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Harbaugh leaves 49ers; Michigan next stop?

 
Published Dec. 29, 2014

Jim Harbaugh is leaving as coach of the NFL's 49ers, reportedly to take over his alma mater, Michigan.

Harbaugh, 51, told his team he was leaving after Sunday's season finale against the Cardinals. He did not say he was taking the Michigan job, but his family is flying to Ann Arbor today, Fox Sports reported.

"Jim and I have come to the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interest to move in different directions," 49ers CEO Jed York said.

The plan is for Harbaugh to be introduced at UM's home basketball game against Illinois on Tuesday. Ticket prices for the Big Ten opener are reflecting something big will happen: As of Sunday, tickets were at a minimum of $119, nearly double the minimum for the Jan. 24 game against conference power Wisconsin ($66).

Michigan associate athletic director Dave Ablauf told the Detroit News that the school will not comment on reports that has Harbaugh taking the job vacated by the fired Brady Hoke.

UM reportedly has offered Harbaugh a six-year, $48 million deal that would make him college football's highest-paid coach.

Harbaugh was Michigan's starting quarterback for three seasons, and as a fifth-year senior in 1986 he led the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. He was a first-round pick of the Bears (No. 27 overall) in 1987 and played 14 years.

Hoke was fired Dec. 2 after four seasons in which Michigan's record declined each year.

Winston calls out … Sherman? Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston said that even if Oregon's star defensive back was playing in the Rose Bowl national semi­final Thursday, the Seminoles wouldn't shy away from throwing the ball.

"I don't mean to come off as arrogant, but we don't discriminate. Even if he was on the field, we were going to be looking forward to playing him," Winston said, referring to senior All-America cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who will miss the game with a knee injury. "We don't fear nobody. Richard Sherman get out there and line up against us, we wouldn't throw away from him, neither."

Seated a few feet away, FSU offensive coordinator Randy Sanders chimed in about the two-time NFL All-Pro for the Seahawks: "Personally, I'm glad we're not playing Richard Sherman."

E. Carolina suspensions: Nose tackle Terry Williams and free safety Domonique Lennon have been suspended by East Carolina for a violation of unspecified team rules and won't play in Saturday's Birmingham Bowl against Florida. Lennon started all 12 games in the regular season and led the defensive backfield with 65 tackles. Williams started eight games and had 34 tackles and 7½ tackles for loss, and was named to the American Athletic Conference first team.

Late Saturday: Adoree' Jackson scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and a 71-yard pass from Cody Kessler, and No. 24 USC blew most of an 18-point third-quarter lead before beating No. 25 Nebraska 45-42 at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Nebraska (9-4) had one final shot, but Tommy Armstrong's desperation pass as time ran out was knocked down inside the 10 by receiver and former Berkeley Prep star Nelson Agholor, who was inserted by USC (9-4) as a defensive back on the final play.