Jim Harbaugh’s been involved and around sports, throughout his
entire lifetime. Jim’s father Jack was a football coach at various colleges and
universities. In fact, when Jim was about 10 years of age, father Jack was
hired by Bo Schembechler to be his position coach for the University of
Michigan’s secondary. It was not an uncommon
sight to observe young Jim being around [retrieving footballs, etc.] college
football players, college coaches and other personnel associated with big-time
college football at the Big House. It was an unique and wonderful experience
for Jim, to say the least, and it foreshadowed the stage for things to come in
Jim’s bright football future.
Being and associating with young athletic and older role models
became routine or familiar, but not ordinary for Jim. No doubt, precocious Jim
had an opportunity and practice to become at ease and develop interpersonal
social skills with these giants playing a game that they loved. Jim observed their
mental and physical toughness, their skill, their dedication and their focus
regarding practicing with passion the love of the game. He also observed that
the adult coaches could be warm, caring, but also extremely verbally and
physically tough on the players when necessary. Perhaps, he was frightened at
first by the rough language exhibited by these coaches. Perhaps, perhaps not,
he became more comfortable, over time. It’s safe to say that he became familiar,
and learned how to treat and interact with young athletic men in the process.
Jim Harbaugh’s personality was shaped, molded and tweaked by his athletic
father, both at home, and certainly by his experience with other coaches in the
football milieu.
As an adolescent, Jim was a star athlete at the two high schools [in
Michigan and California] that he attended. Attending the University Michigan,
the setting that had tremendous influence on his personality, he received
multiple honors. Further, Jim was exposed to the limelight of big-time football,
which affected his character development along with his narcissism. He was told
by many in various ways and received awards that indicated and interpreted that
he was both extremely special and unique. Further, he played in the NFL, which
further reinforced that he was different from the rest of the crowd. Being the
quarterback was the epitome and he reached the top of the pyramid as far as
star status was concerned. Gathering and garnishing even more celebrity
attention, Jim became an extremely successful football coach at Division Level
1 in college. And then a brighter star shone when he became the head football
coach for the San Francisco 49ers, while still in his 40s. Nothing in the Milky
Way galaxy could dim his brightness.
Currently, he has been appointed to one of the most prestigious
positions [Winningest football team] in college football-at the University of
Michigan also known for its academic excellence. Jim Harbaugh is basking in the
limelight. Even before he has been credited with winning one football game, he
has garnished the love and attention of the 500,000 or so Michigan alumni [in
our star struck culture] as well as the excitement for those others who follow
Michigan football. In an extremely short time, he has shined at press
conferences, has been a buzz on various social media outlets, and even coached
first-base [in desert like conditions] for the Oakland A’s at their spring
training facility in Arizona.
We are observing an
unheralded preoccupation with a college football coach on our planet. This
ongoing excitement reinforces Jim Harbaugh’s narcissism and self-importance.
It’s of course important for a football coach at any level to have a proper
amount or necessary level of narcissism in their character. Hopefully, Jim
Harbaugh will not allow himself to be blinded by the adoring shades of light.
Let’s hope that “all” can remain rational in viewing the drama that lies ahead
of us, and evaluate Jim Harbaugh the man. He has not yet attained legend, nor
savior status.
Go, Blue!
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