Jim Harbaugh, Michigan have dominated offseason headlines, and with latest comments, the Wolverines have a title or bust feel in 2023
Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines have a way of staying in the headlines.
From Harbaugh’s annual flirtation with the NFL to the recent embarrassing viral food pic from their “BBQ at the Big House” event, the Maize & Blue have dominated the offseason news-ticker for things having little to do with their potential to win a third-consecutive Big Ten Championship in 2023.
To whit:
- In January, Michigan fired co-offensive coordinator Matt Weis amid a police investigation for purported computer access crimes.
- Fresh off back-to-back playoff appearances, Jim Harbaugh had talks with multiple NFL organizations, interviewing with the Denver Broncos’ organization twice.
- The NCAA opened an investigation on the Wolverines for alleged recruiting violations, with Harbaugh currently negotiating a four-game suspension for lying to the governing body, per reports. Multiple assistants are also facing suspensions, including associate head coach and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore.
- In late March, 2024 5-star quarterback Jadyn Davis committed to UM over Ohio State, Clemson and Tennessee, giving Harbaugh his most prized commit since landing J.J. McCarthy.
- In a span of three days in late May, the Wolverines hired and then parted way with Shemy Schembechler, the son of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, after it was discovered that the new assistant director of recruiting had a slew of offensive social media posts on his Twitter account.
- Last week at Big Ten Media Days, Harbaugh countered many of his colleagues’ complaints about a lack of NIL oversight by saying, “Give it a chance to work. Do we know if it’s broke yet? We’re already trying to fix it. … It’s like the transfer portal. These people that are against it — you’re against something that allows a young man and his family to decide where he wants to go to college and where he wants to continue college. Where he may want to go to college next. Why be against that? And the players and their families, they’ll tell you – I think if you really studied it, then there’s more good there than negative.”
I’m probably missing some news, but the point is the Wolverines have generated all sorts of content having nothing to do with football since the last time they took the field on New Year’s Eve against TCU.
And the irony is they’ve been among the more discussed teams this offseason too because of their 2023 potential! Michigan is — and should be — the prohibitive Big Ten favorite this fall. Harbaugh wants to “strike while the iron is hot” and aims for the Wolverines to “chase perfection.” Michigan added a “BEAT GEORGIA” period in spring practice, with Harbaugh telling CBSSports, “Like our good friend Ric Flair [says], ‘If you want to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.’”
I applaud all the bravado and confidence emanating from Ann Arbor, but whoa buddy, and the bluster might’ve reached its crescendo within the last few days.
First, at Big Ten Media Days, Harbaugh, who badly wanted to talk about his looming suspension but couldn’t, heaped praise on quarterback J.J. McCarthy. This is nothing new exactly, only Harbaugh upped the ante by comparing the junior to NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
“He’s got the physical, athletic attributes. And then all the arm talent — accuracy, velocity, decision-making, and intangibles. And he also has what the great ones — in my opinion — have, which is a willingness to do anything for their teammates,” Michigan’s head coach said, per mlive.com.
He also added, “I’ve searched my memory for somebody who’s been a first-time starter and had a better first year as a first-time starter and I can’t come up with one. He’s a once-in-a-generational type of quarterback at Michigan. And his progress continues to grow.”
Cam Newton says, hey, Jim. Trevor Lawrence, too. Just two years ago, Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy as a first-year starter and led Alabama to a runner-up finish in the title game.
But I digress.
The point is Jim Harbaugh is all-in on McCarthy, and understandably so. He’s the wild card to Michigan’s 2023 title hopes. To win a national championship they need McCarthy to become a more consistent fighter pilot at quarterback. He’s as gifted physically as any in the country. Will he be unleashed this fall?
The Wolverines have slayed the dragon that was Ohio State two years running. They are the current top dogs in the Big Ten. The next step is winning a playoff game — and two frankly — if Harbaugh’s belief in McCarthy’s ceiling is justified and if his overall roster prediction is anywhere near accurate.
Yea, the latest headline Harbaugh made was telling The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman on Tuesday that Michigan will have “20 guys picked (in the next NFL draft). I bet we break that (draft) record. (Georgia) had 15 that year.”
It’s an outlandish statement, and yet I love it. Jim Harbaugh, NCAA suspension be-damned, just keeps pushing in more chips for Michigan’s 2023 season. He’s constantly referred to this roster as his best since returning to his alma mater, and now he’s put a precise number on just how highly he thinks of their talent.
Is it national title or bust for the Wolverines in 2023? From the horse’s mouth, it’s sure starting to seem like it.