Jim Harbaugh Shoots Back At Jim Rome For Criticism Of Press Conference Walk-Out

You probably thought Jim Harbaugh was done lashing out on social media with the 2016 season so close, but you were obviously very wrong. And thankfully so.

At some point, the people taking shots at Jim Harbaugh have to realize that it’s a losing battle. If you’re dishing it out, it’s going to be served back about five times harder.

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This time around it was Jim Rome, host of “The Jim Rome Show” on CBS Sports Radio, who took aim at Harbaugh, calling him an “insanely intense dude that got run from [San Fransisco], because he was miserable,” among other comments.

This was in response to Harbaugh walking out early on a press conference because he didn’t like that reporters kept probing into the suspensions of two freshmen. (The suspended players are either running back Kareem Walker, receiver Ahmir Mitchell, or defensive lineman Shelton Johnson. Harbaugh only said it’s two of those three.)

Asked how long the two players would be out, Harbaugh seemed to have had enough of the questioning.

“That’s why I don’t give you any information because you’re never satisfied,” he said. “You always want a second question, a third question, a fourth question. I just said we’d handle it internally. Thank you.”

No matter whether or not you think the reporters asking questions were still within their boundaries, this isn’t the first time a coach has walked out of a press conference early because he became annoyed with the questions. It won’t be the last either. The difference between this situation and those others is that, for some reason, people don’t enjoy attacking them like they enjoy attacking Harbaugh.

Enter: Jim Rome.

"“Maybe you forgot over the summer that it’s their job to cover your team, not asking you what your favorite Drake album is,” Rome said on his show. “Just like they’re not there to write another tired story about your latest throwback jersey, or your Walmart khakis, or your latest shirtless photo from satellite camp, or another (attack) on the SEC.“They’re not on your staff, they do not work for the university. You preside over an alleged national power. If you suspend guys, reporters are going to ask you about it. They’re just doing their job, so you should do yours and answer the question.”"

And then there’s the “miserable” comment.

"“If anybody thought this was going to be a kinder, gentler Harbaugh since he went home to Ann Arbor to rescue the football program, make no mistake, it’s the same exact guy,” Rome said. “Nothing’s changed. Same guy. Same insanely intense dude that got run from Frisco, because he was miserable. He runs way too hot and he was wearing people out. Don’t get it twisted now. Great coach. Unbelievable coach. I’m sure he’ll do a great job there. But when you have a coach who wins as he wins and nobody is ever sorry to see him leave, that tells you a little something about that guy.”"

And finally, Rome predicts that Harbaugh won’t finish his career with the Michigan football program. It’s not an inflammatory statement by itself, but it’s of course dipped in cynicism.

"“So with that 10-win season in the rear view, God help anybody who asks him who his starting quarterback is going to be,” Rome said. “Or how come he can’t beat Urban Meyer, or when he’s going to beat Urban Meyer, or why he pulled a scholarship from a recruit. Good luck with any of that.“Michigan fan will love this guy for winning. They’ll love him even more if he gets around to beating Michigan State, and even more than that, if he can finally find a way to get over Ohio State. But anybody who thinks Harbaugh is wired to grow old in that job is kidding themselves. Enjoy it while it lasts, because even though it’s his alma mater, it probably won’t. This cat runs way too hot. If he can’t get through an August press session, media session, when they’re asking him about guys that are not in a team photo, this guy’s not going to last long.”"

Harbaugh, not being someone who simply bows to criticism often, took to Twitter to remind us all that Rome has a track record as a “provocateur.”

Go ahead and watch that YouTube clip if you haven’t already seen it.

Harbaugh is referencing a time when former Purdue quarterback Jim Everett got fed up with Rome constantly calling him “Chris” Everett, and he literally flipped the table on him.

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The moral of this story is always the same: You don’t throw shade at Harbaugh unless you’re prepared to have your own world rocked.