3 Ways The Harbaugh Brothers Could Spice Things Up For The Next 'Harbowl'
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The old mantra of the Harbaugh family is "who's got it better than us? Nobody!" but that's not true for 49er Head Coach Jim Harbaugh when he faces off against his older brother John. The Ravens head coach has gotten the better of the former NFL quarterback both during a 2012 Thanksgiving day matchup and during a thrilling Super Bowl which concluded that season. It's going to be hard for John to regain bragging rights at mom and dad's house during their August 7th matchup on KPIX 5 unless they find a way to raise the stakes. Here are our suggestions:
Play For The Pants
Jim Harbaugh's signature pleated khakis have become the subject of talk talk show mockery, familial discord and an add campaign to stop "Dad Pants" in which he vowed to give them up. But it was recently revealed that Harbuaugh is still struggling to kick his khakis. Perhaps the only way to cure the top Niner of his addiction to $8 sideline attire is good old fashioned sibling pressure. John typically rocks black slacks on the sideline (and won't be caught tucking in his sweater). Perhaps the Harbaugh boys should place a wager that the loser of next month's game has to rock his brother's look for the next preseason game?
Strap On A Helmet
Jim Harbaugh took his big bro's starting quarterback gig way back in their Michigan high school days, forcing John to switch to running back - Ouch. Jim went on to be a 1st round pick and longtime pro, his brother played some collage ball before becoming a darn fine coach. But does either still have what it takes to play with the 2nd and 3rd stringers who'll be doing their thing during the second half of the next matchup? Why not find out. You know John wants to.
Replay The Final Moments Of Super Bowl XLVII
The final offensive play of the big game almost certainly still haunts Jim Harbaugh's dreams. Michael Crabtree was bumped in the enzone and never had a real chance to make a play that could have won it for the Niners. Jim wanted a penalty and never got it. It's the preseason, why not make it more interesting by lining up one more time and seeing if Kaepernick and Crabtree can hook up on the play that had them so close to completing the 49ers' quest for a sixth championship (Might be easier for the Niners this time with Ed Reed and Ray Lewis and others no longer on the Ravens).
The Ravens-Niners matchup will be the first of four 49er preseason games. The following week they will open Levi's Stadium with a matchup against the Broncos, the team they would have faced if they had advanced to the Super Bowl last season.
