How close was Jim Harbaugh to being ISU's coach?

**UNIGuy4Cy** · 01-03-2011, 05:04 PM

For those who know, I was just wondering, did he even get an interview or was he just a name tossed out there? I just wonder what he would have been able to do at Iowa State, of course if he had any success he would have been gone.

**ruxCYtable** · 01-03-2011, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by UNIGuy4Cy

For those who know, I was just wondering, did he even get an interview or was he just a name tossed out there? I just wonder what he would have been able to do at Iowa State, of course if he had any success he would have been gone.

I think he was third or fourth on our "wish list" but I don't know that he ever interviewed.

**chuckd4735** · 01-03-2011, 05:07 PM

Pretty sure the name was just being thrown around. At the time he was just a year into his San Diego State job, and he had not proven anything and was more of just a name.

Also, Gene Chizik was the hottest name at the time, and Jamie Pollard spent most of his time at getting him.

**CrossCyed** · 01-03-2011, 05:08 PM

The way I understood, he was a finalist, so to speak, but then he started talking about it, which Pollard had specifically asked all candidates not to do.

**wiuclone** · 01-03-2011, 05:13 PM

i honestly think more "what if" about brian kelly than any other canidate when it comes to that coaching search

**CyCrazy** · 01-03-2011, 05:15 PM

I would have loved to have Harbaugh in hindsight, but then again we would going through what Stanford is right now.

**Palmer** · 01-03-2011, 05:16 PM

Thank goodness Gene was hired. Deace would have no Harbaugh dreams to pleasure himself over..in the dark..in his basement..in the pale light of his PS3.

**ISUcy08** · 01-03-2011, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by wiuclone

i honestly think more "what if" about brian kelly than any other canidate when it comes to that coaching search

I really think he would have done pretty close to the same thing as Chizik.

**Mr Janny** · 01-03-2011, 05:16 PM

I thought I heard a rumor that Harbaugh's "potty mouth" turned Pollard off and eliminated him as a candidate. That could be pure fiction, but I've heard it several times.

**isudizzle13** · 01-03-2011, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

The way I understood, he was a finalist, so to speak, but then he started talking about it, which Pollard had specifically asked all candidates not to do.

This. Same thing with Brian Kelly. Odd part is, after two years of GC, Harbaugh, or Kelly, I still think we end up with Rhoads when we did. Kelly and Harbaugh most likely would have left with any success, and GC pulled a GC. I'd like to think we'd have a couple more wins to show for it, but in the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure if things would be much different.

**isuno1fan** · 01-03-2011, 05:22 PM

It was never serious

**wiuclone** · 01-03-2011, 05:23 PM

didnt kelly basically want the job offer right away too? and i think he wouldve left us in a better place than the chiz did

**sunset** · 01-03-2011, 05:37 PM

He had my vote at the time. I was happy with the Chiz hire, but after seeing what Harbaugh did at USD I sure would have loved ISU to make him an offer.

**cc1091** · 01-03-2011, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by wiuclone

i honestly think more "what if" about brian kelly than any other canidate when it comes to that coaching search

^^^exactly^^^

**Tornado man** · 01-03-2011, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

Pretty sure the name was just being thrown around. At the time he was just a year into his San Diego State job, and he had not proven anything and was more of just a name.

Also, Gene Chizik was the hottest name at the time, and Jamie Pollard spent most of his time at getting him.

Harbaugh coached at Univ. of San Diego, a much smaller school than San Diego State. His teams played Drake every year. He was totally unproven, and Stanford basically took him because their candidate pool was not that impressive.
Let's be honest - his success at Stanford has stunned everyone. No one knew he would be this kind of head coach.