Harbaugh's unconventional methods with U-M depth chart have gone too far

Michigan football wants it both ways. Wants media coverage, the hype and buzz that generally goes with that, and a variety of places for its fan base to brush up on all things Wolverines.

But it doesn’t want to do what almost every other program in America does to help that cause: Release its fall roster.

Or, for that matter, release a depth chart during the season.

Now, some of you — or perhaps most of you — don’t care how secretive coach Jim Harbaugh is regarding his team’s depth chart. You just want him to win.

That’s understandable.

It’s also understandable that you’re likely cheering Harbaugh’s latest decision to upend another of the game’s unspoken agreements. It has worked for him. And that works for you. And that’s fine.

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Yet, this isn’t about a few pushy reporters trying to force Harbaugh to play his hand when he doesn’t want to — a media organization in New Jersey filed a Freedom of Information Act request last week to get the school to release its roster.

It’s about the spirit of how college football teams operate. If Nick Saban and Urban Meyer and Dabo Swinney can release a fall roster and depth charts, so can Harbaugh.

It hasn’t hurt them.

U-M was the only school at Big Ten media days without an updated roster — its website still had last year’s team members listed.

Harbaugh tweeted Sunday that he planned on releasing a current roster Wednesday, Aug. 30, three days before the opener against Florida in Arlington, Texas. His reasoning is that final tryouts for roster spots — re: walk-ons — can’t happen before Aug. 28. Though he could have shared his list of current scholarship players … like everyone else.

In the scheme of things, this is minor. Yes, some schools were annoyed Harbaugh wouldn’t publicize a depth chart last fall. Colorado even mocked Harbaugh by submitting a depth chart that listed Elmer Fudd.

But I doubt the NCAA is going to change its rules to force schools to provide early fall rosters and weekly depth charts. If anything, other programs could begin to copy Harbaugh and withhold their info, too.

Clearly, Harbaugh thinks that keeping his fall roster a secret is helping to foster the competitive environment he craves. No one is “officially” on the list, so they have to keep grinding.

The reasons for punting on the depth chart are more complicated. Harbaugh doesn’t want burdensome fan pressure exerted onto his players simply because of their weekly position on the depth chart. Nor does he want players thinking they have it made. Or don’t have it made.

He wants every player to think he has to compete for their spot every day. To him, depth charts undermine that effort. He also wants to give an opposing coaching staff as little information as possible.

The urge to protect — and to propel — his players in any way he can makes sense. So does his inclination to bunker down.

Still, almost every other winning coach has managed to field competitive, even championship-caliber teams, despite sharing fall rosters and depth charts. It can be done. But then Harbaugh never has worried about other coaches.

That’s fine, too. If he did, he wouldn’t have barnstormed his way around the country signing the recruits he has.

His unconventional methods have helped rebuild U-M’s program in a hurry. And yet, some unspoken arrangements don’t need upending.

Sharing a little info about the team each week is one of them. The proof is in the winning in places like Tuscaloosa, Columbus and Clemson.

Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @shawnwindsor. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!