Jim Harbaugh was a quote machine at his Monday press conference
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Apparently, when adversity hits Jim Harbaugh, he doesn’t clam up, he gets chatty.
This season, the Michigan football head coach has been more likely than not to be like the Jim Harbaugh who arrived in 2015 — sharing odd colloquialisms or making off-the-cuff remarks that end up going viral for the rest of the college football season. In discussing the odd events of the past week, where he was suspended by the Big Ten while in the air en route to Penn State, Harbaugh was at his finest.
From his raspy voice, to talking about his pet chickens, to how he heard about his suspension, Monday’s presser was an all-timer for Harbaugh. Here’s everything he had to say.
Opening statement
So not gonna make any comments about the where things stand with the ongoing circumstances because we have a hearing on Friday.
The support of President Ono, the Board of Regents, Warde Manuel is greatly appreciated as is the tremendous support of our alumni fan base toward our incredible football team.
There is already so much to be thankful for — ‘who’s got a better than us’ is what we like to say. Nobody! Very proud of our players. Sherrone, coach Herb, the entire staff, the way that they handled the situation with flying colors, man. Players just played their hearts out, to. A team full of leaders. A team that’s connected, committed. And as we’ve talked about many times, plays for each other, very unselfish.
And finally, the whole world is seeing what I get to see every single day: players have played their hearts out. Talented, resilient, great guys. And they played their hearts out together. Undefeated, the season 10-0, they won 26 regular-season games, 10 straight road wins — best in program history since 1945 and 1948. And no one cares who gets the credit. And they’re always happy for the other guys’ success. Did a great job blocking out the noise both outside the stadium and inside. Means so much, the incredible things that our team has accomplished, giving it the very best, competing in joy and triumphant, and the things that they all said.
Personally, coach Moore, players said — and my daughter Grace, what she wrote, just so special. I’m going to remember that until the day they throw dirt over top of me.
And the program sitting at 999 wins. Chance for 1,000 this Saturday. It’s in our wildest dreams, that’s what we hope for, that’s what we worked for was that we’d have a chance to play in our 11th game this season — chance to get that 1,000. And just really want to shout out the Green Bay Packers — most wins in NFL history, 793. Most wins in high school football — Valdosta, Georgia, 951. And Michigan Wolverines, 999. No one has won more — nobody.
And I want to thank especially everyone who was put on the winged helmet. All those that have contributed and those that have supported their efforts. And there and the current supporters as I mentioned before, it’s monumental, and motivates us to find extra work to do, keep a one-track mind and get keener, finer, and more alert, get the job done. Very proud of our football team.
On Kenneth Grant running down a running back
Kenneth Grant running down the running back in that game, I mean, I was up off my feet. It was one of the best — I mean, one of the best plays in the season, that play Kenneth Grant, maybe one of the best plays ever. Compare it to a play Justin Smith made against the Eagles my first year coaching at the 49ers. It was a guardian of victory type of play. Kenneth was dominant in the game. He was the real tone-setter right from the first series. He’s playing great, only a sophomore — tremendous.
Rayshaun Benny played 14 snaps in the game but had a great effect on the game. Tackle for a loss, big, and then caused the fumble that Makari Paige jumped on. It was a great job by our football team. We capitalized on their mistakes, jumped on, and then really there’s another game where you don’t turn the ball over. Yeah, I don’t know what our record is now, since 2015, but (when) we don’t turn the ball over, it’s undefeated and probably close to 50 (wins when) we don’t turn the ball over. So great job and there’s so many opportunities, but just hold on to the ball.
Blake Corum — incredible game. Jake Thaw, there were some punts, he made every right decision back there as a punt returner. Returned some, fair caught some but over the shoulder. I was really happy with the way the guys were so locked in and took care of the football, like guardians of victory that they are.
How is he feeling?
I’m just really proud. And I said at the first team meeting, I know I talked about it here, Moses had 90 leaders. How many do we need? Answer was we need more than 90. And we’ve got that, we’ve got a team full of leaders, future leaders that have already been galvanized. I mean, they’re really already on a mission.
