Everything Jim Harbaugh told the media pre-Big Ten Championship Game
On whether this is the best win ever by Michigan
Humbly, humbly would say that. Definitely right up there. One of the greatest wins and we've had a lot of good ones over the 143 years.
On his feelings about having the team back in the same spot one year later
Right where we want to be. Playing for the championship, to be champions of the west. That's huge, that's big. It sunk in coming back from the game, just been a great thrill. Great thrill of winning. Great feeling of victory. Just expressing that to our players and our coaches, how appreciative of we are, I am. Anybody that loves Michigan, I've gotten so many texts from people everywhere. Trying to return them. Just for the amount of effort and focus and determination our players and coaches put into this game, incredible gratitude and appreciation for the job that they did. Now, to do that again. Come back here on Monday and do everything in our power to have that feeling again. After this game, which will be the biggest game in the world to us. The week before was the biggest game in the world, this past game was the biggest game in the world to us. Now, this game is the biggest in the world to us. Going about the preparation, the study of our opponent, the meetings, the practices and getting ready for this game so we can have the same feeling of winning and thrill of victory.
On the job both coordinators did in game-planning
It was incredible. The coordinators, Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale on defense. Offensively, Sherrone Moore, Matt Weiss. Jay Harbaugh on special teams. The level of preparation and the level of detail, it was Super Bowl-like. We understand that this is like having a Super Bowl every year when you're at Michigan. You get to play in the Super Bowl every single year. It was treated as such by our coaches, especially the coordinators. I can't say enough good things. The amount of preparation and detail that went into this game and, ultimately, the performance by our team, they were directly responsible.
On how much adjustment was made last week on offense with Blake Corum's status up in the air
There's quite a bit. Something that Sherrone had been planning weekly, monthly. Same with our defensive staff and coaches, and special teams coaches. I wouldn't call it as much adjustment as it was preparation.
On whether a team finishes games is a train inherited by a team
It has been incredible. I think that's who they are. It's who our players are. They are never about being bitter, they get better. It's incredible, the difference between those two words. One letter, the letter 'I'. That letter signifies thinking about yourself, thinking about just you. Our players—it's about the team. It's about, really, doing everything they can for the team. They've been saying that they play as a team, they play as a unit. The other thing to mention, too, is the tremendous development that's taking place in our strength and conditioning program. I would also call that the center of player development. To me, Ben Herbert, X-factor in our entire football program. The level of conditioning, the level of strength, the lesson of mental toughness. That's been the center of it. I would have to give equal amount of credit and gratitude to Ben Herbert. X-factor in this program.
On players capitalizing on opportunities like Isaiah Gash and Kalel Mullings
Just warms the cockles of the heart in every way. I'm giving a game ball to every single player on our team that's a walk-on. Not here for the scholarship. Here because they're really good in school and they're getting really good at football and contributed so much to our team. Probably nothing more heartwarming than that, when a guy steps up like that. Playing for the love of the game, not playing for what they're getting in return. Everything is sacrifice. I can't say enough about our guys like that. It's part of the room of heroes.
On when did the closeness of the team develop
It's been, in my opinion, around for a long, long time. Throughout—50 years ago. That is the Michigan program. The team, the team, the team. It is now and would expect that to go on into the future. It's definitely some remarkable players that have also been raised that way, are that way and will continue to be that way. So many of our guys are like that in every way. I could give many examples if you'd like. Ton of guys like that. Donovan Edwards, for example. He could've taken a knee in this game. Instead, he wore a cast and now he's a legend. J.J. McCarthy could've been a guy like, hey, I'm J.J. McCarthy. I'm a five-star quarterback, I'm not here to hand the ball off. Never. He'll do anything for the team. He'll block, he'll run down the field and block for a running back 50 yards down the field. He'll do anything for the team. Put his shoulder down and score a touchdown at the goal line. Now he's a legend. So many guys. Cornelius Johnson. Could've been somebody that complained about how many targets he's getting or the passing game should be front and center, et cetera, but doesn't. He continues to block and make the tough catch across the middle. Diving catches. In this past game, he really got us started in that game Saturday against Ohio State and he kept us going. So many guys. Mazi Smith, another one would come to my mind. Has asthma, completely changed his body in the aforementioned weight room to become the football freak, number one. There was a time where it was hard for Mazi to play three plays in a row. He played 61 snaps in the game, had the best game that he's ever played. Had four tackles, gave the most pass rush in the game. Captain. Can't say enough about him. Taylor Upshaw, could've been bitter about not getting as much playtime as some of the other guys at the position. Didn't. Now he's a legend. A lot of examples. I think that's who the team is. That's what Michigan has always been about and is. Also, what their parents poured into them from a very young age. I would call it all those things.
