What Jim Harbaugh said about Michigan football vs. TCU in College Football Playoff
If the past two Saturdays weren’t big enough, Sunday was big in its own right.
Michigan football was named the No. 2 seed in the four-team College Football Playoff and will play the No. 3 seed, the TCU Horned Frogs, in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
See the 2022 Big Ten Championship game program here
On Sunday evening, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh met with the media via Zoom. He discussed the matchup, TCU quarterback Max Duggan, the job Sonny Dykes has done in his first year coaching the team, the reports that NFL teams are vetting him, Mazi Smith’s gun charge and much more. Here is everything he had to say.
Opening statement
Thank you. Probably a lot to talk about, a lot to say. Well, I don’t know if can fit it all in an opening statement but just really proud of our team, what they’ve accomplished. We’re very excited to be in the playoffs, in the final four. And just overall just can’t say enough good things about our players, our coaches, our staff to be 13-0 — I mean, my mouth has a hard time even forming that. It’s just very unfamiliar to say that in relation to football. It sounds like a hot start to a basketball season at the beginning of the season.
But with that being said we’re excited for the challenge to advance, to see how we’ll stack up in the playoffs.
On NFL teams vetting him
Well, it’s a lot of that time of the year, type of speculation but I think no man knows the future. But I think the people that are — we’ve done a good job and people are pleased with the job that we’ve done here at Michigan. They’re gonna be very happy to learn that we’ll be back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023. And for those people that don’t approve of the job we’ve done or would rather see somebody else coaching here, I think they’ll be most likely disappointed to learn we’ll be back coaching the Wolverines in 2023.
Describe this Michigan football team for TCU fans
Probably a lot would go into that. I think it’s just guys that are relentless competitors. And, every day they are about taking care of their business, on and off the field. They work and compete. What I’ve been looking at from TCU, I think we’re built a lot the same way. Both teams — and I hope that the TCU coaches would say the same about us after watching it, by watching us play and a lot of the things I would say about our team there.
Tremendous mindset. When it comes to the more physical we gameplan the game, the more they seem to embrace it, and I love that about our team. I think it’s — and I take myself out of this — but the coaching, it’s been really good. Our defensive staff, what they’ve been able to do — teachers, real teachers. Same with our offensive staff and our special teams. Everybody just bleeds blue. They all pulling in the same direction and tremendous, relentless competitors.
On Arizona native JD Johnson
Yeah, JD, I’ll tell you, I watch him throw the ball pre-practice or during prep — just throw and play catch with him sometimes. I mean, amazing arm — he could still rip it like you wouldn’t believe. But he’s — unfortunately, the doctors are not letting him play. And he’s turned that — hasn’t felt sorry for himself, hasn’t gotten bitter, he’s just gotten better. And really, the only difference in those two words are an ‘i’ and an ‘e’. So I say that to say, yeah, he’s made it not about himself or getting bitter about the circumstances but become a tremendous coach. He’s one of our student coaches and does an amazing job. And that’s what he chooses to do in life. He’ll be extremely successful, just like his dad, Dave.
So I can’t say enough good things about JD Johnson. He he’s been responsible for the circumstances that he has and turning those into success. He’s a joy, a pleasure to be around daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and he really contributes to our success, both on the field and off the field. Just a spectacular young man.
Is it important to clarify now he's not taking an NFL job due to recruiting?
It’s like I said, I mean, it’s really biblical. No man knows the future. I can’t make any vows of what’s going to happen and what’s not going to happen and if you don’t mind, I’ll ask you a question: I mean, there’s tremendous coaches right here in our league. Ryan Day. Greg Schiano, Bret Bielema. Jeff Brohm — I could go on and on. PJ Fleck. I mean, I think they deserve, with the job that they’ve done, to be asked the same question.
On Mazi Smith's felony charge
We found out the day that it happened. Mazi was completely honest, upfront cooperative. Felt like — he gave us the exact circumstances. And then, as I said, this has been something that’s gone to the — I really respect to the justice system and feel like there’ll be a fair resolution that comes soon from that.
As far as a decision on to play Mazi Smith, from the time of the incident through now and that’s a decision that’s made by our athletic director Warde Manuel and our president Santa Ono, and myself, all who know Mazi Smith, and know the kind of person he is and the trust that he’s built up in our program.
Is there not a blanket felony charge policy?
I’m not gonna comment on whether I think it’s a felony or not, or whether it should have been charged as a felony or not. But I think if you do your homework, you’re going to realize that this is — you can’t compare this to the low-hanging fruit that you think that that’s out — and I just encourage you not to pander to the Twittersphere and really the haters, you know? They’d like to drink their haterade and eat their hater tots.
Let the facts come out. Let those let that be decided and adjudicated through the court system.
Thoughts on TCU QB Max Duggan
You know I love my quarterback J.J. McCarthy. I don’t think there’s anyone better. Our guy, I mean, he just never gets flustered. He never gets rattled. I have never seen him nervous one time.
And the TCU quarterback, I mean, I can’t tell you what a joy and a pleasure it was to watch him compete in the game on Saturday. Nothing but tremendous respect for the type of competitor that he is. And it’s going to be a huge challenge getting ready for a quarterback like that.
All I have seen is just relentless competitor, super talented, tremendous effort. I mean, any quarterback in the history of the game would have loved to have a game like he had on Saturday and had that on their resume.
So that will get us fired up. We’ll be fired up to compete against a relentless competitor like him. It was just wonderful, wonderful to watch him compete.
Thoughts on TCU in general
Yes, well, scoring machine on offense. Really sound on special teams. They tackle on defense. And we’ll get into all the schemes. I won’t get into how we’re going to — specifically how we’ll attempt to attack or defend, but really, really impressed.
In the meantime, I would just like to say, I can’t wait to come to Phoenix. I mean, everybody loves Phoenix. Back in the days when I used to go there, my beautiful Aunt Jay and Uncle Crossy who are still alive and live in Phoenix. Jimmy and Pam Vaccaro, cousins, are still there and have a restaurant we love to go to. And also, one of my favorite guys in the whole world, Jerry Murphy and the whole Murphy family, I can’t wait to see you all. And Mark Natsock, another dear friend. I can’t wait to see you all, and the family is looking forward to spending time with you when we get out there as well.
Is he the first QB to play in and coach in the Fiesta Bowl?
Probably not. There’s probably others who have done that, I would think. I mean, growing up as a kid, I used to always watch the Fiesta Bowl on TV, and everybody out there warm and we were back snow on the ground. And people used to sit on that hill. That’s the thing I first remember. And then watching the game. So it was really awesome to play in that game.
Got to meet Tom Osborne. And super competitive game against Nebraska. We were fortunate to win the game.
Since then, I have been back many times. I have been there for spring training, for baseball. Been there to play pro games as a pro athlete, and coach. And college coach, when I was at Stanford, played ASU a bunch of times. So just a great place. I think everybody loves Phoenix.
The first time he realized J.J. McCarthy was a competitor
I’m pretty sure right away, but then it always — daily, weekly, monthly. I could tell you a bunch of stories, but you just see it. It’s just who he is.
What his parents have poured into him, Jim and Megan McCarthy, Jim is this larger-than-life personality, and Megan is just this very calm, sophisticated, wonderful but deep-down competitor and fierce protector of their family. And I just see both of those parents have poured into J.J. And he’s almost identical 50/50 carbon copy of his mom and dad. Just so thankful for all the parents on our team that have poured so much into the youngsters that are on the team. It just makes it so easy, so easy to be their coach and be around them on a day-by-day basis.
I mean, they have all been taught so many of the lessons in terms of hard work, competition, being accountable, doing what is right. Not just J.J., but pretty much our entire squad. And just watching that the apple doesn’t fall too far from the branch, it really shows up so much with our team in relation to what their parents are like.
Have he and Sonny Dykes crossed paths?
No, we really haven’t spent too much time together, but just been a fan from afar. The strategy — I guess there’s decision-making and there’s strategy, and it’s good to know the difference between the two. But I think he’s outstanding at both. And strategically, just like watching his football. I think he thinks a lot like a really good chess player, and I respect that.
