WATCH: Jim Harbaugh, Nick Saban press conference ahead of Rose Bowl
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban held a joint press conference on Sunday morning from Downtown LA to preview Monday’s Rose Bowl. Both coaches shared how appreciative they are to be there.
You can watch the full media session using the player above or on our YouTube channel.
“Excited to be here. Just excited to attack this day,” Harbaugh said. “Have one day left with our preparations, and we’ve got a good day in front of us. Getting ready for the task at hand. Looking forward to an incredible football game.”
Saban added: “Well, certainly we appreciate the opportunity to be playing in the College Football Playoff. We appreciate the opportunity to be in the Rose Bowl, and we certainly appreciate everybody’s effort, for the hospitality they’ve provided us. It’s been a good experience for our players, and I want to congratulate Coach Harbaugh and his team for an undefeated season and winning the Big Ten Championship. They’ve done a great job in terms of what they’ve been able to do with their players. They’re a very well-coached team, very challenging for us, and we’ll use the day today to try to clean up what we need to do to hopefully play a really good game.”
It is particularly special for Harbaugh, who has been part of several Michigan trips to the Rose Bowl as a child, player and now a coach. He says these are the types of games you dream of being a part of.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
“It would take a long time to talk about it,” Harbaugh said. “I grew up in Michigan, Ohio, part of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, that Midwest area. You grow up watching the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. There’s a couple of feet of snow outside and you’re like laying on your stomach in front of the TV, hands like that, looking at palm trees and the parade and the football game. Halftime we were outside playing football in the snow and then watching those — kind of turns from the day to the night when you watch the Rose Bowl.
“I know that’s why a lot of people in the Midwest probably move to California. You wanted to be there. Got to be there as a player and got to actually be there as a kid because my dad was coaching at Michigan, and we went to — the team went to three straight Rose Bowls. Now here as a coach, it’s pretty awesome. Got to participate as an 11, 12, and 13-year-old, twice as a player, and now as a coach.”
Michigan and Alabama’s showdown in Pasadena kicks off at 5:10 p.m. ET on Jan. 1 from the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines are a 1.5-point favorite over the Crimson Tide. The winner heads to Houston on Jan. 8 for the national title game against either Texas or Washington.