On J.J. McCarthy's demeanor and meditation keeping him focused
It’s something I remember Bo Schembechler talking so much about. So I know it to be a positive factor.
On what the tight end group has meant to Michigan
They’ve meant so much. I mean, it’s just another group of completely unselfish team guys. Every single one of them. Luke Schoonmaker, fantastic. He’s gonna be playing pro football next year and maybe for the next 10 or 12 years. Outstanding, outstanding talent who has benefited greatly from his work ethic and development in the weight room and on the practice field. Joel Honigford, offensive tackle, offensive lineman when he came in here, and somebody has reshaped his body and for the greatness of the team. Keep going—Carter Selzer walked on to this program and has stayed. The sign says it, those who stay will be champions. It’s even sewn into the jerseys. So ingrained in our hearts, I truly believe that. I could go on. Colston Loveland. I would like to talk about him. I mean, man, another war daddy type of guy. He catches his first touchdown pass, in the game, of his career. I watched him sprint 50 yards back from the endzone because he knew he was on kickoff. He knew he’s on the kickoff team. He knew he was on kickoff coverage. Sprinting back and, ‘We’re good. We’ll get somebody else in there for kickoff coverage.’ ‘OK.’ Then there was another play in the game where J.J. assessed, we had verticals that we called, he scrambles out of the pocket, you may remember the play, he throws it downfield, Colston was covered, tight double coverage. More of a throwaway type of throw by J.J., good decision. Colston’s maybe 55-60 yards downfield and just turned, sprinted back, because he knew he was on punt. We didn’t even have a chance to tell him we’d get somebody else in there. We had to have him on the punt protection, but you talk about warming the cockles of the heart, guys like that. What do they mean to the team? Everything.
On the recruiting philosophy and the stars factor
We’ve been doing the blue-collared shirts from day one. I think it’s Michigan. I think it’s what Michigan is, what’s always been, I mean, that’s the way we’ve always been. I mean, there’s been no change. Guys like Mike Barrett, same as Colston. I mean, he played 75 plays in the game, had 11 tackles, covered No. 8, gave up four catches and 12 yards and never has once thought about not being out there on the punt team or doing one of his special teams duties. I mean he’s he is completely that kind of player. The first person that jumps to mind with the stars is Rod Moore, who is a three-star guy, only 17 when he got here to campus. And yeah, there’s kind of a disrespect that some guys feel. Some guys would get bitter, he doesn’t, he just wants to get as good at football as he possibly can. Now he’s earned—truly one of the best. He was all over the field in this past game. I mean, he had three tackles, three assists, a TFL, did a bunch of other good things. The disrespect of getting the headbutt, he got the headbutt right there in the game. Pretty violent headbutt. All he did was just throw the flag. Yeah, those types of guys. I mean, it’s really more about the right fit. That’s what it is. It has no correlation to the ‘signing of the stars’ or anything like that. I mean, those guys that were at ‘signing with the stars’ were great guys and great players and we’re looking for the guys who really like football, really want to get good at football. No matter what their star rating is, that’s it’s fairly irrelevant to us. Mike Sainristil, also. He’s also the war daddy coming out of this game and an incredible game by him. Also all over the field. Six tackles at the point of attack, 20 times out of the plays that he was in there, two PBUs, game-saving PBUs in the game. Easily could have been another guy, ‘I’m a great receiver. I’d really rather get more targets, I’d rather have more than take on the challenge of changing positions.’ But anything for the team. Changed positions, also voted captain. Now, he’s been phenomenal and had a phenomenal game. He played his best game of the year, all over the field, as well.
