Jim Harbaugh discusses what stood out most from Michigan win over Alabama: 'Special to be a part of'

Michigan Wolverines football didn’t play a perfect game in a 27-20 overtime win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, with special teams mistakes, dropped passes, a few inaccurate throws and some missed tackles. However, when the Maize and Blue had to step up, they did.

Michigan tied the game at 20-20 with a drive for the ages that included a 4th-and-2 pickup and a touchdown pass from junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy to senior wideout Roman Wilson with 1:34 to play. The Wolverines got a stop and kneeled out the clock, before senior running back Blake Corum ran for a 17-yard touchdown in overtime and the defense stonewalled Alabama on fourth down to secure the victory and national championship game appearance.

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Before Michigan’s touchdown-scoring drive at the end of regulation, McCarthy walked past head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline. The two shared a nod of understanding and fist bump. Not many words needed to be said, before a calm McCarthy led the Wolverines down for the score.

The execution in big moments — especially considering it came after Michigan made crucial mistakes earlier in the game — was what most stood out to Harbaugh.

“It was a glorious victory,” Harbaugh said. “Just so proud of our players and our team. The things that jump out are just how we responded in the pressure moments, in the pressure times — offense, defense, special teams — and rose to the occasion. Tremendous play during the pressure moments of the game.”

Harbaugh added that Michigan handled the pressure moments “as well as they can be handled.” And that started with McCarthy, who went 17-for-27 passing for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns after nearly throwing an interception on the first play from scrimmage.

“J.J., tremendous in the way he handled the pressure moments in the ballgame. I’m really proud of — there were a few guys that had a bad play in the game. J.J., first play of the game, he’s clearly throwing the ball away.

“I can tell you having made a bad play in a football game, it’s like a train going through your head of — I mean, you see red. It’s like a deafening siren. There are a lot of guys that will hang their head and go in the tank or get that deer-in-the-headlights look, but every guy that had that happen to them in our game came back and made a phenomenal play.

“[Senior defensive tackle] Kris Jenkins had a bad play [on Alabama running back Jase McClellan‘s 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter] early in the game; came back, dominated in his block destruction.

“[Freshman wide receiver Semaj Morgan] dropped [a] punt, comes back and makes catches. We had a bad snap, and then that snap and hold has to be perfect and kick made or else we don’t go into overtime. So many plays that could point to. I’m just really proud of those guys. Roman Wilson had a block in the back that could have cost us that big drive at the end. He comes back and makes a phenomenal catch and scores a touchdown.”

Harbaugh has been impressed with how his Michigan team has stuck together.

“Just the mental toughness that takes for an individual to be able to do that, plus the other thing is the support that they get and have gotten from their families, but also a teammate or teammates, leaders on the team, I saw that taking place,” Harbaugh continued. “That’s unanimous support. That’s unanimous support from every guy on the team, and you know every guy has your back. That’s special to be a part of. I’m really, really proud and happy to be a part of that.”

Harbaugh also mentioned McCarthy’s catch on a lateral from junior running back Donovan Edwards, before he was clobbered by Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner as he threw to an open Wilson for a big gain in the first half.

“How about the catch he made? How about the one-handed catch he made on the trick play, the throw-back? And then he turns, wheels, and throws the ball,” Harbaugh raved.

“There were just a ton of great plays made in pressure moments.”

Continued the Michigan coach: “Rod Moore, open-field tackle on [Alabama quarterback] Jalen Milroe; he had three in the game like that. I mean, open-field, game-saving tackles.

“That final play of the game, [junior EDGE] Josaiah Stewart, what he was able to do to a man 110 pounds heavier than him, and [sophomore EDGE] Derrick Moore on that same play. And then there was Rod Moore with contain on the edge and then [graduate nickel back] Mike Sainristil contained on the perimeter. Boy, pressure moments.

“Our guys full stepped up in executing their assignment and executing the fundamentals and executing and making a play that was really the difference in the game. Yeah, I thought our guys passed with flying colors when it came to handling the pressure.”

And that’s why his team will play again the following Monday night, versus Washington in the national championship game in Houston.