The mission last year was a happy mission, this year has been even more than the wins. It’s a mission of faith. It’s a mission of speaking truth to power. It’s a mission of playing for each other as a band of brothers. It’s a mission. And I see our guys and they’re there. They’re strong. They’re walking upright, and innocent. And just taking care of business. The one-track mind, I’m so thankful for that, that our team has been — it’s resonated so much. Just wake up, take care of business. Go to sleep, wake up the next day. Take care of business again.
On his voice sounding raspy
Yeah, I don’t know what I have, some kind of virus or something. The trainer told me, but I’m not sick, I feel great. Got a tremendous workout in today. Thank you coach Sean Lockwood for that. I’m the iron wall that viruses bash against and shatter. But, yeah, something’s going on there. But just work it out. Get it worked out. Work it out of the system, do some more push-ups, eat an apple.
Who will coach if he can't on Saturday at Maryland?
Sherrone Moore, Sherrone Moore. That’s as I said, I mean, it’s got a lot of leaders. Some people scoff at a lot of some things I said, I think I said way back in April, too, 10 coaches will be future head coaches. Like I made the statement, I think four would be head coaches after this year. And Sherrone is — he’s the best of the best. Toughness, mental toughness, physical toughness. And there’s nobody that doubts Sherrone Moore, his dedication, his connection, his commitment to the team.
Range of emotions on Saturday?
The kind of game that you just put up there with all the games, the top ones. Every single win, it’s like one of your own children. You love them all, but I guess there’s some that just so proud of. And that’s one of the top five at least.
I felt so good about that just watching it from where I was watching I was like how can you not see this? These players; Blake Corum with the nose bloodied and the emotion of the team, the perseverance, and then the just the stalwartness of these guys. I mean, yeah, watching, I would have to say it’s got to be America’s team. It’s got to be America’s team. America loves a team that beats the odds, beats the adversity, overcomes with the naysayers and critics, so-called experts I think is my favorite kind of team.
Yeah, watching it from that view on the television, finally people get to see what I see every day, these players and these coaches.
Thoughts on being suspended by the Big Ten on Friday?
I’m going to talk on Friday. I just look I’m just looking for that opportunity. Due process, not looking for special treatment, let alone for a popularity contest. Just looking for the merit of what the case is.
As a senior high school, I had a civic class and talking about government justice, and what I took away from that class was that you’re innocent until proven guilty. That was 40 years ago, but would like that opportunity.
Has the team suffered irreparable harm?
I’m gonna save all my comments for the actual day in court. Like I said, I’m not gonna talk much about what’s going on and have an opportunity on Friday to do that.
On Penn State firing its offensive coordinator after the game?
I don’t know about that. Not that that’s something that — fellow coach, that’s (not) something we take any kind of pleasure. But our team, it’s all galvanized team that took the field, blocked-out noise outside the stadium, inside the stadium and played for each other and played a great game and decisive game, both offensively, defensively and on special teams. And showed their mettle. Stuff I knew, I knew they were stalwarts. They’d been questioned — this, that, or the other thing. or they hadn’t played anybody and watch them go do it. So proud of every leader, so proud of the way they prepared and so proud of the way they played.
Frustrated that he might not be on the field for the 1,000th win?
Yeah, I think you don’t really get me too much. I don’t think anybody really does but whatever the emotion is, whether it’s name the emotion: frustration, anger, happiness, whatever it is, I just go find work to do — just go to work. I find something extra to do and when I do that, then I find that it clears my mind, cleanses my soul. And a lot of times, the perfect thing comes to you: what to do, how to do it. Not every time but a lot of the time. And then when you’re done, now you’ve accomplished something, you got something done. Maybe made money, saved money. And avoiding some making the problem worse. So, dress, work, and we’ll keep on rolling.
I always use the analogy with others to try to put it in a frame of references. Sarah doesn’t like when I talk about her; she does not like it. I apologize to Sarah before I say this: she’d get mad at me and get after me. Sometimes I get angry. And I got two options: I can come back and fire back and I’ll show her who’s boss. Or I can turn right around, go out feed the chickens, clean out the coop, cut the lawn, edge it, work for hours. It always is the better resolution. And that’s just how I treat things since I was real, real young, and it’s been productive, been highly, highly productive. Things get accomplished from that work.
Does he really have chickens?
