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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh talks relationship with Ryan Day

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•07/27/22•

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Photos of Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day from Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan pounded Ohio State, 42-27, last year for its first win in a decade on the way to the program’s first Big Ten title since 2004. Afterward, head coach Jim Harbaugh said, “sometimes people that are standing on third base think they hit a triple, but they didn’t.”

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That was clearly a shot at OSU coach Ryan Day, who took over a loaded team left by Urban Meyer and led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record in his first full season (2019). Ohio State went to the National Championship game in the COVID-affected 2020 season and played Michigan for the East Division title last year. 

The Buckeyes are the favorite to win the Big Ten this year, too. Media in Indianapolis made them the unanimous favorite to win the conference, in fact, in an informal Cleveland.com poll. 

For his final question away from the podium at Big Ten Media Days Tuesday, Harbaugh was asked to clarify that his “third base” comment was meant for Day. 

“Uhh … I have no comment about that at this time,” Harbaugh said with a big smile before walking away from the media contingent. 

He made it clear earlier, however, that he had no hard feelings about Day or his program. 

“Professional,” Harbaugh said when asked to characterize the relationship with Day. “At the Heisman [ceremony], cordial … you know? When we’re playing each other, [he is] doing everything he can to have his team win. I’m doing everything to have my team win. 

“[We’re] competitive.”

That was obvious a few years earlier when, during a conference call between Big Ten coaches, Harbaugh reportedly interrupted Ohio State’s Ryan Day and accused him of breaking rules regarding on-field instruction in the offseason. Per the report from Bucknuts.com, Harbaugh brought up a picture supposedly showing his former assist, Al Washington, working with some OSU defenders. 

“How about I worry about my team, and you worry about yours?” Day told Harbaugh per the report. 

Per the report, Day told his players Michigan “had better hope for a mercy rule this season,” because his team was “going to hang 100 on them.”

The two teams didn’t play due to COVID-19 concerns on the Michigan side. OSU scored 27 in 2021, but it wasn’t enough. 

Harbaugh and Day will face off for the third time Nov. 26 in Columbus this year, the first time the Wolverines will play in Ohio Stadium since 2018. 

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