Greg Schiano has 'ultimate respect' for Jim Harbaugh ahead of matchup

Greg Schiano has yet to beat Jim Harbaugh as a head coach but is quite familiar with the Michigan coach throughout his career.

Rutgers and Michigan square off in Ann Arbor this weekend with the Wolverines as a steep favorite. In fact, there’s no weaknesses in Michigan, according to Schiano.

With what Harbaugh’s done in his career, Schiano couldn’t help but heap praise on the Wolverines head coach.

“I have a lot of respect for Jim,” Schiano said. “He’s an excellent football coach. Knows how to get the most out of his organization. I don’t have a close relationship. It’s more professional. But ultimate respect.”

Harbaugh has never lost to Rutgers since he took over Michigan in 2015. Rutgers’ lone win over the Wolverines came in the school’s first year in the Big Ten in 2014.

Beating ranked teams hasn’t come easy for the Scarlet Knights. Heck, the team hasn’t been ranked since the 2012 season, a high of No. 18 that year.

Games like upsetting No. 3 Louisville or No. 2 USF in 2006 and ‘07, respectively, seem like a distant memory.

But Schiano was asked about those days of his first stint and how Rutgers could get up for Michigan with a chance at a massive upset Saturday.

“Well, you don’t really ever know,” Schiano said. “Coaches say, well, I knew we were — Coach Bryant, who was one of the best to ever coach the game said well into his career, “I can’t tell you if my teams are ready. We’ll see.” And if he couldn’t, and Coach Paterno and those guys couldn’t, there’s no reason I can.”

Simply, for Schiano and Rutgers to spoil Harbaugh’s return, go out and play.

“It’s a human element,” Schiano said. “You never know. You just go out and play it. But what you do know is how much you invested in the preparation and how much you invest all the way right through the game, not to it, but through it. Every meeting on the sideline, in between series, everything at halftime, all that stuff is critical to winning and losing.”

Schiano stated he wanted Rutgers on a big stage nearly 20 years ago, but the Big Ten hasn’t been too kind to his crew after he left the school for the NFL after 2011. But Year 4 of Schiano 2.0 might have more promise.

“Exciting, you put yourself in position to play these games, and then you’ve got to go play them, right,” Schiano said of this matchup against Michigan. You do invest a whole lot before, but then there’s that three and a half, four hours where you’ve got to go get it done, and that’s — you know, are we ready to do that? 

“I can’t tell you that. I hope we are. But if we’re not, then we will be. We’ve just got to keep working at it. But I like this team. I like their mindset. I like the leadership. Let’s go play it.”