By Larry Brown
Jim Harbaugh made lots of changes upon taking the head coaching job at his alma mater Michigan, and some of his moves rubbed people the wrong way. For instance, Harbaugh had fifth-year seniors try out to make the team.
Keith Heitzman, a senior tight end who transferred to Ohio, told the Columbus Dispatch that he didn’t want to try out for the new coach.
“Obviously, Harbaugh coming in was going to change things at Michigan — do things his way,” said Heitzman, a tight end from Hilliard Davidson. “But I didn’t know if I wanted to try out. That definitely took me off-guard. I was bummed out.”
In Heitzman’s case, his transfer worked out fine. He graduated in the spring and is a graduate school transfer at Ohio. He wasn’t alone either; two other fifth-year seniors left the program.
It may seem wrong for a coach to drive players out of a program, but that’s part of the business. Whether it’s setting up unconventional satellite camps around the country or having seniors try out for the team, Harbaugh is taking his typical winning mentality to the job.
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