Jim Harbaugh: Michigan team is 'Not going to flinch' at Ohio State
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh played at Ohio State as quarterback in 1986, guaranteeing a victory over the Buckeyes after a stunning home loss to Minnesota. The mockingly chanted his name after OSU took an early 14-3 lead, but Harbaugh led a comeback to help clinch the Big Ten title.
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A veteran Ohio reporter asked Harbaugh what he expected of his eighth Michigan team on its first trip to Columbus in four years. He talked about the noise and the pressure … and, of course, the Buckeyes will be riled up after losing 42-27 in Ann Arbor last year.
“They’re not going to flinch, if that’s what you’re asking,” Harbaugh said of his Michigan squad. “There’s nothing I’ve really got to teach them, or show them, or tell them. I know our team really well by now. They don’t blink. They don’t flinch at stuff.
“Just keep attacking and building. That’s definitely our goal. To win the championship again, and fight like hell for Michigan to get that done.”
They have four goals, he added, and they want to build on last season’s success. They were back to work within days when the season ended to accomplish just that, he reported, anxious to do just that.
Told he seemed relaxed and happy at getting the OSU monkey off his back, Harbaugh smiled.
“There’s no question about it. I’m happy — I’m happy our players got to experience that,” he said. “That’s where that happiness comes from. That’s part of the transformational process that our players learn that yeah, there are big challenges. There are obstacles in the game of football and in life. I think they learn with the right approach, the right work ethic, the right team-first mentality and teamwork, that you can make anything happen. You can bring anything to life.
“That’s a great thing for them to be able to carry on for the rest of their lives. Because there are going to be challenges in sports and their personal lives and their careers after they get out of college.”
He’s reminded where happiness comes from, he said, when he’s asked to talk of the big win and what they accomplished.
“It comes from knowing our players, they got to experience that. They got to experience being a champion, winning the championship, beating Ohio State,” he said. “And knowing that winning, describing how good that is for them … it’s transformational for the rest of their lives.
“That’s great. Now, let’s see if we can get all four goals. Let’s beat Michigan State and Ohio State in the same year. Let’s win the Big Ten championship and let’s win the national championship. Those are our four goals, and let’s go attack them. And guys are on a daily basis.”
Pointing toward a Nov. 26 showdown in Columbus and — hopefully — the first Michigan win there since the 2000 season.