I have chickens. Yeah, we have chickens. That was COVID, COVID year, 2020. Yeah, Easter, went to the Tractor Supply. And before I think they shut things down. But went to Tractor Supply, got the chickens, brought them home for Easter. And just little chicks. They’re kids, and they love them. They loved those chickens for about a week, the chicks, and then the chicks became teenager chickens and then became adult chickens. All hens, egg layers. Yeah, I’m the one who takes care of them.
And the respect that I have for chickens, I know there was there was a time when I said that a chicken is nervous bird. I don’t eat chicken, I only eat meat. But I was dead wrong! I stand corrected. These chickens are low maintenance and high production. They lay an egg every 26-27 hours. And they need water. They need food. And I play with them, too. I let them out in the yard. We run around and they’re happy to see me. They’re happy to see me. There’s times when I do a good thing for other people and they’re not as happy to see me as my chickens are. So it’s good. It’s good for my mental health as well. And get fresh eggs every day. Highly productive, highly productive.
Is the team winning because of the adversity or in spite of it?
Yeah, all those things. It’s the connectivity of the team. It’s the commitment from the guys. This goes back, it goes back to every winter workout cycle when the guys are lifting the weights and everyone in running the wind sprints and moves into spring practice and in the summer cycle. Our guys are so connected and committed to pushing each other.
Then we get into training camp — team’s forged, really forged there. And captains are picked and then we go play the game but that connection, that commitment has already been forged. And even before that, it’s what they’ve seen older players do that they were trying to watch and emulate. And then try to go make them proud. And even before that, it’s what their parents instilled into, poured into (them) — the discipline, the work ethic. You could bet James Corum poured that into Blake Corum when Blake was out, working in the yard and tending to some of their animals. No coincidence he’s up when the great ones get up. He’s up around 4:30, 5 in the morning, and he’s working by six. Still doing that, to this day. So all those things, you know, it’s just all part of the stew.
Will he be speaking at the Friday court hearing?
I don’t know exactly. I don’t know exactly how it’s gonna go. I’m gonna be able to go though. I don’t know if I’m gonna be — that’s not my dance floor. I’m not an attorney — I always wanted to be. I’ve watched a lot of shows. Watched “Judge Judy” a lot. I always kind of felt like it’d be cool to get up there and thunder away at a jury like Tom Cruise in “A Few Good Men.” Or be a judge. Judge Judy, but alas, I did not go to law school. So this would be the first time I’ve ever really been in the situation. So was a court reporter for KB one time? First time being kind of in there now. Right there instead of just watching.
Preparing for court while preparing for Maryalnd
Oh, it’d be a one-track mind. Get ready for Saturday. Getting ready for the game, coaching the team, getting prepared up. So I don’t give any thought about — gonna let the judge decide.
Did he see Sherrone's postgame interview?
Yeah, I was like five inches from the TV. To watch that, it’s beautiful. I’ll remember that, too. And I said, I’ll remember Grace’s letter till they throw dirt over top of me, but I’m gonna remember what Sherrone said, too, and Blake and all the players. And I already know. I already know. It’s like you already know. I know how he feels. I know how the players feel. They know how I feel. So but yeah, it meant a lot, means a lot. Much appreciated.
Running the ball against Penn State
I think it was necessary. I mean, really in our wins against Penn State, whether it was in ’21 when Hassan Haskins carried the load. Last year, we rushed for over 400 yards and then this year 230 and some change. Just what we felt necessary offsets with Penn State really wants to do defensively and makes them play not the kind of game you really desire to play. What’s best for us.
How did he find out he was suspended?
Just somebody showed me their phone. Via social media — like social media.
Was that frustrating?
Warde was pretty, pretty upset. He was on the plane, too. And he’s pretty upset that he heard through social media, not through the office, Big Ten office.
On Warde Manuel's statement?
Tremendous support. Warde has been 10 toes down, he’s standing right here with us. His support, the president Ono’s support, the board of regents. And I said our fan base was already galvanized, already connected there together but well, I’m feeling a galvanized Michigan. University, alumni network and all the alums — largest living alumni body in the world for any school. And the fan base, which goes coast to coast and worldwide, really being galvanized. And that’s a tremendous thing. That’s a monumental thing when you think about it. Everybody fighting like the team we’re supposed to be, and that’s gonna be tough to beat.
Who presented the news on Friday via social media?
I don’t know, kind of came over my shoulder.
