Michigan coach search list includes Doug Marrone, per report

Here's a little tidbit that most of us probably weren't expecting this morning: Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the University of Michigan, which is currently conducting a search for its next head football coach, has Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone on its short list of candidates.

Seriously, if you don't believe it, read it for yourself right here.

The big name in Michigan right now is San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is widely expected to leave that position after the season. La Canfora, however, posits that Harbaugh prefers to stay in the NFL for his next job, and that Michigan has built a short list of contenders beyond Harbaugh - a list that includes not only Marrone, but John Harbaugh of Baltimore, Sean Payton of New Orleans, and Jason Garrett of Dallas.

Marrone is on the verge of closing out his second season in Buffalo, which is thus far 14-16 under his watchful eye, but which just cracked .500 for the first time in a decade, as well. He earned his shot at a NFL head coaching gig after a four-year stint in which he turned a bottom-dwelling Syracuse program from doormat into a 25-25 outfit with two bowl wins. That type of CV, in which he turns down-and-out programs into respected outfits, has to appeal to Michigan.

Still, Marrone landing in Michigan seems like a longshot - particularly with Harbaugh headed to the open market, and with Marrone being a self-professed New York guy. Time will tell if this story picks up any steam, but you can bet that Marrone will be asked about it sooner rather than later.