Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Michigan

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan players visit Mott Children's Hospital with national championship trophy

On3 imageby: Andrew Graham01/12/24AndrewEdGraham

Michigan football, more specifically the coaches and players, are no strangers to spending some time at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. And Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh brought a few players and a special piece of hardware for a trip on Friday: the freshly-won national championship trophy.

Harbaugh was apparently joined by quarterback Davis Warren, wideout Jake Thaw and defensive back Jesse Madden (who is the grandson of the late NFL legend John Madden). The quartet visited with patients and let them spend time with the trophy.

It’s was a subdued affair, naturally, squeezed between the raucous public return for the victors earlier in the week and what should be a joyous environment for the championship parade on Saturday afternoon.

Evidently, the Wolverines wanted to bring some of the championship shine not only back to Ann Arbor, but to the patients who are often facing illness and uncertainty far more daunting than anything in a football game.

Michigan fans want their quarterback to return in 2024

Michigan fans stood sentry for hours in the cold rain on Tuesday evening on campus for a chance to greet the national champion Wolverines upon their return to Ann Arbor. And when quarterback J.J. McCarthy came before the crowd, the message was clear: Fans would like him back for a senior season.

McCarthy, who guided Michigan to a 15-0 mark in 2023 and is 27-1 as the starting quarterback, is likely deciding between returning to school and going to the NFL draft. And while the decision will reach far beyond what folks in Ann Arbor think, their opinion is certainly clear.

“One more year! One more year!” the crowd chanted as McCarthy spoke.

Eventually offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore began egging on the crowd in jest, but would surely love to have McCarthy running the offense again in 2024.

“I just want to thank all of y’all for everything,” McCarthy said. “Let’s enjoy this one tonight … we’ll worry about that one [later]. I just got to say this — I don’t know how I can leave y’all. Everything about this place just made it home for me, and I just love every single one of y’all from the bottom of my heart. It’s all about ‘the team, the team, the team’ here, and you guys are included. You guys are the team, so we appreciate you so frickin’ much. Love you guys. Go blue!”