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I'm not in Chicago, but thanks to newfangled technology like interweb videos and this here word processin' program I'm still able to bring you a full transcript of Harbaugh's time at the podium. Football! It's almost here!

"Thank you very much. Great to see everybody here. Glad you all made it. Good to see people again I haven't seen in a while. It's been an enjoyable day. Having fun. Brought three wonderful players and youngsters with us today. I'd like to talk about each of them. I know them better now. Going into the second year, feel like more time with our players, [I] know our players well. We have a lot of top players as you mentioned there, but these three…

"Jake Butt, a outstanding six-foot-six-and-a-half tight end, one of the most gung-ho players I've ever been around. Can sit through a two-and-a-half hour, three-hour meeting and be interactive, be on the edge of his seat, walk out of that meeting with a bounce in his step, and put his football gear on, kind of the hair on the back of his neck is standing up, excited about getting out on to the field. And he practices, whether he's going out to hit a sled or rattle somebody's fillings, he's just as excited about doing that as he is running a post route or a corner route and catching a ball. Does all those things equally well as a route runner, as a blocker, as a teammate, and as a guy with some pizzazz. He's gung-ho. Enjoys the struggle of football. Really enjoy him as one of our top players.

"Also, Jourdan Lewis, who has been a every practice, every drill competitor who wants to get better every single day. He doesn't take time off, he doesn't diminish his effort at any time. He's an ascending player, an improving player. And then when he started to get the recognition of being a really good player--All-American, All-Big Ten, interceptions and acclaim--when he started getting the acclaim, he didn't change a bit. He went through the entire spring practice wanting to get better, wanting to improve every single day. And a high character individual. Has never been--has never said a disrespectful word to a professor, to a coach, to a teammate. He's just a pleasure to be around. He's...not one bit of incident or problem when it comes to Jourdan Lewis, and he's a likable guy. He's respected by everybody on the team, but he also has the personality of being very competitive but being very likable with his teammates because he doesn't act like the big man on campus. He doesn't act like the All-American. Just a very, very good person in all respects. Can't say enough good things about him.

"Amara Darboh, would say he's our top receiver right now. As we went through the season last year I thought it was Jehu Chesson, and then Amara surged during spring ball and they're in a very good-hearted competition there to be our best receiver. But again, as a gentleman, as a person, as a class act, a winner, a champion all the way, Amara Darboh. He went through our season last year and he became an American citizen. It was a great moment of pride for Amara and our team that he achieved American citizenship, and another player on our team that's a class act the entire way. Never an issue, never a problem, respectful to all that he comes in contact with. And not just respectful of people, he's respectful of their time, he's respectful of the game, just respectful in all forms and fashions. Feel very proud to have brought those three youngsters here to Chicago. Hope you're enjoying their company as well. And they're really good football players. Not just on our team, not just in the Big Ten, but also in the United States of America. Pleased to share them with you here in Chicago and I'd be glad to answer any of your questions.

It's been an entertaining offseason for yourself and Michigan football in terms of social media activity. How has this impacted the team and university during the offseason?

"I don't know that it has. I don't know how entertaining it's really been. Be glad to go through any of those specifics with you. Think it's been a very productive, healthy offseason for our football team. Was really pleased with our team, the way they went through spring practice. Thought it was extremely productive. Competition was very high for spots, for starting positions, for backup roles, for contributing roles, for specialty roles, so...and then, no real long-term injuries coming out of the season. None of the six-monthers. A few things here and there that we hope that the guys will be ready for the start of camp. Maybe one or two that may not, but our goal right now as we finish up the summer is the healthiest, most in shape, prepared team for August 8th and then we'll take our shot from there."

Something you've tried to instill in your players is to improve 1% each day with everything that they do. My question is what kind of improvements do you see from returning players and staff and new players and coaches in the fold as well?

