Jim Harbaugh honest about state of Michigan football program

Jim Harbaugh knows the Michigan football program better than almost anyone. He has also led the team to the most success it has had since the Lloyd Carr era. Now, largely thanks to off-field issues, there are questions about the state of the program.

Besides Harbaugh flirting with the NFL and offensive coordinator Matt Weiss being fired amid a criminal investigation, the NCAA sent the program a notice of allegations. Those allegations include four Level II and one Level I violation.

Now, Jim Harbaugh has done his best to evaluate the state of the program in light of these issues.

“Compare us to perfect and we’re going to come up short,” Harbaugh said. “Compare us to any program, it doesn’t get any better.”

Michigan has long since been a program that prides itself on doing things the proverbial ‘right way.’ After all, Harbaugh famously told John U. Bacon, “It’s hard to beat cheaters.” So, getting caught up in off-field drama actively doesn’t fit the image that the Michigan program has tried to cultivate for itself.

That isn’t to say that there aren’t issues at other programs. There are. It’s just very cynical of Harbaugh to try to imply that every other program is going through as many off-season issues as Michigan has this particular year.

Jim Harbaugh on his relationship with Warde Manuel

The last few seasons have been more than eventful for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football program. After struggling in 2020, Harbaugh took a pay cut. Since then, the Wolverines have won the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff twice. At the same time, he’s flirted with the NFL.

Now, Harbaugh has spoken about his relationship with athletic director Warde Manuel, amid questions about how they operate together.

“Jim Harbaugh says everything is great between him and Warde Manuel. Says the narrative out there simply isn’t true. Everything is good and there isn’t a worry about a contract situation,” Brandon Brown reported.