ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a roughing the kicker call against his team during the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Jim Harbaugh was hired on at Michigan to bring back the glory days. So far, there’s been enough improvement on the field to see what the end state of the program could be, but thus far the reality has not lived up to the hype. Year three could prove to be a very pivotal one for him and the program.

“Those that stay will be champions.” At least that what they say up in Maize and Blue country, thanks to Bo Schembechler’s famous words when he challenged the program upon his arrival in 1968.

And although the Woody Hayes protégé never won a national championship, there were indeed a bushel of Big Ten champions that played football at Ann Arbor during his tenure. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been too many championship runs at Michigan since Lloyd Carr sailed into the sunset because of annual beat-downs from a sweater vest wearing coach in Columbus.

The last time the Wolverines won a Big Ten title? 2004, folks.

Harbaugh, A Michigan Man

Fast-forward more than a decade, and after two coaches couldn’t get it done, another Michigan man made from the same cloth as Schembechler was brought in to restore the program to the prominent position history shows it should hold. That was just two short years ago, and that man likes khakis, milk and Twitter. His name, of course, is James Joseph Harbaugh.

Honestly, it was the hire that needed to happen. U of M had sunk far into irrelevancy, and so far behind its rivals Ohio State and Michigan State, that bringing Harbaugh in was probably the only move that could restore the mystique of the Block M in as quick of a fashion as plausible.

And if we are being honest with ourselves, Mr. Quirks has made it cool to wear a winged helmet again. Recruiting types, NFL scouts, and the visible play on the field says as much. That cannot be denied. He is, and will always be a Michigan man, so they say.

Partially Unfulfilled Expectations

However, for all the good that has followed the last two years, there are holes still to be filled in this story of the savior of the Leaders and Best.

There is a void of Big Ten championships to parade around, no New Year’s Six bowl victory, and not even a division title to speak of. In fact, Michigan has finished third in the East Division in each of Harbaugh’s first two years. Perhaps most importantly, he sits with an 0-2 record against the measuring sticks of all measuring sticks, Ohio State and Urban Meyer.

But he was short on fourth down, right?

Time to Turn the Corner

Queue up year three. The year where you really start to take stock in a coaching change, and one that may prove to be a very pivotal one for people on both polarizing ends of the Jim Harbaugh hype. He was always going to get some time to implement his system with his recruits and his coaching staff, and he’ll likely still get more rope than guys with less of a pedigree.

You can bet that the administration will be as patient as they can.

However, all we have to do is look at some other key hires at historical programs and see that the clock is ticking louder than the victory bells that rung in Columbus last November when Curtis Samuel ended things with a touchdown in double overtime for yet another Buckeye victory over the Wolverines.

Bob Stoops took over Oklahoma and won a national title in year two. Jim Tressel accomplished the same feat in the same two-year interval at Ohio State. The same happened for Urban Meyer at Florida, and then he doubled down at Ohio State in just his third year. Pete Carroll led USC to an AP National Title in his third year. Seeing a trend?

It’s a win quickly environment now, and there has unfortunately been a track record of great coaches doing it in short order. And it’s not just an exception. That’s not to say that the administration shouldn’t stick with the process, it’s just to point out that the pressure will soon begin to mount. Not because it should, but because it will in big-time college football.

The Hoke And Harbaugh Comparison

(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Look, I am not here to say that Harbaugh is on the hot seat. In fact, it couldn’t be the farthest thing from the truth. However, what I am saying is that you might start hearing whispers of dread if there isn’t at least something on which to hang that Michigan ball cap of his that even seems to go with a suit and a tie. There needs to be either a Big Ten championship, a division title, or at least a god-forsaken win over the dreaded Scarlet and Gray.

And if not? Well, then you start to tread into Brady Hoke territory. Yes, it would be time to compare Jimmy Harbaugh with Brady Hoke. In fact, the trajectory of the two coaches are eerily similar. Hoke’s record at Michigan was 19-7 (12-4 in Big Ten play). His teams finished second in the Legends Division both years. Included in those 19 wins was a victory over Ohio State and a BCS Bowl win against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

And what about Harbaugh’s first two years? He has what amounts to one more win with an overall record of 20-6 (13-4 in Big Ten play). The Wolverines have finished third in the East Division in both years, and as mentioned before, no win over OSU, and no New Year’s Six bowl win to compare against Hoke’s BCS bowl win.

No, it would not be a stretch to make the argument that Hoke’s first two years had more substance than what we’ve seen from Harbaugh’s efforts. At least from a sheer numbers and accomplishments standpoint.

Reality Check Time

But let’s pump the brakes just a bit here. Numbers, trophies, and accolades don’t tell the entire story. Anyone that has two sets of eyes and a cell phone ringtone not originating from Columbus or East Lansing would have to agree that Harbaugh has momentum building in the program. We all remember the slow decline Hoke had in years three and four, ultimately missing out on the postseason with a 5-7 record in 2014.

Jim Harbaugh has brought pride and toughness back to the way things are done at Michigan. Recruits are flocking to Ann Arbor and the fans are excited again. They were after a year with Hoke at the helm as well, but it looks and feels different this time. And it is. It truly is.

That does not change the fact of where things stand heading into a legacy-building type of year, though. 2017 could define how quickly championships are brought back to town on a more routine basis.

And that’s because last year was supposed to be that year. The team was an upperclassmen-laden team with a suffocating defense. It had been through the fires and played like one of the four best teams in the country until that fateful night in Iowa City, and then Columbus. In the end, the team seemed to run out of gas, sputtering to the finish line despite having the talent to break through and do really big things.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

2017 Won’t be Easy for Harbaugh

This year doesn’t look as promising, meaning Harbaugh is going to have to coach his tail off. Ten of Eleven starters from defense are gone, and only four return on the offensive side. Quarterback Wilton Speight is back, but there are wholesale changes across the board. The thought is that plenty of talented guys who got some decent playing time should be able to soldier on, but you don’t lose that many starters and not feel the effects.

It could be an uphill climb both ways to the Big House. In snow. With no socks.

But that’s why we play the games. Despite a season perhaps set up for adversity, this could be the year where Harbaugh shows why the Brinks truck was set on a course to his house on the West Coast.

If this Michigan team can pull it all together and gel early on in the season, then maybe it can win the games its supposed to while finding a way to slay the Ohio State dragon at home. Maybe then we can start preparing the blue-prints of those statues that have at least been resurrected in the minds of the Wolverine faithful.

A statue that will no doubt be wearing khakis.

About Phil Harrison

Phil has been writing about college sports for over eight years. In addition to contributing to The Comeback, he is a frequent contributor to collegefootballnews.com and talking10.com. His writing has been featured on foxsports.com, espn.com, and cbssportsline.com among others. He's a Jack of all trades, and a master of one -- living in the doghouse at home far too often. Follow him on Twitter @PhilHarrisonCFB