Despite an offseason full of drama, Jim Harbaugh has positioned the Michigan Wolverines to 'chase perfection' in 2023

On3 imageby:Jesse Simonton03/07/23

JesseReSimonton

Ever since Michigan was upset in the College Football Playoff semifinal by TCU, it’s been an ongoing soap opera in Ann Arbor.  

The NCAA opened an investigation for alleged recruiting violations. The Wolverines fired co-offensive coordinator Matt Weis amid a police investigation for purported computer access crimes. Despite consecutive Big Ten titles, they had their lowest-ranked recruiting class in six years. 

Oh, and Jim Harbaugh had his annual dance with the NFL, flirting with multiple organizations including interviewing with the Denver Broncos twice. 

And yet, two weeks into spring practice, the vibes are strong around the Maize & Blue. 

“Compare us to perfect, and we’re going to come up short in the major areas,” Harbaugh said recently. 

“Compare us to any other program, and you’ll see it doesn’t get any better.

“Just how good in terms of a culture, a family that this Michigan football program is: It’s almost in my mind like some of those housing markets have become recession-proof. They’re just good. No matter what’s coming from outside of here, I just see everybody here.”

No matter the noise, Harbaugh has always strummed to his own beat. Just a year ago, the veteran head coach said he was done eyeing a jump to the NFL, calling it a “one-time thing.”

Only yet again, Harbaugh’s name was linked to multiple openings this offseason. 

But whether it was a leverage play by his agent for more money from Michigan, or if Harbaugh truly wanted to make the move, both parties should be very happy about the current outcome.  

“I’m here as long as Michigan wants me here. You would have had a story if I wasn’t here. But I’m here, and this is where I wanted to be,” Harbaugh said. 

Is that true? For now, it doesn’t matter, because Michigan needs Jim Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh needs Michigan. 

It’s no secret that Harbaugh wants to win a Super Bowl, but with the 2023 Wolverines, he can win a national championship.

Harbaugh has beaten Ohio State in consecutive seasons. He’s delivered his alma mater back-to-back conference titles. The Wolverines are 25-3 the past two seasons. And now he just might have a team billed for a true national championship run. 

It turns out, drama is simply a characteristic of the program’s foundational identity under Harbaugh. It’s not a flaw or a bug, but a feature. 

Despite an offseason full of outside turmoil, Michigan should feel great about his chances for a storybook season. 

Sure, Penn State is the league’s offseason darling, and Ohio State is actually (and oddly) the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, Michigan brings back a loaded, veteran roster. Harbaugh has also assembled an all-star staff, with offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter likely future head coaches.

Harbaugh & Co., didn’t sign a Top 10 recruiting class this year like they did in 2022, but the Wolverines were one of the big winners in the transfer portal, adding reinforcements at linebacker, edge, tight end and offensive line. 

Star quarterback JJ McCarthy is back, as is UM’s dynamic duo at tailback in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. The offensive line should be a major strength again. Nine of their top 12 defenders with at least 400 snaps are back. 

Teams coming off conference championship seasons rarely — if ever — return so much experience.

Michigan ranks No. 5 in returning production (81%), per ESPN — one of just two 2022 conference champs in the Top 25. 

Utah, ranked No. 16, can’t win a national title, though. Michigan can. 

The Wolverines dubbed last season their revenge tour. They had their best season in 25 years, yet the fairytale script didn’t play out as planned. 

Perhaps it will this fall. 

Harbaugh has a chance to do something — win three straight Big Ten titles — that hasn’t been done in 31 years at Michigan. He has team and schedule — Ohio State comes to the Big House and the Wolverines don’t play a single Power 5 foe in the nonconference — positioned for their first undefeated season since 1997. 

“13-1 is not perfect. That’s what we keep striving for,” Harbaugh said.

“We keep chasing that perfection.”

This just might be Michigan’s year.