3 eye-openers from Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh at Big Ten Media Days
Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh said some interesting things on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days and are three that should open some eyes.
It was good to see Jim Harbaugh walk to the stage on Tuesday at the Big Ten Media Days as the head coach of the reigning Big Ten champions,
Michigan football fans waited a long time to bask in the glory of a Big Ten championship, especially in the era of the championship game, and seeing Jim Harbaugh at the podium was a great reminder of what this program accomplished last season.
Another reminder was the question asked about Ryan Day as a reporter tried to clarify the comments Jim Harbaugh made last year after the Ohio State game about some people being born on third base and thinking they hit a triple.
It was clearly meant for Day but he said, “no comment” on Tuesday.
Last question to Harbaugh was about his relationship with Ryan Day. Says it is cordial, professional.
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) July 26, 2022
Asked about "born on third base" quote from last November, said, he gave a no comment.
Smile, waved, left the stage.
And so ends Michigan at Big Ten Media Days.
While that was interesting, Harbaugh said some other really important things on Tuesday, and here are the three that stood out the most.
The perfect response for NIL
Jim Harbaugh was asked about NIL and Day’s comments about Ohio State needing $13 million to be able to compete. Here’s what Harbaugh said:
Jim Harbaugh on what he thought when he heard OSU coach Ryan Day ask boosters for $13 million for his team ... "I think we can double that." Says they are headed in the right direction, that he's always been for NIL and getting the players a share of revenue.
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) July 26, 2022
You have to love that he countered that Michigan football could double that number…and it can. The Wolverines have tons of financial resources, they just need to be unleashed.
Along those same lines, Harbaugh, who has been one of the most player-friendly college football coaches in the country (he advocated for the one-time transfer years ago, and NIL) also said players should receive a portion of the Big Ten’s TV deal.
He’s right they should and the answer was genius. NIL is supposed to be a hindrance for Michigan football right now, and it has been in the 2023 class, but once the Wolverines get it figured out, U-M could and should be very competitive in the NIL arena.
It’s not a bold prediction looking at the money surrounding Michigan athletics and the fact that the Wolverines have routinely some of the most-watched games in the sport.
It’s not rocket science and it’s good to see Harbaugh continuing to advocate for NIL instead of complaining about it like most other prominent head coaches.