Jim Harbaugh, Michigan players describe the feeling of third straight Big Ten title

On Saturday, Michigan won the Big Ten for the 45th time and the third time in a row. It was the first time Michigan won the conference three times in a row since the stretch between 1990 and 1992. After the game, several players and head coach Jim Harbaugh shared what it meant to them.

Running back Blake Corum was the first to share how it felt to win three conference titles in a row.

“It feels great,” Blake Corum said. “I didn’t know we were the first three and out. But to have three back-to-back-to-back Big Ten championships, it’s a wonderful feeling. We’ve kind of changed the narrative how people look at Michigan.”

With the win in the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan locked up its bid for a third straight trip to the College Football Playoff. That’s a place where the Wolverines are now looking to get over the next hump.

“So back-to-back-to-back feels great, but like I always say, like Kobe Bryant said, the job is not finished. We set these goals at the beginning of the season, and we hold ourselves to such a high standard, we must accomplish those goals,” Corum said.

“Today was a great stepping stone, but like Coach said, we’re going to enjoy this one. We’re going to enjoy this one, and then we’ll get back to the drawing page. But it means a lot to go back-to-back-to-back.”

Mike Sainristil was the next to speak. For his part, he agreed with Corum about how everything felt.

“It just feels great. Guys like me and Blake, this is what we came back for, to have the success with this team, like the brotherhood that this team has is one that I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world, and this team is going down in history. The way we go about our goals is you put everything into the next goal, and there’s work — there’s more work to put in and more ways to get better,” Sainristil said.

“Coach is probably going to say it. I’m going to say it first before he says it. The worm has turned around here. Blake just said it as well. The narrative has changed. For some odd reason, people look at Michigan and they’ll say we don’t play whoever, you know, we don’t deserve to be wherever we are, but as we say, the only people — the only things that matter is what happens inside Schembechler Hall.”

After that, head coach Jim Harbaugh jumped in to praise the team for how hard they’ve worked to get to this point.

“You took the words out of my mouth. You look at this whole group, and JJ [McCarthy], Blake, Mikey, so many others. The worm has turned. These are the guys. I mean, these Michigan football players, when you look back at the history of Michigan football, wrote the book on getting the worm to turn. The worm is pretty slippery. That thing can start wiggling back and forth and turning back on you. The hook got put in it. The hook got put in the worm. They’ve written the book on how to do it,” Harbaugh said.

“It wasn’t that long ago we were saying, I mean, we’re going to do this or we’re going to die trying. They just give everything they got. That’s all we ask them is to give it their very best, but they give everything they have on a daily basis. Am I going to pull guys back? I never have to talk them in. The amount of guys that were playing through something tonight, playing with something, could have easily taken a knee, didn’t.”

Jim Harbaugh emphasized that he wants the team to give their best before asking quarterback JJ McCarthy to share his own thoughts.

“I heard Mike B say it the other day, something that really resonated with me, I’m just ready to go out there and die, you know. We never ask them to do that. Just go out and give it your very best and give us everything you’ve got. Every guy on this team does it that way, and not just on game days. It’s every day. How does it feel for you, J.J.?”

JJ McCarthy agreed with everyone before him. This was a great feeling but it’s only one of the goals that Michigan has this season.

“It feels great. Obviously, to be back and do it again, just like Blake, Mikey, and Coach hit on, this was one of our goals, and it feels great to accomplish it. What I’m feeling personally is I need to get better, and we need to get better as an offense and focus on the little things. It’s going to be a great month of preparation.”

Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh: ‘Don’t forget to give them the share of the revenue’

On Sunday, Jim Harbaugh took the time to remind everyone that he feels the players deserve a share of the revenue in college football.

“It’s not about any coach, it’s about the players. I love the way you’re talking about the players, that’s who everyone comes to see. Those are the people who put in the work. I hear a lot of the controversy about who should’ve been in, who shouldn’t of been in it. It’s going to be fortunate that the next year is going to be an expanded playoff and a true champion – it’s just going to be better,” Harbaugh said.

“As you make those comments, I want you to remember – it’s the players. Don’t forget to give them a share of the revenue.”