was reeling because of the Black Monday stock market crash and rookie quarterback Jim Harbaugh had yet to throw an NFL pass.
Indiana has a much better QB, way more dangerous receivers and is more formidable defensively. It was a joke Michigan was favorite, a classic example how gambling venues view Michigan fans as ultimate suckers.
Certainly you can put better coached into the equation - and that's a big problem for Michigan and Jim Harbaugh.
Indiana's Tom Allen has had less time than Harbaugh at the helm and a considerably better team.
While the contrast isn't quite the same as the previous week when Michigan State stunned the Wolverines led by first-year coach Mel Tucker, it's nonetheless as revealing.
I thought Harbaugh, despite notably consistent losses to rivals, at least had built a solid foundation. It appears, however, to be crumbling without the cement hardening. Michigan State is a poor team. The Spartans were exposed by Rutgers in their opener and a floundering version of Iowa Saturday. Indiana is still Indiana. Allen is the 15th coach at Indiana since the long forgotten Bo McMillian left for the Lions in 1949. The previous 14 have losing records.
Let's put it this way: The Buckeyes aren't exactly quaking in their boots in anticipation of the Hoosiers' visit to Columbus Nov. 21.
At minimum, the false narratives about the Wolverines should stop. While it's inexplicable why Michigan is this mediocre and trending downward, it's reality. The Wolverines aren't, honestly, sleeping giants under Harbaugh.
They are merely sleeping with no sign of rising any time soon.
Harbaugh is in the sixth year of a seven-year contract. A contract extension at this point isn't justifiable.
Anything short of downing Ohio State, the ultimate Hail Mary, isn't going to change this obvious conclusion.
Michigan State prepared Harbaugh for his fate. Indiana likely sealed it Saturday.
