As if scoring more points than any other team in history on the Trojans' home turf was not enough, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh attempted a two point conversion with the game out of hand. Through the rest of the weekend, the story line morphed from the play on the field to the meeting of the head coaches at midfield after the game. Sources tell us that canter was pulled straight out of the back of the recess line of your local elementary school following a heated dodge ball game.
Pete Carroll: "What's your deal?"
Jim Harbaugh: "What's YOUR deal?"
Now all that I have read and heard from media and fans alike are dumbfounded questions and comments wondering where the line is drawn on proper etiquette in the drubbing of an opponent. Seems as if the interpretation of the two point conversion attempt is something of the personal sort between Carroll and Harbaugh. While this stance is the most obvious and a logical one at that, might I ask readers to consider an alternative. What if Harbaugh's decision had nothing to do with Carroll and USC? Is that really possible? Can you wrap your mind around this conclusion?
If not, consider this. After a successful career in the NFL which his pesky presence led a team to the Super Bowl, he chose to coach. Though he coached briefly in the pros, he strayed quickly from the predictable path of a former player turned coach. What we are talking about here is a man who, in the infantile stages of his coaching career, volunteered at Western Kentucky followed by his first head coaching job at the University of San Diego. Just to be clear in case you skimmed over that last part. WESTERN Kentucky, not the Wildcats of the SEC. And hallowed members of the Pioneer League, San Diego Toreros, stadium capacity: 6,000. Hardly the path of least resistance for a Michigan grad and all-pro quarterback with coaching in his bloodline. And now Stanford. A campus much more acclaimed for its brains that its brawn. A high profile school, yes, but few would argue the toughest place to recruit talent to contend with the likes of USC is in Palo Alto. I've heard the whole "graduate from our school and see how many job offers you get", doesn't really go over well with blue chip All-American talent.
All that said, the path that Jim Harbaugh has paved in his coaching career are very indicative of his choice to go for 2 against the defeated kings of college football's recent history. To me, its obvious Jim Harbaugh takes pride in making the ugly duckling not just cute, but a mantle piece. 2 national titles in 3 years at San Diego? Volunteering to recruit the bulk of players at WKU who also won a national title? He must know something about winning football that many do not. In fairness, he has not chosen winners and kept them that way. He has turned odor into aroma many times over for less than prominent programs. With his apparent commitment to success over notoriety, I have a hard time believing that Coach Harbaugh decided to make a 2 point conversion about something personal. maybe a better reason for going for the even 50 against the USC is that he is committed to making his school believe that their play is worthy of making people mad...even the Trojans. Finally that stench of losing on the Cardinal sideline is fading because of the aromatic delight that is the leadership of Jim Harbaugh.
THE FLIP SIDE: What Was Harbaugh Thinking?...I'll Tell You
