WATCH: Jim Harbaugh previews Michigan vs. Washington, sounds off on desire for players to share revenue
HOUSTON, Texas — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh met with the media Saturday morning ahead of Monday night’s national championship game against Washington. Watch video of his press conference in the player at the top of the screen or on our YouTube channel.
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Harbaugh agreed with a reporter that stated that a lot has to go right for a team to get to the final Monday night of the football season.
“So many things have to go right, and I congratulate Washington,” the Michigan coach said. “Undefeated. Taking on all comers, I can see why they have won all their games. They’re an outstanding, thorough, solid football team in every way.
“They have a quarterback that has the ‘it’ factor. So do we. We’ve got a quarterback with the “it” factor — and a really, really good team in all phases. Just what makes it so exciting to be playing in this game. I feel like if you’re going to be the best then you’ve got to beat the best.
“And we look at Washington as a great football team. But I mean anything — obstacles, overcoming things, we’ve done a lot of that, but sometimes the obstacles are the way.
“And, for instance, it’s just been fun. It’s just been, describing going to work every day and being around a guy like [Michigan junior quarterback] J.J. McCarthy, it’s a blast. Being around a guy like [senior running back] Blake Corum, I mean, it is inspirational.
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“Being around a guy like [junior linebacker] Junior Colson, also inspirational. If he can do it with really one-half a hand. He’s got half a hand. Most people have two. He’s playing with half a hand out there and had 10 tackles last week. If he can do it, then, hey, I can do it. I can be resilient, I can give it my very best.
“[Graduate defensive back] Mike Sainristil, guys at the level of — I take great inspiration — [junior running back] Donovan Edwards, his personality. It’s a blast to be around him, go to practice and work every day.
“So maybe it all sounds however it sounds, but I’m having a blast.”
Harbaugh discussed how crucial Michigan’s quarterback, McCarthy, has been to the team’s success.
“He’s been a pretty darn big part,” he noted. “Three touchdowns passes last week, well over 200 yards. I think the thing that makes him great is he’s so talented, so athletically gifted, but mentally he is so sharp.
“You have to be sharp as a coach to keep up with him. He comes into the meetings prepared. He looks at the cut-ups. He’s already looked at the games. You could reference a cut-up and he knows it. He’s already previewed the game plan.”
