Although the Michigan/Northwestern game didn’t go the way many fans thought it would this weekend, head coach Jim Harbaugh and several players noted this afternoon how much fun it was to be a part of a comeback of that magnitude.
The head man echoed that sentiment once again this evening on the Inside Michigan Football radio show from the Pizza House in Ann Arbor.
“[Fifth-year senior defensive end] Chase [Winovich] said after the game the team was willing and talented enough to come back and win, and I thought that summed it up nicely,” Harbaugh said.
“[Senior running back Karan] Higdon was behind me on the flight home and said that was the most fun he’s had in a game at Michigan.
“The energy and lift [junior quarterback] Shea [Patterson] gave to the team was infectious too — he made big plays, ran with the ball, moved the chains and converted third downs.
“He and Chase really stood out to me. [Junior linebacker] Josh Uche, [sophomore defensive end] Kwity Paye, [junior left guard] Ben Bredeson, [redshirt junior tight end] Zach Gentry, [redshirt sophomore tight end] Nick Eubanks stood out to me too, as did the whole defense.”
Although no one seemed to have an answer as to why the Wolverines dug themselves a 17-0 hole, everybody seemed to have an opinion on why the team finally got going.
Harbaugh gave his take.
“We started making plays,” he noted. “A dropped pass and not converting on third downs didn’t allow us to get into the playbook and what we had in the plan. That’s what happens when you don’t get first downs.
“We stayed with our game plan and some of those plays eventually came. Karan got us going at the start of the second quarter and so did Eubanks, and then Higdon finally got us in the end zone. We established some momentum from there and put drives together.
“Karan really established himself as a back who can carry that responsibility when the team needs him. I have great respect for him and how he plays, but also the kind of guy he is — he’s a rock solid person and teammate. Having a good day and a victory are irreplaceable things.”
Higdon wasn’t the only player Harbaugh had immense praise for, though, as he also sang Winovich’s praises.
“He was making plays in and out of the pocket, and drew their backs’ attention,” the head coach raved. “He even drew the attention of three of their pass blockers at times. Using a back to block means they’re not running a route — having two of theirs accounting for one of ours is big.
“They didn’t even shut Chase down either. When he makes plays, guys feed off it and want to do the same thing.”
Two other players who have made plays for Michigan in the past — junior running back Chris Evans and junior defensive end Rashan Gary — were limited with injuries this weekend.
Evans missed the game altogether, while Gary departed the contest after getting banged up.
“Evans and Gary are both being looked at,” Harbaugh revealed tonight. “I don’t think either is long term, but we’ll see how they look this week in practice. Both will be questionable for Saturday’s game, if we’re using NFL lingo.”
This weekend’s contest will be against the Maryland Terrapins, who arrive in Ann Arbor with a 3-1 record.
Harbaugh explained that it’s a process preparing for an upcoming opponent throughout the week.
“All of a team’s good qualities jump off the tape on Mondays, and your confidence is at its lowest on Sunday night and early Monday,” he explained. “You gradually see more things you can attack them with throughout the week, and draw up a plan and have your players practice it.
“There’s no showing up and hoping for the best — you have to practice your plan over and over.”
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