Jim Harbaugh compares 'phenomenal' Michigan football program to a superhero and recession-proof housing market

Michigan Wolverines football has had negative headlines surrounding the program as of late, regardless of all the winning on the field. Head coach Jim Harbaugh says not to let narratives and perception cloud your view of reality.

Michigan was dealt a notice of NCAA allegations for minor recruiting violations (Level II) and one Level I violation for Harbaugh “failing to cooperate” with the investigation. It doesn’t appear a resolution will come any time soon (he doesn’t agree with that characterization, per reports, and seems intent on fighting it).

Former co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss was let go amidst a police investigation into “computer access crimes.” Former defensive tackle Mazi Smith, now an NFL Draft prospect, recently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor weapon charge after being pulled over in October.

And then there’s the NFL. Harbaugh himself had conversations with NFL teams, including two interviews (one in-person and one virtual) with the Denver Broncos about their head coaching job vacancy. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who is a candidate for the same role with the Philadelphia Eagles, has also fielded calls. Michigan has faced negative recruiting as a result, with one example being Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow taking a not-to-veiled shot at the Wolverines.

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Harbaugh admitted his Michigan program isn’t perfect. But speaking with reporters this week, he dished out a reminder that neither is the rest of college football.

“I would say just, you’ve gotta be in Schem,” Harbaugh said of the negative headlines, referring to Michigan’s team facility, Schembechler Hall. “You’ve got to be in this building, just to really feel it.

“Compare us to perfect, and we’re going to come up short in the major areas. Compare us to any other program, I think you’re gonna see that it doesn’t get any better. You talk about graduating players … up to perfect, [no], but it’s as close as you could possibly be [to perfect] to graduating players over the eight years.”

Last summer, Michigan was one of 30 schools from the FBS to earn a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 980 or greater. The Wolverines have had very few off-field issues in the eight years under Harbaugh, and he’s led the Maize and Blue to a 74-25 record. They’ve won the last two Big Ten titles and, along with Georgia, are one of two teams to appear in the most recent pair of College Football Playoffs.

“Talk about doing things with integrity — on the field, off the field, players, coaches, staff, everybody within this football program — about as close as you can get to perfection,” Harbaugh continued. “Winning games — I’d call it the same. It’s not perfect. 13-1 is not perfect, and that’s what we keep striving for. We keep chasing that perfection.”

Players, coaches, staff members and observers have lauded Michigan’s team culture, especially over the last two seasons. Harbaugh believes it’s a big reasons why the Wolverines have been able to tune out the noise and continue to have success.

“This happens, that happens, the other thing happens,” Harbaugh said. “This program has become like, ‘Good. OK, we lost that game. Good.’ That drives us, that makes us even more hungry. Something else comes up, ‘good,’ we’ll work on that, we’ll fix that.’

“It’s a place right now. The only analogy I could make to it for just how good in terms of a culture, a family that this Michigan football program is, it’s almost like, in my mind, some of those housing markets that become recession-proof. They’re just good.

“No matter what’s coming from the outside of here, I just see everybody here, it’s like almost like a superhero. An attack comes in, they’re able to absorb it and spit it back out in some sort of laser fashion.

“You just see the way they attack the next day and every day. It’s phenomenal to be around on a day-to-day basis, truly.”

Harbaugh said during the same press conference he sees himself being at Michigan as long as it wants him. The Wolverines are two practices into spring ball, which will conclude with an April 1 scrimmage at The Big House, and chasing their third straight Big Ten title.

Distractions, to Harbaugh, are just that, and he seems confident Michigan will continue to succeed despite them.