College Football: Winners and losers from 2018 spring ball

Loser: Michigan Wolverines

When Jim Harbaugh was hired on as the head football coach of the Michigan Wolverines the hype machine was in full effect. He’s known for being eccentric but steadfast and had great success in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and in the college game at both Stanford and San Diego.

As a head football coach in college and the NFL, Harbaugh has only had two losing seasons — both with the Stanford Cardinal. However, Michigan wasn’t expecting third place finishes in the Big Ten East. The Wolverines wanted conference titles and, even more so, College Football Playoff appearances. After finishing the 2017 season 8-5 and with another loss to Ohio State, Harbaugh’s shine is starting to wear off in Ann Arbor.

After extravagant spring trips to Rome and the IMG Academy that were all the hype around college football the 2018 spring football game was cancelled due to bad weather in the Michigan area. Some people don’t see that as a major issue however an 0-3 record against Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes and a 1-2 record in bowl games has tainted the early Harbaugh era. The Wolverines needed something major to happen this spring and what’s happened is a cancelled spring game and two controversies.

The first controversy is over Shea Patterson‘s eligibility. While it does seem like a foregone conclusion and Patterson will be cleared for the 2018 season, the Ole Miss transfer has been in limbo all spring. Wilton Speight, the former Michigan starting quarterback, has since transferred to UCLA, leaving Harbaugh with Brandon Peters and Dylan McCaffrey behind the center if somehow Patterson isn’t cleared.

Then there was a Twitter scandal where a former player made threats against Harbaugh. While Harbaugh couldn’t control that at all, it is another black eye on the 2018 spring.

Another strange spring in Ann Arbor, Mich., as Harbaugh prepares for his fourth season at the helm of the maize and blue.