On how he can tell when a recruit loves football
The person that usually I talked to is their coach. I always have, that’s always been the best indicator to me, is talk to your coach, and tell me about this guy. They’ll tell you. Not always in the words, exactly. But I mean, it could be like, roll up in their chair and be, ‘It’s the best guy I’ve ever coached in a generation, the kind of guy I’d want to marry my daughter.’ Yeah, you can tell. Or they kind of lean back in their chair and go, ‘Well, I think he’d be good in your program, once he gets around your guys and your strength staff.’ He’s telling you without telling you if you’re listening. So the thing I have paid the most attention to and will continue to.
On whether he's giving a game ball to every walk-on
I’m going to give a game ball to every walk-on that played in the game just as a token of appreciation for how challenging that is, how tough that is. We can talk about stars all you want, and maybe there’s a disrespect in some of that. But I mean, you’re gonna be told coming out of high school, that you’re not good enough. You’re not good enough to even be offered a scholarship. For somebody to say, ‘I’m not gonna get bitter, I’m gonna get better and I’ll show you,’ yeah, I know what that feels like. Just have a tremendous appreciation for players that do that on our team or any team, but especially on our team. Here’s another game ball I’m gonna give is to our training staff. Phil Johnson, Steve Smith, Hiram Nesbitt. Jason Williams, they deserve a game ball. I’ve never seen the kind of effort put in as was put in this past week by the medical and the training staff, in particular. Guys were in there, if they weren’t in class they were in that training room. Blake was in there, he must have been doing his classes virtually because he was in there a whole entire week, every time I walked by he was in there. Mike Morris and all the guys, just incredible effort by our training staff. Just so darn appreciative and just respect. Full of so much gratitude for the hours that they work, the effort that was put in is just incredible.
On the impact of Ben Herbert
Right from the beginning, the conversation that I had, the level of detail, the expertise that he had, I certainly didn’t know how great he was until, being on the job for a month, six months, year. I think you remember back when we used to give out an award for a staff member, the most valuable staff member of the year. He won that first year that he was here. To me it was just a combination of never seen somebody that was old school strength coach and a cutting-edge, scientific strength coach. Used to get one or the other. But the absolute perfect blend of, the perfect melding of old school strength coach and cutting edge and in every way, detailed strength coach. The first time I met him, I talked to him on the phone and was really impressed. Had it down to maybe three guys that I brought in for an interview. He was the first I remember, in the hallway outside of my office, and like my first handshake with Ben Herbert. It’s unforgettable if anybody’s ever had a first handshake with Ben Herbert. But I mean, he shakes your hand, he kind of leans in. It’s like he’s looking right through your entire soul. I got to the point where ‘I cannot look at you anymore. I must avert my gaze.’ I knew that was the guy right there. The second time after the interview, I mean, I hired him the next day. I don’t think I did any more interviews after that. But the next day, when I greeted him in the morning, it was on, it was a contest. No possible way I’m averting your gaze. He stuck right in there, too. I think I won the second time around. Just never had a better hire in Ben Herbert, and what he’s meant to this program.
On whether he actually submitted Herbert for the Broyles Award
I did. Like I said, we were there was a ton of candidates. Steve Clinkscale would be a tremendous candidate. Sherrone Moore, the possibility of winning the (Joe) Moore Award for the second year in a row, and Jesse Minter, Jay Harbaugh, I’ve always tried not to go overboard or gush about the job he does. But I mean, it’s incredible. Any athletic directors calling: ‘Hey is Sherrone Moore ready to be a head coach?’ Beyond ready to be a head coach, Sherrone Moore. We’re really super proud that Jesse’s now a finalist, right? He’s one of the top five for the Broyles Award, so it’s super cool.