Michigan Football: Jim Harbaugh criticizes overturned TD on radio show

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is rarely one to not speak his mind. During his appearance on this week’s Inside Michigan Football radio show, he said he was proud of his team but that one controversial moment weighed heavily.

A touchdown was wiped off the board late in the second quarter when pass rush duo Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo stripped the ball and scored on a sack of MSU quarterback Payton Thorne.

“So much was thrown at them from the first offensive possession of the game, being back inside the one-yard line,” Harbaugh told host Jon Jansen. “MSU made a lot of plays, and we made a lot of plays. Guys kept competing and fighting. Proud of them and the coaches.”

“Some things were out of their control. Especially the review and overturn of the sack-fumble. Should have never happened. (There was) no conclusive evidence.”

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The officiating crew told Harbaugh that Thorne’s shin was down on the play, resulting in the overturn. He took issue with that without a clear replay to overturn the call on the field.

“They said that his shin was down. I said ‘half a shin?’ it looked like there was no conclusive evidence. Anyone with a non-partial view knows it has to be irrefutable. You feel for the players that deserved better when other reviews were left to stand or overturned based on what was called on the field.”

Michigan still left points and opportunities on the field, as evidenced by the four field goals it settled for in the game.

On trouble stopping Kenneth Walker, substitution patterns

Ultimately, Saturday’s loss came down to the inability to stop MSU running back Kenneth Walker. The presumptive Heisman Trophy candidate ran for 197 yards and five touchdowns, leading to a Spartan victory.

“Early in the game on some of the cutbacks plays, he was very effective in gaining yardage,” Harbaugh said. “Thought we did a better job of that at halftime. Second half he got out on runs and split our defense. There was too much space and a few we didn’t fit right. The more space you have the more trouble you’re in. They made plays and we made plays. It was that kind of ballgame.”

Walker was able to get out in space against the Michigan defenders, who had no answer in the open field. Harbaugh says his players have to put themselves in better positions to make plays.

“When you’re in a position to make the tackle, make the tackle,” We’re both making that sound simple against a really good back. Simple, not easy. In any case, you have to tackle.”

Michigan also put itself in tough spots by attempting to substitute defenders when MSU went up-tempo. Harbaugh called that a learning experience for first-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

“They have done that with tempo,” he said. “So have other teams. We take accountability as coaches and understand that when they are going fast and aren’t substituting, we can’t substitute.”

Fixing mistakes, the mindset moving forward

Michigan had its share of flaws defensively last weekend, but Harbaugh feels they are fixable.

“We have seen our guys do it,” he said. “Games that we have won, we have come back on Monday and there are things to address and fix. Didn’t win this game, but you come back with the same mindset and always driving to play the better game. The drive goes on.”

Despite a rough weekend, Michigan’s goals are still in front of it. Harbaugh says his team will turn the page to Indiana by doing what they have all season.

“When you come back and watch a game, we would have treated the Monday film session as if we had won the game,” he said. “You come back to fix and get better. In this case, we’re proud of the effort and how we played. Same approach when you look at the film and fix and correct and come back better. That’s the only way there is that is effective.

“You get knocked down, you come back more determined to prepare, to work, finish, to win.”