Jim Harbaugh is a living, breathing, walking and talking paradox.
What he ultimately accomplished at Michigan was implausible, not in leading Michigan to the national championship, but the timing.
Michigan, given its vast resources and deeply-embedded tradition, had grossly underachieved since the loss to Appalachian State in 2007 knocked the Wolverines on their rear.
Harbaugh, arriving amid copious fanfare, initially revived the Wolverines, but only to the point ithe Wolverines were in the second-tier behind Ohio State and the SEC powers. The unprecedented losses to Michigan State continued.
And his run seemed about to end after the 2020 COVID season went totally sideways. Reports Harbaugh was flirting with the NFL at the time appeared like he wanted them more than they wanted him.
To turn that precarious situation into three straight Big Ten titles, humiliations of Ohio State and CFP appearances, including the national championship, represents one the most sensational college football coaching performances in history.
There should be no ifs ands or buts about it, but that's where the paradox comes in.
Harbaugh wasn't on the sidelines for six of the national title season wins because of school and conference imposed sanctions. He was, at minimum, responsible for a brazen lack of oversight, which he compounded by doubling down.
Michigan football's hard-earned reputation for doing it the right way has been forever soiled. In the process, university president Santa Ono is perceived as more of a mascot than a leader, and athletic director Warde Manuel's program seen as running amuck.
That was a price Michigan paid for its national championship. And it was so unnecessary.
The good part: Harbaugh is leaving Michigan in the nick of time.
There was no place for him to go but down. The NCAA will be less prone to sanction Michigan harshly because of Harbaugh's departure. There is a capable replacement in Sherrone Moore in place.
The best part: Michigan football will no longer be too much about Jim Harbaugh and not enough about the team.
And Harbaugh will go down with Yost, Crisler, Schembechler and Carr among Michigan's all-time great coaches.
Excess baggage and all.
