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Coach Jim Harbaugh returned to a welcome-home rally on Stanford's campus Tuesday night and offered no insight to what's next: staying put, bolting to the NFL or going elsewhere.
Harbaugh shook his head and said ''no'' when asked if he had considered his options during the cross-country flight home, then briefly addressed a crowd of several hundred cheering fans before being whisked away. On Monday night, Stanford earned a 40-12 Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in Miami to finish with a program-best 12-1 record.
''Look at all these cameras. Wow,'' Harbaugh said, holding toddler daughter Addison. ''I feel so popular.''
Harbaugh - dressed in Stanford gear - now has to weigh his choices, with suitors from coast to coast and Stanford making its own hard push to keep him. From the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh is a hot commodity around the country. And what about his alma mater, Michigan?
''Stay in the Bay Area!'' one man hollered.
Michigan and Rich Rodriguez were set to meet again Wednesday to discuss the embattled coach's future.
Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, along with her players, were there to greet the football team. VanDerveer - whose Cardinal snapped Connecticut's 90-game winning streak last Thursday - was among the first to congratulate Harbaugh.
''Take it all in a little bit, right?'' said Harbaugh, who signed autographs and shook hands with numerous fans.
Orange Bowl MVP quarterback Andrew Luck, meanwhile, also has to contemplate what's next. He has until Jan. 15 to decide whether to forgo his final two years of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft, where he's projected as the No. 1 pick when he does come out.
Luck soon will discuss things with his parents and make a plan. He said the bowl victory and season were still ''surreal.'' The team buses received a police escort back to campus, where Luck was due in class Wednesday morning.
''I know the deadline's coming up to figure something out. Honestly I haven't given it too much thought,'' said Luck, who insists he hasn't been affected by the speculation surrounding Harbaugh. ''Ever since I've been a freshman his name has been mentioned for every job that has come open it seems like, so we're used to it. He's got to do what's best for his family. We understand it's part of life. ... For the team, it didn't get in the way of winning an Orange Bowl. It worked out well so it was not a distraction.''
