“What’s your deal?” That question helped to spark one of the newest, most intense rivalries in sports.
In 2009, USC was favored over Stanford by 23. USC, a national powerhouse led by Pete Carroll, had no reason to circle this game on the calendar. All indications pointed towards this being a sizable victory. Jim Harbaugh, first year coach at Stanford, would do his best to make Carroll circle Stanford the next time around. Despite the point spread, the disparity in ranking (Stanford # 64/ USC #4), USC was defeated 55-21. Adding insult to injury, Harbaugh continued to pour it on with the game well at hand. Stanford actually went for a two point conversion to reach 55.
The handshake between coaches at midfield was anything but cordial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeS3VeluAmg Instantly, Stanford-USC became must see TV. Carroll, however, would bolt the collegiate ranks and take the Seahawks head coaching position the following year. USC would be crushed with violations, sanctions due to recruiting issues, specifically giving Reggie Bush too much stuff to hide. Harbaugh stayed another year, building Stanford into a National contender while grooming prize quarterback Andrew Luck. San Francisco would coax the maniacal coach away from Stanford in 2011. Harbaugh and Carroll were again interdivisional foes.
Harbaugh’s immediate NFL success crushed the learning curve for first time NFL coaches. GM’s began looking at their (3) year plans, (5) year plans and in Buffalo’s case (15) year plans differently. GM’s started to want (1) year plans. Who could blame them?
San Francisco came within inches of winning last year’s Super Bowl. Harbaugh had become a begrudging rock star. His success had earned a lot of admiration and his antiques are subsequently swallowed as quirks. Recently, his wardrobe made news in that he spends eight bucks on Dockers.
Harbaugh also brought the post game douchery to the NFL. His sweeping handshake and back thumping of fellow meathead Jim Schwartz told everyone in the league: you better be on your toes when you come shake my hand. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzfTC1XW_yQ The 49ers finished year one under Harbaugh 13-3 (following a 6-10 season under knuckle-dragging Mike Singletary), they went to the NFC championship game and were a few Kyle Williams fumbles from advancing to the Super Bowl.
Here’s the guy Harbaugh replaced… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB5-yJM3vJc Harbaugh is tough, player friendly and progressive. He’s unafraid to be contrary and has made a practice not to look back. Perhaps his most difficult decision was to move on from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick. Smith, fresh off taking the 49ers to the NFC championship lost his job after being concussed and sidelined. Kaepernick filled in for Smith and when Alex became healthy, Harbaugh made the controversial decision to stay with the 2nd year QB.
Carroll on the other hand, was likely closer to unemployment than a rivalry with Harbaugh a few years into his deal. His record was around .500 and his team seemed an oddly assembled collection of mediocrity. Carroll’s saving grace? Russell Wilson in the third round, a slick trade for Marshawn Lynch and feeding his defensive unit massive amounts of PEDs (or as they are referred to by the Seahawks – “Adderrall.”) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&cad=rja&ved=0CDYQFjADOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FList_of_players_and_coaches_suspended_by_the_NFL&ei=5mzZUuCCMJChsAT4kYDwDQ&usg=AFQjCNErr0tAFgs4xdv4C4-n8tTIaLP7rw&bvm=bv.59568121,d.cWc Seattle quickly jettisoned to the NFC elite. The two matches with the 49ers became must see TV. Carroll’s style differs from that of Harbaugh. Carroll is more outgoing, media friendly and a little more Ra-Ra on the sideline. Pete could easily be mistaken for a Hollywood director and is about as charismatic as they come.
Carroll made an equally bold move at quarterback by inserting Wilson in the starting lineup over free agent acquisition, and guy who made more money off one good start than Rob Johnson, Matt Flynn. Hindsight blinds us from the fact that in the moment, starting an undersized, untested rookie took a lot of courage from a coach already on the hot seat.
The juxtaposition of personality style from the coaches has emboldened the rivalry. Each teams respective fan bases are also at odds with one another. There contentious relationship feels a bit like an eighties movie storyline. Harbaugh, the lead with your chest out bully and Carroll the enthusiastic hipster make for a nice dichotomy. Harbaugh is played in this scene by the “douche bag from Karate Kid 3”…while the spirit of Carroll is represented in (4) skiers loudly coming down the hill. Harbaugh would not be a fan of ski-shenanigans on his mountain. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZR9SvKNuc
Seattle and San Fran have split regular season games over the past two years, with each team winning their home games. Seattle however, has destroyed San Fran in two contests in Seattle by a combined 71-16. This Sunday figures to be different given the trajectory of the teams since their last meeting. San Fran has gotten hot and healthy; Seattle has won ugly of late and comes into the game without offensive weapon Percy Harvin.
In my opinion, San Fran is the better team. The home crowd which is typically worth 3 points by Las Vegas standards, is likely worth 4 in Seattle. The stadium architecturally designed to keep the noise within, has twice seen the record for sound broken this season. Members of media have been in unison about the advantage; there seems to be no way to simulate or prepare for the noise. My inclination in this game leans towards the 49ers in a close game.
Leave a Reply