ESPN analyst trolls Jim Harbaugh once again after Nick Saban's contract extension

Paul Finebaum posts graphic comparing Harbaugh to Saban

Scott Halleran and Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – There are few things Paul Finebaum seems to love more than trolling Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, but the success of Alabama head coach Nick Saban is one of them.

The ESPN college football analyst who covers the SEC took an opportunity Tuesday to merge his two favorite things, using Saban's new contract extension to belittle Harbaugh's accomplishments in Ann Arbor.

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"The 2 highest paid #CFB coaches have very different resumes," Finebaum tweeted.

The tweet was accompanied by a graphic that compares Saban and Harbaugh in terms of salary, seasons, national championships and conference championships. Saban has won five national titles and seven conference titles in 21 seasons, while Harbaugh has neither in six seasons.

Finebaum knows the combination makes little sense, as Saban has coached for 15 more years at the college level. Harbaugh won 10 games in each of his first two seasons with the Wolverines, so he'll likely experience a high level of success in the coming years.

History of Harbaugh vs. Finebaum

Harbaugh and Finebaum have a well-documented history dating back to before last season.

The noted SEC homer called Michigan's head football coach a cheater in February for hiring the father of 2019's No. 1 dual-threat quarterback recruit. Michael Johnson was set to join Michigan's staff after resigning as the head coach of The King's Academy in California.

"It may not be illegal by NCAA standards and bylaws as of this moment, but to me, it’s cheating," Finebaum said on ESPN's "Outside the Lines." "It’s blatantly disregarding the spirit of the NCAA rule. We all know why he’s doing it."

READ: NCAA amendment thwarts Michigan football's hiring of future No. 1 QB recruit's father

Was Johnson's son a factor in Harbaugh trying to bring him to Ann Arbor? Absolutely. Is Johnson qualified to be on the staff regardless of his son's abilities? You'd better believe it. The 10-year NFL coach specialized in quarterbacks while working for the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.

Harbaugh responded by blasting Finebaum on Twitter, calling him "Pete" Finebaum and an "unabashed SEC water carrier."

MORE: Harbaugh slams 'SEC water carrier' Paul Finebaum for calling him a cheater

"Pete Finebaum, the unabashed SEC water carrier, really needs to get his facts straight. #AlternativeFacts," Harbaugh tweeted at 9:34 p.m.

Well, Harbaugh turned out to be right. On Friday morning, it was announced that Johnson has agreed to become the new wide receivers coach at Oregon.

"The annoying part is people who show their true colors and try to impugn your integrity when you've done nothing wrong," Harbaugh told Tim Kawakami on the 'TK Show' in February. "They just show their colors. They want to impugn your integrity. They want to see you fail, and they want to take shots at you. But as they say, 'No good deed goes unpunished.'"

Harbaugh said his response on Twitter was supposed to add humor, but he's also not planning to let anybody take free shots at him.

"C'mon man, I'm not going to let that go, either," Harbaugh told Kawakami.

Harbaugh said he hasn't made a conscious decision to target the SEC, but that he wants to be a great counter puncher, because the SEC "has attacked us numerous times."

"We've not been the aggressor toward anyone when it comes to shooting one over another person's bow," Harbaugh said.

Finebaum rips Michigan football fans

Finebaum first ripped into Michigan in September, calling its fans "pathetic" and "a whiny and sniveling bunch."

A Michigan football fan called in to the radio show and Finebaum went off the deep end. After the caller asked why Finebaum wasn't giving the Wolverines any credit, Finebaum ripped into him, saying that he didn't know what he was talking about.

"Why don't you come back next week and actually know what you're talking about?" Finebaum said. "And maybe you won't be whining and crying, OK? Go, Big Blue."

But it didn't end there. Finebaum had one more thing to "get off his chest."

"Is there a more pathetic fan base in America than the University of Michigan? What a whiny and sniveling bunch," he said.

Since Harbaugh took on the SEC last offseason, Finebaum has been critical of "cartoon character" Harbaugh.

About a month later, Finebaum was at it again, saying Michigan fans are "unrealistic" and "from another planet."

"There's no comparison between Ohio State and Michigan fans. Ohio State fans are very knowledgeable people," Finebaum said.

"Michigan fans are from another planet ... Ohio State fans at least know what they're talking about."

This time, he attacked Michigan fans for thinking that their team's 6-0 start has any meaning.

"Call me back when you win just one (championship)," he said.

Finebaum called Michigan fans "some of the most unrealistic people" with whom he's interacted while covering college football.

"I don't think (Michigan fans) are nearly as knowledgeable as Ohio State fans when it comes to football IQ," Finebaum said. "I've yet to meet a Michigan fan that has a sense of humor about his program, that has an ounce of objectivity in their body."


About the Author:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.