Jim Harbaugh, Michigan hoping for 'magical ride' down the stretch: 'Our time's now'
Michigan Wolverines football is 9-0 for the second time under eighth-year head coach Jim Harbaugh and third time over the last 25 years. With three games remaining (Nebraska, Illinois, at Ohio State), the Maize and Blue have all of their goals in front of them.
Defending the Big Ten championship they won a year ago, reaching the College Football Playoff again and putting it over the top by winning it all — those things are all on the table.
Speaking on the Inside Michigan Football radio show Tuesday night, Harbaugh insisted that the Wolverines are staying in the moment, all while being aware of what’s ahead.
“Eighteen days through Ohio State, and then 25 days to the Big Ten championship,” Harbaugh said. “We’re well aware of that. We’re still going to take it day by day. One day at a time, like [mother] Jackie Harbaugh likes to say. We’ll continue that approach, but full knowing that there’s been a lot of good work made already.
“There’s been a lot of groundwork that’s already been laid, and our time’s now. Our time’s not last year. It’s not next year. Our time is now. And we’re on a ride. It’s a happy ride. It could be even a magical ride.
“So let’s focus on the task at hand, which is today. Let’s have the best meetings possible, let’s have the best practice possible. Actually, let’s make it the best one of the year — the best meeting of the year, the best lifting session of the year, best practice of the year. And then do that today, and come back and do the same thing tomorrow.”
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Harbaugh often talks about having “good days,” but shifts that terminology to “great days” down the stretch. That time is here.
It starts with Nebraska this weekend. The Cornhuskers are 3-6 and losers of their last four games, but they have showed flashes of being a solid team. They led Minnesota, 10-0, at halftime last weekend, before the Golden Gophers scored 20 unanswered points and won 20-13.
“They’re really good, and they’ve put together some really good halves of games, three quarters of games,” Harbaugh said of Nebraska. “The same challenges we all have. Every football team has good schemes, has talented players. Getting everybody to play at or near their best for the full four quarters is the challenge we all face. Nebraska faces that challenge, too.
“And if they can, if they can play good and play good for 60 minutes, then they’ll be really tough to beat. If we can do that, then we’ll be darn tough to beat.”
Jim Harbaugh ‘happy’ with Michigan offensive coordinators
Michigan co-offensive coordinators Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss took over after Josh Gattis departed for Miami, where he’s struggled mightily, and led a unit that is arguably better than last season. The Wolverines are averaging 42.2 points per game, which ranks fifth nationally.
The Maize and Blue haven’t revealed how the play-calling operation works with Weiss, Moore, run game coordinator Mike Hart and others having input. However, it’s hard to argue with the results. Harbaugh has been pleased.
“Both really good coaches, both very experienced coaches — and they’re doing a phenomenal job, along with Mike Hart and [wide receivers coach] Ron Bellamy and Grant Newsome [tight ends]. Some really good coaches. [Analysts] Bret Ingalls and Kirk Campbell doing a great job, [grad assistants] Andrew Goodrich, Mimi Bolden-Morris — the whole staff on that side does a great job, works really well together.
“In terms of game planning and when it gets into the game, the calling of the plays, it’s been good. I’m happy. I’m really happy with the offensive staff and how they game plan and how they coach and how they call plays.”
