The Tables Have Turned

Remember that glorious Sunday in the Metrodome many years ago when Mike Ditka screamed at Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines after he called an audible?

That was hilarious. Unfortunately, it was also the beginning of the end for Mike Ditka as Bears head coach. Which led us to the Wanny Face, and a whole lot of years we've tried to forget.

Anyway, now it will be Harbaugh's turn to yell at his quarterback.

Jim Harbaugh was hired to be the next head coach at Stanford.

Stanford hired former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh on Monday to take over its struggling football program.

Harbaugh had spent the last three years as head coach at the University of San Diego, a non-scholarship Division I-AA program. He led the Toreros to a 29-6 record, winning 27 of his final 29 games at San Diego.

The school planned to formally introduce Harbaugh at a news conference Tuesday.

It's not going to be easy for Jim. Stanford finished 1-11 last year, and as a result fired Walt Harris. Since Ty Willingham left Palo Alto for South Bend in 2001 the Cardinal have only won 16 games. They've also fired two head coaches, Harris and Buddy Teevens.

The biggest problem Harbaugh faces is the same one that has plagued the last two coaches, recruiting top notch athletes that can meet Stanford's academic requirements. The good news for Harbaugh is that Stanford's top recruit for next season, quarterback Kellen Kiilsgaard, still plans on going to Stanford even though the man who recruited him was fired.

"The only thing I've heard is he's done a great job there and he would be a good guy to fill the position. He was a great quarterback while he was playing. That always helps to have a coach who played quarterback to relate to."

-Kellen Kiilsgaard

One of the candidates Harbaugh beat out for the job was former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel.