Jim Harbaugh 11-26-23

  • last year
Michigan coach
Transcript
00:00 Yeah, there's quite a bit of enthusiasm today in
00:04 Schembechler Hall and just.
00:08 Was able to meet with our coaches and just tell him how
00:12 proud I was of them and and few players stop by
00:16 and.
00:17 Just. Can't can't think I'm all enough for the effort
00:22 and.
00:24 Really have to praise all there's.
00:27 If you praise one, you really have to.
00:30 Give give praise and credit to all who contributed.
00:36 So many players, so many coaches,
00:38 you know, especially strong more.
00:39 I do have to single him out.
00:42 I thought the not a thing I would have changed
00:45 in the way he he called that game and decisions
00:49 that he made under in that kind of environment.
00:52 That kind of that kind of pressure.
00:54 You know. Huge shout out to Sharon and and all
00:58 the coaches and all the players.
01:01 As I said, just ringing so loud and clear the
01:04 team,
01:04 the team, the team very proud of them.
01:07 Thank you coach. Our first question this afternoon will go
01:12 to Aaron McMahon.
01:13 Jim, do you have an update on Will Johnson?
01:18 His status for for Saturday's game?
01:21 No, I don't have an update as of right now.
01:24 We'll see how things proceed.
01:28 It's a get looked at today,
01:30 treatment, etc. An evaluation and.
01:35 Possibly know something later in the week or tomorrow.
01:37 Our next question is from Adam Rittenberg.
01:44 Hi Jim, I just wondering how you spent the day,
01:46 especially during the game and then and then afterward I
01:48 saw you were visiting with Zach Center and his family
01:51 in the hospital.
01:52 Just take us through your Saturday if you could.
01:53 Yeah, that's pretty much. What I did.
02:00 Watch the game and. And then.
02:04 Went over and saw Zach and then I was back
02:06 home with the family.
02:08 Our next question is from Andrew Khan.
02:14 Hi Jim, you know fans will sometimes say Iowa,
02:20 you know, wins ugly or they're lucky.
02:22 I'm interested in how you as a longtime coach
02:25 view a team that wins more with defense and special
02:29 teams than you know,
02:30 scoring a lot of points.
02:32 I mean the key the key word there is wins.
02:39 You know those.
02:41 You know, any anytime you win,
02:42 it's a. It's a. Team effort your team was able
02:46 to make the plays that were needed to make.
02:49 Stop the drives needed to cover the kicks that needed
02:52 to be covered.
02:53 And I would does that they they win.
02:59 Our next question is from Nathaniel Finch.
03:08 Coach Daniel Finch Wish TV Indianapolis.
03:10 Thanks for your time. Talk about AJ Barner.
03:13 How is he helped this team to you know you're
03:16 undefeated season?
03:17 What stands out about his talents as a tight end?
03:20 AJ's been huge. All the all the new players that
03:25 came into our team and make it could run down
03:29 the list.
03:30 I mean, they've all been great additions to our team.
03:35 Josiah Stewart and. Josh Wallace.
03:39 Drake Nugent. LD Miles so many have been.
03:47 Have been incredible earnest so many guys just tremendous
03:51 additions to our team right from the beginning right through
03:55 the training in the season.
03:58 Every single guy AJ Barner has been a.
04:01 A great contributor, not only is blocker and he's elite,
04:05 he's elite in in blocking, but he is also shown
04:09 to be a tremendous.
04:11 Go to receiver and makes it tough catches play demeanor
04:15 that is, you know, speaks for itself.
04:18 Really, I mean, it's tough, it's physical.
04:21 You know it's been a tremendous teammate in every way.
04:24 Our next question is from Austin Meek.
04:31 Yeah, Jim Austin Meek with the athletic.
04:33 Could you just describe your emotions when Zach went down,
04:36 especially not being able to be there with him and
04:39 then anything that you shared with him or or he
04:42 shared with you when you saw him at the hospital?
04:45 Yeah, I mean the the emotions.
04:52 We're we're with Zach, you know,
04:54 with with him with his family.
04:57 You know, I was hoping for the best.
05:00 You know, but you know you you in your mind
05:03 you start preparing for the worst.
05:06 And you know, then I just.
05:09 I saw him, I mean.
05:11 I mean, just so tough, so strong and that was.
05:16 Those those ended up there was a broken fibula and
05:20 tibia.
05:21 That's. You know.
05:24 You really feel that 'cause you feel when you're laying
05:27 there in a field with a broken bone.
05:30 I mean those those bones tend to rub together and
05:34 is really painful.
05:37 Is this what a stalwart he was just?
05:40 And then you know what?
05:42 At the hospital it was just.
05:44 He was so happy for his team.
05:47 The great news was that it was probably,
05:50 you know the worst, the best of the worst case
05:54 scenario.
05:54 'cause you know those bones will heal.
05:59 Other emotions, you know the team.
06:03 I know how that can affect the team that can
06:05 go one way or the other with the team and.
06:10 And there could be that.
06:11 Overall sadness for a teammate and worry and and concern
06:16 and also can can motivate the team.
06:19 You saw that with break Blake.
06:21 I mean the presence of mind that touchdown in the
06:24 next.
06:24 The next play to.
06:26 To chip us flash up to 65 and.
06:31 Zach was. He was. He was really moved by that.
06:37 And just the way is the teammates were were texting
06:41 and calling etc.
06:42 It was. You know, is this another?
06:45 Another example, the team, the team,
06:48 the team showed showed throughout that game,
06:52 and especially showed there and.
06:55 Yeah, the other. The other thought was.
06:58 That I mean who who can be against the players?
07:04 Being compensated for what they do,
07:07 at least at least even minimum wage.
07:09 I mean, who could argue against that when?
07:15 When that when there's. Injury or not?
07:18 I mean the emotional build up watching it on TV
07:21 was.
07:21 I mean, there wasn't a commercial that went by a
07:24 sporting event that was played all week.
07:27 You didn't see those those two teams and the build
07:30 up and the hype and the talk about.
07:33 Players legacies and and everything that could possibly be.
07:38 You know, rolled into one game.
07:42 On the line and and and then you see the.
07:47 The amount of people that are benefiting financially.
07:51 From those players efforts out there,
07:52 just I wonder who could be against like I ask
07:56 other coaches to,
07:57 you know, to get to get on board to to
08:00 choose their platform there and their voice for the student
08:04 athletes,
08:04 not just football players, all student athletes to be to
08:08 be sharing in this ever increasing revenue.
08:11 That was another thought that I had and.
08:16 I just don't know who could be against that.
08:18 Our next question comes from Scott Doctorman.
08:27 Yeah, Jim, I wanted to ask you about JJ McCarthy
08:30 and yesterday completes 80% of his passes.
08:32 He doesn't have a mistake.
08:34 Yes, and one incredible throw.
08:36 And you know what's kind of been his trajectory since
08:39 you've had him on in split time with him a
08:42 couple years ago to now where he's,
08:44 you know, beating Ohio State as the starting quarterback
08:48 two years in a row and as your team rolling.
08:51 Yeah, and you know, just incredible.
08:53 I mean, you give you give credit to one.
08:56 You really gotta give credit to all,
08:58 but you know, there's there's no doubt that JJ McCarthy
09:02 is.
09:04 You know the the incredible player that he is.
09:08 Fearless. Is is the way to describe him and he's
09:13 never careless,
09:14 but he is. He is fearless and what a leader
09:17 the record.
09:18 The record speaks for itself.
09:21 Once again, you know his play was was exceptional.
09:26 Game ball worthy and guardian of victory once again for
09:29 the Michigan Wolverines.
09:31 Our next question is from Tony Garcia.
09:39 Yeah, hey Jim Tony Garcia here from the Detroit Free
09:42 Press.
09:42 Now that the last three games are behind you,
09:45 can you describe your emotion knowing you will be with
09:48 your team the rest of the way and you do
09:50 get that chance to defend the league title and and
09:53 get back to the college football playoff?
09:55 Yeah, I've been my emotions.
09:57 My my focus has been with the team.
10:00 You know the entire time this.
10:03 It's been a tremendous season.
10:08 Right, right? The exact position that we hope for that
10:12 we worked so hard to be in and and it's
10:14 onward.
10:15 Now there's we've accomplished.
10:19 Many of our goals, but not all of them yet
10:22 and some still still are out there.
10:26 Beating Michigan State, beating Penn State, beating Ohio State,
10:28 winning the Big 10 East.
10:30 You know now the next is is winning the conference
10:33 championship and that's that's where our focus is and so.
10:38 I would say you know.
10:40 To be back, but I never left.
10:42 Next question is from Ryan Zook.
10:52 Ryan Zook and ever news here.
10:53 Yeah, Jim, I was wondering what your reaction was when
10:56 you saw Rod Moores interception that kind of sealed the
10:59 game and were you able to kind of celebrate and
11:01 share that moment with anyone else?
11:04 Yeah.
11:06 Right, happy as I've ever been.
11:09 This. One of the happiest moments.
11:13 Of my life, just for every single player for Rod,
11:16 for Sharon, for all of our coaches.
11:20 Now for everybody in that in the locker room.
11:23 I mean, I know I talk about the.
11:25 The team, the team, the team to me.
11:27 I mean this. This is the team,
11:29 the 23 team it. It is it is that team.
11:35 Yeah, so Sarah and I were watching it.
11:37 I mean it was. It was hugs,
11:40 high fives. It was a.
11:43 It was a very glorious moment.
11:50 Next question will come from Lane Higgins.
11:53 Hi Jim, this is Lane Higgins at the Wall Street Journal.
11:56 I asked Sharon this after the game about the play calling
11:59 and how different it was and how much they were
12:02 going to the past plays instead of just running it
12:05 up the gut like you had for the last two
12:07 games against Penn State in Maryland.
12:09 And I'm curious, you know how much you had strategized
12:12 with him going into that game and you know what
12:15 we should expect out of Michigan's offense going forward now
12:18 that you know the game is behind us.
12:21 Yeah, I thought you know it's one of one of
12:25 Sharon's best and he's he's had some really good ones
12:28 in terms of calling the plays.
12:30 You know the the the emphasis all week was you
12:33 know we wanted to be creative.
12:35 We felt Ohio State was.
12:37 It was was very good defensively.
12:39 This is to me the best Ohio State team.
12:44 We played and.
12:47 Uh, you know, against Iran,
12:49 the coverage in the past.
12:51 I mean that they haven't given up.
12:54 You know very many big plays at all.
12:56 We were able to get some explosive plays,
12:59 but we knew we were going to have to be
13:02 creative to get them and you know just about.
13:05 Just about everyone except for maybe two two plays that
13:09 we he got all the creative plays off the call
13:12 sheet and run and then they were executed beautifully.
13:15 They were executed beautifully and timely and very aggressive in
13:19 the in the fourth down calls and you know the
13:22 offense was was physical.
13:24 They were aggressive. You know,
13:27 but they weren't. They weren't going to be denied and
13:31 I.
13:32 And. You know, I know that that Sharon believed in
13:35 them and it reflected in the way he called the
13:38 game.
13:39 Next question is from Elliot Clow.
13:44 Hey Jim, thanks for taking the time today.
13:47 I know the question was kind of similar earlier,
13:50 but you know I was kind of viewed as as
13:53 simplistic and there's kind of a general view that that
13:56 is going to be a blowout on on Saturday.
13:59 Are there any difficulties of preparing for a team that
14:02 plays football the way I would us?
14:04 Yeah, there's a. There's a lot you know our
14:10 team is really good when we.
14:12 When we don't turn the ball over.
14:15 I think we're undefeated when we don't turn the ball
14:19 over since since I've been coaching here and that's that's
14:23 one of Iowa's specialties.
14:24 Tips and overthrows. I mean,
14:28 we've we tried to adopt that as you know the
14:31 best we can and.
14:33 But nobody does it better than Iowa.
14:37 So there you have to earn everything that you get
14:40 and you know it's going to be tough physical game.
14:45 And. We gotta get ourselves get ourselves in that.
14:49 In that mindset, which. More than ever,
14:53 more than the last two years,
14:55 I really think our. Our team is.
15:00 There's more to do. There's a.
15:03 There's the mindset of of onward and we understand
15:06 that we understand the task of.
15:09 Of of the championship game,
15:10 both teams really wanted both teams.
15:13 You know it's an opportunity to for Iowa to be
15:16 champion opportunity for us to be champion and that's going
15:20 to have to get earned and we're gonna have to
15:23 do what we always do every every single week.
15:25 You know plan, practice and then go execute and it's
15:28 going to have to be good.
15:30 If it's not, then we'll have a good chance of
15:33 getting beat.
15:34 You know if we play good and we're going to
15:36 have a good chance of winning.
15:38 That's how we we go into every single week.
15:39 Next question is from Michael Cohen.
15:45 Hey Jim, Michael Cohen from Fox Sports.
15:47 I was just wondering if you remember anything or could
15:49 share anything about the recruitment of Colston Loveland and
15:52 sort of how a guy like that can open things
15:54 up for play callers and play designers with the versatility
15:57 he has.
15:57 I just think he is.
16:02 I think the cats out of the bag how good
16:04 he is.
16:05 I used to say.
16:07 I used to. I used to even tell him.
16:09 I mean, you're so good and probably the longer it
16:12 takes you to figure that out,
16:13 the better off you're going to be 'cause he just
16:16 didn't even.
16:17 I don't think it was dawning on him just how
16:20 how.
16:21 How special his talent is,
16:23 I would say the first time I were when I
16:26 went to recruit him.
16:28 The thing that struck me was how big he was
16:31 watching and I'm watching him on tape.
16:34 I'm seeing this fluid great body control in terms of
16:39 catching fast,
16:41 elusive, tremendous balance. And then when I saw him in
16:46 person I was expecting up.
16:49 I guess I expected somebody,
16:50 you know, maybe about 662 and a half 63185
16:56 95 pounds.
16:58 But I mean this was a.
17:01 He is a big,
17:03 big, strong strapping. Right now 235 to 40,
17:08 but but moves like a like a like a point
17:11 guard in basketball receiver in football.
17:15 That was the thing that struck me so much.
17:18 And the next thing was.
17:20 The. Just who he is,
17:22 the kind of guy is the thing.
17:24 The things that his parents have poured into him,
17:26 you know, very humble, very humble.
17:30 Very hardworking and. There's much gratitude for his coaches.
17:37 Teachers. Classmates at the high school.
17:42 One of the gals on the basketball team and thanked
17:45 him for for coming to her to his best her
17:48 basketball game the night before and.
17:51 Just neat, all American.
17:53 Really, I mean just. All American kind of guy.
17:56 Our next question is from Adam Rittenberg.
18:04 Jim, I know you appreciate history and obviously Michigan getting
18:07 1000 wins.
18:07 You got the chance to do something this week that
18:10 hasn't been done before with three consecutive outright Big Ten
18:13 titles.
18:14 What would that mean to Michigan into you personally if
18:17 you're able to accomplish that?
18:19 I mean, mean made a great deal.
18:23 And as I said, I mean this.
18:26 This team this. You know it's it's a true teams.
18:31 Selfless, they play for each other.
18:35 Now it's if you're wondering what's in another man's heart
18:38 on this team,
18:39 it's it's it's about it's about each other.
18:42 So many things. I mean 12 and 12 and oh
18:46 back to back seasons.
18:48 You know we'd like to make that 13 and 12
18:51 and oh for the first time in Michigan history.
18:54 12 and oh back to back first time ever.
18:59 So many things about this team and.
19:02 They. And they they all talk about it.
19:05 There's there's more to do,
19:07 so I know our our focus will be on.
19:11 You know, going out and giving it our very best
19:14 and and taking a shot at that.
19:17 That third championship.
19:20 Our next question is from Matthew McGowan.
19:24 Hey coach, I'm at McGowan with the Daily Island.
19:27 You played Iowa in the past,
19:28 but what stands out about their defense this year compared
19:30 to then?
19:31 You know, really, really good players.
19:36 Really great scheme.
19:39 You know, always in the right place.
19:43 The way they adjust emotions,
19:45 the way they adjust to shifts.
19:47 You know there the way they I mean they
19:50 can adjust to tempo.
19:52 They're in the they're in the right place at
19:55 the right time and then.
19:57 Does it? There's a there's a mentality to go
20:01 after the ball.
20:02 You know the and not just the nose for the
20:06 ball.
20:06 It's just. Now it's it's at at a very elite
20:11 high level and the balls in the air.
20:14 Tips the overthrows, it's just.
20:17 They just image of heat seeking missiles after the ball.
20:21 So you gotta be. You gotta be really precise.
20:25 Offensively, whether you're running the ball,
20:27 I mean the blocks have to be.
20:30 Crisp, they have to be sustained.
20:33 You know, throws have to be.
20:36 You know they have to be accurate.
20:38 They have to be on time and.
20:42 You just have to. You have to play really good
20:44 football, really good discipline football.
20:45 We've got time for one or two more.
20:51 Our next question comes from Aaron McMahon.
20:54 Jim, what struck you most about watching your team on
20:57 Saturday?
20:57 Beedle House State.
20:58 You know, just what I said earlier,
21:04 the the team, the team,
21:06 the team is just ringing so loud.
21:08 And it was. And that you know one guy,
21:14 all guys, you know the the entire team,
21:17 the way they play.
21:19 And it was offense complimenting this.
21:22 The defense, the defense,
21:23 complimenting the offense,
21:25 the special teams.
21:27 You know as well, everything was.
21:29 Everything was.
21:30 Was really run clean and precise.
21:35 Highly disciplined football.
21:39 A clean game, both sides.
21:41 And it's just not good.
21:43 Both teams were and how it came down to.
21:46 It came down a few plays here.
21:48 Came down to a few plays there.
21:51 And.
21:52 But yeah, this to me is the team the.
21:59 And it rings from my ears.
22:01 Bo Schembechler, the team,
22:02 the team, the team.
22:04 But this is very, very special team.
22:10 Our next question is from Ryan Zuke.
22:14 Duke Ann Arbor news.
22:15 Yeah, John, I know you mentioned
22:17 kind of player compensation
22:18 and minimum wage earlier.
22:19 I was curious.
22:20 Have you ever thought about
22:22 potentially donating some of your
22:23 contract to an AL or a collective
22:25 or anything like that to try and get
22:28 your own stamp on helping out the players?
22:31 Yes, I've said I mean there's there's
22:33 a lot of people profiting coaches
22:35 are profiting millions.
22:36 There's and you know,
22:38 I've had people tell me, you know,
22:40 don't say anything about that.
22:42 You know that's the coaches that will
22:45 take away money for the coaches.
22:49 The yeah,
22:50 what I've been able to do is donate
22:53 money back to the to the athletic
22:55 department which I did in in 2021.
22:58 But.
22:58 Yeah.
23:00 I would.
23:02 For the players to be to be compensated,
23:05 I'm using my voice and I would.
23:08 Yeah, I would take less money for
23:10 the for the players to have a share.
23:13 How?
23:14 Hope other coaches would would use
23:16 their voice to to express the same thing.
23:20 Your time for one more question or next
23:27 question will go to news stitched media.
23:30 Hey coach, what makes Lake
23:32 Quorum such a great leader on
23:34 and off the field? On
23:36 and off the field. I mean,
23:39 he's just just hit it.
23:40 He's he's just he's.
23:42 He's a leader comes so much from his parents.
23:46 You know they have poured in.
23:48 Tremendous gratitude,
23:50 work ethic, discipline and there's
23:53 this real competitive side to Blake
23:56 where you know he's just so motivated
24:00 to give his best to give us all at all
24:04 times but there's others this empathetic
24:07 side to him that you know it's not about
24:11 him it's about it's about others and and.
24:14 Affecting.
24:16 Other people in a positive way,
24:18 and it's.
24:20 It's rare that that that highly
24:22 competitive person in that empathetic
24:25 person you know come together in one,
24:27 but that is that is who Blake Quorum is,
24:31 and that's why he is such a effective
24:34 leader both on the field and off the field.
24:39 Is when you're on a team or anywhere in life,
24:41 I think.
24:42 You know,
24:42 especially on a team.
24:43 I know this for sure is,
24:44 you know,
24:45 the thing people assess and other people.
24:48 You know real quick is what's
24:52 in another man's heart.
24:53 Are they about themselves?
24:55 Are they about the team and?
24:58 You know, Blake Quorum is.
25:01 Not just about the.
25:03 Not just about the team,
25:05 it's about.
25:07 It's about community.
25:08 It's about.
25:09 It's about.
25:11 It's about people.
25:13 I could not say enough.
25:15 Great things, you know,
25:18 just another.
25:18 Thought about the all American guy.
25:21 You Blake Quorum.
25:21 Coach Harbaugh, thank you again for joining us.
25:28 Good luck in all your final
25:29 this week and we look forward to seeing you and your team in Indianapolis. Thank you.