Jim Harbaugh sees benefits of reducing Michigan football staff size

CHICAGO — Jim Harbaugh made several notable additions to his staff this off-season. The Michigan football coach has hired Greg Frey and Pep Hamilton to the coaching staff, replacing Tyrone Wheatley and Jedd Fisch, while making several notable hires for his support staff. Sean Magee arrived to take over as director of player personnel, former 49ers exec Tom Gamble joined the personnel staff and Matt Dudek became the new director of recruiting. But according to Harbaugh, despite the numerous hires thus far, he actually wants to head in the opposite direction when it comes to staff size. “We’ve taken the approach of not hiring every job when somebody leaves and taken the approach of consolidating

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  Why Michigan's Jim Harbaugh is giving up 'all fun stuff'

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Hugh Freeze sought 'character witness' from Arkansas State for NCAA investigation

Former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze contacted a high-ranking Arkansas State official in 2016 seeking a "character witness" in the current NCAA investigation that involves him, sources told CBS Sports. The call came at the beginning of 2016, according to a source, when Ole Miss was in the process of getting its first notice of allegations. Freeze coached for one year at Arkansas State in 2011, going 10-3 and winning the Sun Belt before heading to Ole Miss. Because of the sensitivity of the situation, the identity of the Arkansas State official was not revealed. Freeze sought the endorsement in hopes of mitigating the charges against him and his program to the NCAA, a source said. It is not believed

My Pac-12 football preseason media ballot and important Hotline update

The media poll will be released this morning in advance of Pac-12 football media days, with USC and Washington as the presumptive favorites. My ballot, submitted late last week, is below. But first, a quick update. I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a new product: The Pac-12 Hotline newsletter. Unaffiliated with the conference — this is a Hotline production all the way — the newsletter (free) will arrive in your inbox several times per week (free) with a roundup of all Hotline content and links to essential reading from other outlets. It might even include a dash of (free) ultra-quick analysis/commentary/sarcasm. The newsletter ($3 billion less than the Pac-12’s $3 billion TV contract) will

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  USC football picked to win PAC-12

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  At Day One of Pac-12 Media Days, Chris Petersen Says it’s Back to Basics

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