Harbaugh's past use of the "third base" analogy
The "stand on third base and think they hit a triple" analogy is actually one of Harbaugh's pet phrases. He used the analogy at Stanford in an effort to instill humility and a blue-collar mindset into his players. He even went so far as to get them blue-collar shirts with name patches to remind them of the elders' sacrifices that got them to third base. Here he is describing the idea.
December 1st, 2021 at 8:56 PM ^
While it's not Harbaugh's original quote (most attribute it to Barry Switzer of all people), NEVER has it been more appropriately used than when referring to Ryan Day at OSU.
Sorry Day, everything you have was built by Urbz, not you.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:27 PM ^
And Urbz built on Tressel. He’s the one who started this insane machine that’s been the most consistent program in football since the early 00’s. If you’re an OSU fan that’s the guy you should be thanking God for everyday. Yeah he was a sanctimonious cheater but that’s what plays down in Columbus
December 1st, 2021 at 9:33 PM ^
Disagree. Meyer took things in a very different direction at OSU, something that Tressel could never achieve. There was a decent base when Meyer came in, but he started somewhat fresh in building the team/program he wanted.
Just look at how that Tressel 2006 OSU team fared against Meyer’s 2006 Florida team. At the time, many thought that OSU team was one to the best they’ve had ever, and they were going to trounce Florida. Well, quite the opposite happened.
December 1st, 2021 at 10:11 PM ^
“Something Tressel could not achieve” is that not the definition of blue collar?
I agree Urban is a better coach and elevated their program to new heights. But Tressel built that entire foundation for him.
December 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 AM ^
Sure, it's indisputable that Meyer took the program to another level (nationally recruiting like an SEC powerhouse).
But under Tressel they were among the best in the country every year too. Their streak of success over Michigan started with him. Meyer wasn't starting his tenure with a bunch of scrubs, that roster had the talent to compete for a national title immediately. In fact, if not for sanctions (LOL) they would have been in the national championship his first year coaching there.
Day has continued that line of success, but he was in an even easier position than Meyer was.
December 2nd, 2021 at 7:30 AM ^
I could swear that the 3rd base quote was older than 86, but I guess that is what makes it a classic there is an undeniable underlying truth to it.
December 2nd, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
Goes a long way back, and the third base idea has, at least since the 1930s, been used to describe people of privilege or wealth who were convinced they got where they were by dint of their own genius or hard work; see my note below.
December 1st, 2021 at 8:59 PM ^
Would not mind seeing this quote as the new tag line on the banner.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
Why? This quote has been beaten to death in politics and pop culture over last term plus years.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
I’m pretty sure you know why.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:16 PM ^
Because phrases in sports have no term limits.
PS To Hell with Notre Dame
December 1st, 2021 at 11:26 PM ^
Harbaugh has so many oddball quotes that are great like the nervous bird or the whole milk. Why celebrate something so average?
December 2nd, 2021 at 2:09 AM ^
Get harder than hen’s teeth!
December 1st, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
I always thought it was used to describe libertarians.
December 1st, 2021 at 10:17 PM ^
Yeah! Those pesky libertarians seeking peace and non-aggression. Oh, and prosperity.
Yeah! Born on third base.
December 2nd, 2021 at 12:23 AM ^
I'm a libertarian, and I think I can confidently say that we are in the outfield, not on third base.
December 2nd, 2021 at 7:41 AM ^
Libertarians are so far in left field they don’t realize they were born on third base…. Why they wandered over there no one knows.
December 2nd, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
In between two extremes.
December 2nd, 2021 at 12:34 AM ^
I always thought it was used to describe libertarians.
Yes, it often is. Anyone who feels entitled or takes their privileges for granted and thinks they made it all possible on their efforts alone.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:12 PM ^
That is a great speech!
December 1st, 2021 at 9:20 PM ^
He used the blue collar work shirts at Michigan too. I believe I recently saw somewhere that Chris Evans still has his.
December 1st, 2021 at 9:20 PM ^
I think I saw one of the linemen wearing a similar “blue collar” jacket in the press conference after the OSU game
December 1st, 2021 at 9:47 PM ^
I think the quote is attributed to Ann Richards, the former Democratic (imagine that!) governor of Texas. She was dissing George W Bush during her speech at the Democratic convention where Gore was nominated.
December 2nd, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
In spirit, but not exactly. She would say - when running against George Bush Jr. - that he was "born with a silver foot in his mouth."
December 2nd, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
She got it from Jim Hightower, apparently (see my post below).
December 1st, 2021 at 9:52 PM ^
Thanks for sharing the vid. The baseball teams I coach will definitely hear a version of this come January workouts!
December 1st, 2021 at 10:00 PM ^
That video is from 2016. So, while he was already at Michigan. He refers to Stanford in the past tense.
December 1st, 2021 at 11:41 PM ^
The video was uploaded in 2016, but I think it was from his 49ers days. The shirt he has on (over which he puts on the blue collar shirt) looks like a 49ers polo shirt. He also refers to Vic Fangio, who was his defensive coordinator with the 49ers.
December 1st, 2021 at 11:09 PM ^
Are we sure he wasn’t talking about David Shaw? ?
December 2nd, 2021 at 9:25 AM ^
I love his point that if you are successful today, even if you are not a blue collar worker now, somebody in your family somewhere down the line did the blue collar work to get you where you are. It is so true.
I have a copy of my father's birth certificate. On it, it states the occupation of his father - my grandfather - an Ellis Island immigrant from Italy. It states: "Laborer".
That's it, Laborer.
The man didn't even get a job title. He did whatever they told him to do when he showed up for work.
Just about everybody has a story like this somewhere along the line.
That we can spend time concerning ourselves with things like college football is a blessing brought to us by the sacrifices of others down the line. It's cool that Jim Harbaugh never got so full of himself to not recognize and honor this.
December 2nd, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^
Not his idea, though, maybe obviously. Been around for decades. Jim Hightower, the Texas Democrat, made it really popular several decades ago in regard to Shrub Bush, saying that HE had been born on third, thought that he hit a triple. The truth is that Bush had a huge inferiority complex, but it stung and stuck.
December 2nd, 2021 at 2:40 PM ^
I just saw this shirt on The Mitten State's website. Here's the link if anyone is interested.
https://themittenstate.com/collections/university-of-michigan/products/born-on-third-unisex