Michigan39s Jim Harbaugh Overcame off the field issues knowing we were

Michigan's Jim Harbaugh – Overcame off-the-field issues knowing “we were innocent” – ESPN

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    Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff Writer January 9, 2024, 1:58 a.m. ET

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      Dave Wilson has been an editor for ESPN.com since 2010. He previously worked at The Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.

HOUSTON – After leading Michigan to a national championship and a 15-0 record during a tumultuous season in which he was suspended twice, coach Jim Harbaugh said “it couldn't have gone better.”

Despite a three-game suspension to open the season following an NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations in 2020, followed by a sign-stealing scandal and the subsequent firing of staffer Connor Stalions, which led to another three-game suspension, Harbaugh said the Wolverines were never shaken.

“It went exactly the way we wanted it to, to win every game,” Harbaugh said Monday night after No. 1 Michigan beat No. 2 Washington 34-13. “As for the off-field issues, we are innocent and we stood strong and steadfast because we knew we were innocent. And that’s what I want to point out.”

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“These boys are innocent. Overcoming that…it wasn’t that hard because we knew we were innocent.”

Harbaugh talked about how much it meant to him to “check the biggest box” to get Michigan back to the top of college football. He was then asked if he would make a list — whether winning a Super Bowl would be another goal, a reference to ongoing speculation about interest from NFL teams.

“I just want to enjoy this,” Harbaugh said. “I just want to enjoy this. I hope you give this to me. Can a man have that? Does it always have to be what comes next, what the future is? As I said the other day, yes, I hope to have a future.” I hope there is a tomorrow, a day after tomorrow, a next week, a next month, a next year.

For his part, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said he understands “why people in the pros want to hire Jim Harbaugh and talk to him about becoming a coach.”

“The man went to a Super Bowl, won a conference championship … went back to the conference championship in this league.”

“If I were in the pros, I would like to talk to him because of his achievements. However, I am not with the professionals and would like to keep him as ours.” [coach], this is my cross that I have to bear. But I’m proud that Jim is our coach.”

“One day when they throw dirt on me and someone praising me just said, 'He was a Michigan man,' that would mean everything,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Would mean everything to me.” Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire

Harbaugh, whose father Jack coached for Bo Schembechler before Jim Harbaugh played quarterback for him, said it made him “very proud” to be a “Michigan Man” who led the Wolverines to a title.

“One day when they throw dirt on me and someone praising me just said, 'He was a Michigan man,' it would mean everything. Would mean everything to me.”

He said he promised his players he would get his first tattoo when they were 15-0. His plan, he said, was to get a block M in maize and blue, with the M also representing the Roman numeral for 1,000, which was special to him because Michigan was the first football program to win 1,000 games have.

“No high school has a thousand wins. No other college has a thousand wins. No other professional team has a thousand wins,” Harbaugh said. “University of Michigan. To reach a thousand wins and win the national championship in the same year, man, it doesn't get much better than that. I would really ask you that.”

“Who could have it better than us? No one.”

ESPN's Pete Thamel contributed to this report.