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Jim Harbaugh was hired on December 30th. Much of his time in January was spent shoring up a recruiting class before National Signing Day in February. After that, Harbaugh was everywhere, ascending to cult hero status before coaching a game. This is a dramatic retelling of Jim's Excellent (Off-season) Adventure.
He first attended a Garth Brooks concert:
Fun night with our old friend Garth."Life is not tried it is merely survived, when you're standing outside the fire!" pic.twitter.com/ckkL2DdnWm
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) February 22, 2015
Harbaugh then flew to Oakland, California to be a base coach for the A's:
ICYMI: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh coached first base Saturday for the A's " http://t.co/ynoxuCefqB pic.twitter.com/lPlwlSbNF4
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) March 9, 2015
Stopped for a meal at a Tennessee Cracker Barrel and was given a wooden chair just because:
Thanks to our friends @CrackerBarrel and the good people in Lebanon, Tennessee for the Great gifts! pic.twitter.com/Mn2EmWXJJT
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) March 19, 2015
Decided to learn the piccolo during on-set visit to College Gameday:
The only previous entry to the Sports Internet Piccolo Hall of Fame: http://t.co/ht3xKZOv5s pic.twitter.com/vJRU7B4Rkr
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 22, 2015
Received a new hat from Bay-area rapper G Eazy as thanks for attending his concert:
S/O to @G_Eazy for representing THE BAY in Ann Arbor Sat night & thanks 4 my new hat! Much Appreciated! Means A Lot! pic.twitter.com/OXSOfFUfyl
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) March 31, 2015
In April, Harbaugh held his first spring game as Michigan's head coach, and not until after did we learn that growing up, Harbaugh drank a lot of milk.
Then, he drove over to Detroit to visit the First Lady during a ceremony for some graduating kids:
W/ 2 Great Off-The-Charts, Smart & Beautiful ladies @FLOTUS & @ciara & 2,000 DET college-bound students #ReachHigher pic.twitter.com/uNG3OUtupH
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) May 1, 2015
From there, Harbaugh flew to New York City to talk to the members of UM's NYC Alumni Club:
Go Blue From The Big Apple! @umich @jirahar13 pic.twitter.com/aVVxxP5hlO
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) May 7, 2015
And while in New York, met Lynda Carter, better known as Wonder Woman:
Awesome to be pictured with Great Sport Lynda Carter and Wonder Woman Sarah H. pic.twitter.com/uUyRaX6o7V
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) May 8, 2015
Harbaugh was quickly off to Peru to visit a school and give a speech to some kids who will now attack their studies with enthusiasm unknown to man:
The "Beautiful People" Students & Teachers at Madre Del Buen Consejo pic.twitter.com/g4oHkHqCzy
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) May 15, 2015
A Leisurely Stroll - A Gift! pic.twitter.com/4jWtYgOtwk
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) May 17, 2015
Less than a month later, Harbaugh ended up in Selma, Alabama to walk on the Pettus Bridge:
Spent the afternoon in Selma, a Powerful place in our Shared American History. Photo @DavidTurnley pic.twitter.com/bdg2BXRNWb
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) June 5, 2015
But he also had to run one of his satellite camps in Alabama, and appeared without a shirt on:
Jim Harbaugh plays shirtless during Prattville Camp GALLERY: http://t.co/0Br6iQ34pB pic.twitter.com/jqnWZis6pB
— Albert Cesare (@AlbertCesare) June 5, 2015
Four days later, visited an American Hat Company store, for some reason:
Wolverines meet #1 Hat maker @AmericanHatComp - BTW Miss Sarah likes me in a Cowboy hat too! pic.twitter.com/NCHOEutN22
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) June 9, 2015
Back in Ann Arbor, he decided to walk down the sidewalk with recruit Naseir Upshur, and built up his street cred:
walking the Ann Arbor streets with coach Harbaugh 〽️〽️ pic.twitter.com/JcEfjI2my7
— 8/23 (@NaseirUpshur) June 25, 2015
Street cred restored, Coach Harbaugh chose to get a Michigan driver's license so as to be able to drive the team bus to the stadium on Saturday mornings (allegedly):
Thanks to the hard workers at the SOS office! Proud to be a licensed Michigan driver, organ donor & registered voter. pic.twitter.com/IusMpQ4ifo
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) June 29, 2015
Closed out the month of June with a visit to a Tigers game and threw out the first pitch. Alex Avila later complained of a sore hand:
Miguel Cabrera is a class act! Great meeting him and being at the Tigers game with Big Jon Falk! pic.twitter.com/ImCRyaoRiS
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) June 30, 2015
After the Fourth of July, Harbaugh appeared in Paris, France, breaking the Twitter feeds of travel agents around the world:
Bonjour! Go Blue! pic.twitter.com/EoBL4i5Svh
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) July 11, 2015
Le Big Mac and Royal with Cheese please. pic.twitter.com/BKLGQgbSwS
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) July 13, 2015
Michigan Arts in Paris group showing Sarah & I around! Thanks professor Lay, Abi Celis & Students #Homies Go Blue! pic.twitter.com/nDKYqkbpcx
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) July 15, 2015
Football in Paris, Having a game of catch on the streets of Ile Saint-Louis, pretty darn nice! pic.twitter.com/sbhzAIucRb
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) July 18, 2015
Just a few weeks ago, went to a stage performance of "Ernie":
Congrats to the cast and crew of Ernie. Knocked it out of the park! pic.twitter.com/xtFc6Jj4iM
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) August 1, 2015
Harbaugh then suddenly appeared in Washington, D.C., having broken bread with the nine Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. All reports indicate Harbaugh had Justice Clarence Thomas eating out of his hand, which is no task for a mere mortal.
...and then the coach quickly went back to work.
Harbaugh was deep in hiding until this past Monday, emerging for brief moments of sunlight and to refill his milk supply. He is everywhere, and he is now Michigan's. It is not a question of whether he will restore Michigan's program, but when and with what level of bonkers football methodology. Michigan has found their man after much wandering in the college football wilderness. The restlessness of the ghosts of Schembechler, Yost, Crisler, Oosterbaan and Canham has been calmed. Harbaugh will take the on Thursday night, and a hush will wash over the merry band of Michigan fans in attendance in Salt Lake City, each and every one of them content in knowing that their beloved program is now under the stewardship of this man in khakis.
I only wish we were all prepared for the jolt that will reverberate up and down our spines when Harbaugh steps onto that field, but we should get used to that feeling. We're in for a ride.