Jim Harbaugh: Michigan has 'got to be America’s Team’ 

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh had to watch his team’s game on television when the Big Ten suspended him only 20 hours before the Penn State game and a request for a temporary restraining order was pushed back. He’s scheduled for a Friday hearing in a Washtenaw County courtroom to see if he’ll be able to coach at Maryland Saturday and against Ohio State Nov. 25. 

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“Just the perseverance and the stalwartness of these guys, watching [the game] I would have to say to everybody, ‘That’s got to be America’s team,’” Harbaugh said. “America loves a team that beats the odds and adversity and overcomes what the naysayers, critics and so-called experts think. 

“That’s my favorite kind of team. Watching from that view on television, it was violent. People get to see what I see every day from these players and coaches.”

And that’s a squad that’s able to put distraction behind them and dominate everyone on the schedule, to date. Even Penn State, which came out on strong against U-M before fading and losing 24-15, was little more than a speed bump. Its offense looked anemic against the strong Michigan defense. 

So … what’s not to like, Harbaugh asked. For some, it’s still overshadowed by an alleged illegal on-site scouting ring organized by analyst Connor Stalions. That’s been proven, frankly, to provide zero added benefit to a team that continues to roll people even without the supposed huge advantage it gives, and Harbaugh pretty much said it.

“I’m just really proud,” Harbaugh continued. “I know I said it first team meeting, I know I talked about it here — Moses had 90 leaders. How many do we need? The answer was we need more than 90. We’ve got that. We’ve got a team full of leaders … future leaders that have already been galvanized. 

“They were already on a mission. The mission last year was a happy mission. This year has been even more than the wins. It’s a mission of faith, it’s a mission of speaking truth to power, it’s a mission of playing for each other as a band of brothers. I see our guys and they’re strong, they’re walking upright and innocent, just taking care of business.”

He’s grateful for that, he said, and he can’t wait to see what they do next. But he’s still savoring what he saw Saturday. 

“The way that they handled the situation with flying colors,” Harbaugh said. “Players just played their hearts out. It’s a team full of leaders. A team that’s connected, committed and as we’ve talked about many times, plays for each other. Very unselfish.

“Finally, the whole world is seeing what I get to see every single day. Players playing their hearts out, talented, resilient, great guys, and they play their hearts out together.”