Jim Harbaugh promotes Guardians of Victory

So who needs Star Lord Peter Quill? It might be a bonus for Jim Harbaugh to call upon the Guardians of the Galaxy, in Michigan’s determined quest to win 15 football games and lose none this season. But Harbaugh stands convinced he possesses a cadre of crusaders just as good — if not better.

Instead of Quill, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon and a sort-of-talking tree named Groot, Harbaugh simply summons up assistant coaches Jesse Minter, Jay Harbaugh, Mike Hart and Sherrone Moore — the Guardians of Victory. In Michigan football’s universe, they’re front and center in the opening fifth of the fight.

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Defensive coordinator Minter dons the head coaching headset in the opener Saturday against East Carolina. Safeties/special teams coach Jay Harbaugh and running backs coach Mike Hart split duties versus UNLV in game two, the younger Harbaugh getting the first half and Hart the second. Then offensive coordinator Moore becomes the dude who abides as boss under the lights against Bowling Green.

None of this can be easy for Harbaugh. In his ninth year at Michigan, he could be leading his finest team to date onto the field in the opener, 110,000 in The Big House thundering their approval. Instead, he’ll be watching his 11-year-old son Jack play football, or desperately trying to get the Peacock network on TV.

He’s locked out of Michigan Stadium. U-M’s own self-imposed penalties in an NCAA matter have kept him off the premises for the first three games, despite the fact that he’ll be coaching the Wolverines all through the week in preparation.

In some minds, no big deal. East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green? Shoot, Groot, via a spindly wooden finger, could point the way to victory — right? And Harbaugh will be back for all of the Big Ten games, when it really counts.

Not surprisingly, the architect of Michigan’s two straight smackdowns of Ohio State, Big Ten championships and College Football Playoff appearances doesn’t see it that way.

At all.

“I’ve heard people comment, it’s a slap on the wrist,” Harbaugh said on Monday. “It’s more like a baseball bat to the kneecaps, or to the shoulder. I equate everything to football. I’ve never missed three games, unless it was for a broken arm or a dislocated shoulder.”

He kept the Louisville Sluggered body parts PG, but there’s more than a tap to the protective cup involved as well. He wants to be out there. He wants to be the Star Lord of Michigan’s battle against the universe, no matter how inconsequential or easy the first steps may seem to some.

“When you’re the head coach during the game, and you’re the guardian of victory, that’s a tremendous responsibility,” Harbaugh cautioned. “You understand complementary football. It’s not just defense. It’s not just offense. It’s not just special teams. It’s the whole team.

“I know they’re going to be great at it, and I think it’s the best thing for our whole team.”

By “they,” he meant Minter, Jay Harbaugh, Hart and Moore, who garner both the experience and the spotlight as head coach. The big boss took a load of manure and used it to fertilize the ground for future head coaches. Minter, first up in the head coaching spotlight, sounded deeply grateful for the opportunity and for everything the sanctioned Schembechler Hall Star Lord does.

Harbaugh had just finished a unique Monday game week press conference in which he led by advocating revenue sharing with the players out of college football’s burgeoning profits. He went on to talk — when pressed — about his own feelings regarding the suspension, but quickly turned the emphasis to those whose opportunity opened up.

“What a display of leadership,” Minter marveled. “He’s an advocate for our players. He’s an advocate for what’s best for the people who are in the grind every day, doing the work. I couldn’t agree with him more.

“He’s just a presence. The thing about Coach Harbaugh is, he just breeds confidence into our players. He has such a strong belief in our guys. He certainly recruited all of them, he’s been in their homes. His level of confidence in our players is something I see every day, and I see the power that has. He also empowers our coaches. We’re set up to handle this well because of his ability to empower us.”

At one point, Quill makes the following comment about help and guidance: “Sometimes, the thing you’ve been looking for your whole life is right there by your side all along.”

For Harbaugh, that’s his dad, Jack Harbaugh, serving as assistant head coach and personal Yoda.

“My dad — that’s my best friend,” Michigan’s head coach assured. “I do what he tells me to do, when he tells me to do it, how he tells me to do it. And things just keep working out well for me. I’m just going to keep on rolling with that.”

He’ll roll the best he can through Michigan’s first three games. Then he’ll tug the headset back on during game days, and coach like he’s got a score to settle.

One more Quill quote might apply here: “When I look around, you know what I see? Losers.”

That’s what Harbaugh and his empowered crew expect to look across the field and see, from now through Jan. 8.