Big Ten Media Days: Questions We Would Ask
CHICAGO (AP) Compared to the rest of Jim Harbaugh’s year, this was tame stuff.
Ohio State is on its own platform entering the 2015 season. BYU already is scheduled to face Nebraska and Michigan this fall, Michigan State in 2016 and 2018, and Wisconsin in 2019 and 2010.
The Big Ten media days are a steady diet of the same stuff at the podium, one coach after another vaguely answers questions. “But I say that every single season”.
But since Lloyd Carr retired after the 2007 season, Michigan has barely been above. 500 with a 46-41 record.
Before the questions begin about Ohio State’s chances to repeat as national champions, Urban Meyer has to name a starting quarterback.
Also, the Wolverines’ biggest rivalries have turned one-sided in the wrong direction. The ACC, SEC and now the Big Ten all have a scheduling requirement to include a power conference opponent each season in addition to the conference schedule.
Part of Harbaugh’s appeal, aside from the gravitational force of his personality, is his understanding of Michigan history. Only a few doubters think he won’t.
“If we could do it the way Bo did it that would be something to aspire to”.
Harbaugh went to Ditka’s restaurant Thursday night to visit his old coach with the Bears. In 1968, Hayes took his “super sophomores”, including Rex Kern and Jack Tatum, to the national title. After that, the top choices appear to be OSU tailback Ezekiel Elliott and whoever starts at quarterback for the Buckeyes.
Tiresome has rarely been a word associated with Harbaugh. And that isn’t going to change anytime soon.
The P5 requirement isn’t a huge deal either as many Big Ten teams have power conference opponents lined up several years down the road.
In 2014, Ohio State was originally tabbed as the Big Ten champion.
In a private moment, new U-M coach Jim Harbaugh would probably agree. You see all these great features the iPhone can do and then you look at the flip phone. Go Green! Just want to give a shout-out to all our players coming and now from the City of Chicago.
“A lot of guys ask me what kind of guy he is”.
Offensive lineman Taylor Decker said he hopes Harbaugh can turn Michigan around. “I have information about the people that are there that I really like”. It’s good for our conference.
“We’re disappointed because we value a high level of accountability”, Perry said.
“We’ll be good up front and that’s where it all starts”, he said. Harbaugh has created a consistent swirl of media attention since returning to Michigan to coach his alma mater in December.
“And regardless of which method I take to work – whether or not it’s Devonshire or Geddes or Stadium – I’ll typically assume, ‘Nicely Bo in all probability took this proper.’ …”
“I think it was a whole team effort”.
There wasn’t much football discussed today by the coach, although he did admit that he will focus heavily on special teams and specifically said that’s an area the Wolverines need to improve on.
Coach Jim Harbaugh: “Well, I don’t know”.
On the one-game suspension of All-American defensive end Joey Bosa, reportedly for a combination of marijuana use and academics: “It was a university (decision) — I think the department has policies that we expect and I am 100 percent fully supportive of it….” That’s a rivalry game. With the exception of Michigan State, the gap between Ohio State and its conference counterparts is alarmingly wide. “Ohio State, they were a great team past year”. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald fielded two questions about Harbaugh in his press conference before he was asked about his team’s quarterback competition.