"Thanks for that question, Trevor. Just the idea of can we get 1% better each day. Can we be better today than we were yesterday, can we be better tomorrow than we were today. The notion that improvement will lead to success, and that's the kind of improvement that really sticks. It's almost getting in shape. If you were going to get in shape, if you do it day after day, a little bit better, a little bit better each day, you may not see it in a day, you may not see it in a week, you may not even see it in a month but at some point you're going to see it and it's going to stick. That improvement is going to be there for the long run. So try to paint that picture. If it's one percent better each guy or we got one percent better as a team, then after 30 days that's 30% better. After 60 days it's 60% better. Even if it's .01% better each day then that would be something that's worthwhile, that would be something worth pursuing, aspiring to.

"Another way to say it is look at the NASCAR boys. They'll stay up all night long just to get one mile an hour faster. Can we get one mile an hour faster each day? That mentality simply put is better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today."

[After THE JUMP: at least a tenth of this presser is Harbaugh listing all the positions Peppers could play]

Big event coming up Saturday at the Big House, Real Madrid vs. Chelsea. Are you going to be available to attend or your players? Is that a day off for your guys? Do you have a rooting interest in the match?

"I'll be rooting for the team that plays the hardest to win. I do believe I have a ticket to the game, unless they've given it away. I did respond, RSVP'd, that I would like to go to the game."

You mentioned a couple of those injuries and guys you weren't sure about. Is Jehu going to be able to go when you open camp?

"Yes, I believe he will."

As you approach your second season with U of M, what did you learn in your first season coaching that you'll be implementing into your second season?

"I'm sure there were a lot of things that were learned. Mostly you learn the fellas, you learn the guys, all those that you work with, everybody that's a part of the staff, trainers, equipment, everybody that's involved with the University, professors. You're doing things for the second time, and that's the biggest advantage. When you're doing things for the first time there's uncharted waters, there's the unknown. When you're doing it for the second year, everything that you're doing you've already done once and now you're doing it for a second time and that can be an advantage."

Just coming off the success of that first season, it seems over the course of the offseason the spotlight has really been on Michigan and there's kind of a swagger that has returned to the program. How are you addressing that with the kids of having such high expectations going into this 2016 season?

"I address that with our players, our staff, the same way that I think of it: we've got big hopes, big dreams, we've got lofty goals, and all those are achievable. They've got to be worked for. You can accomplish anything if the work is realized and those things have to be earned, so we're in position right now to work to get the things we want. That's the fact. That's the mentality. That's the attitude."

With the East Division being as stacked as it is, how do you assess how important it is to navigate week to week throughout the season with the that East side being as good as it is talent-wise?

"I think the main focus, the greatest share, the biggest percentage is focusing on getting better each day. Better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. Understanding that improvement will lead to success. That's the theory, and it's so simple that it just might work."

With three straight non-conference games to open up the year, does that make it easier to incorporate the highly touted freshmen class into the flow of the gameplan with Rashan Gary and players like that?

"Are you talking about playing time for freshmen? Again, we have some very good freshmen that we believe have the ability and will have the license to play. Everything will be based on a meritocracy.

"That's one of my favorite things, my personal favorite things about our program, is that you will be known by your effort and your talent. By your effort and your talent, you will be known, so the best players will be the starters and then the backup roles will be earned, the contributing roles will be earned, the specialty roles will be earned, scout team roles will. Earned. It's as simple as that. There is no games or tricks or politics or what class are you in, what year are you, are you on scholarship, are you not on scholarship--it's based upon a meritocracy, the way it should be."

"I hope I made that word up, too, by the way. I've never really researched that, whether that's in the dictionary. Is meritocracy a word or did I make that up? It's a real word? Gosh, I thought I made that up."

What's your thoughts on going to the nine-game conference schedule and whether that gives you any advantages or disadvantages in the national landscape?

"I think it's good on a number of levels. We're closer. We're playing the teams that are in our area. You can get on a bus and go to most of the schools. Well, not most. Some of the schools, anyway. Makes scheduling easier. We're in the same conference. Has implications on who the champion is, so I think it's very good."

What was your thought when someone came to you and said 'let's do a rap video' and how do y think it turned out?

"My default is usually 'yes.' Action. Why not? And the reaction has been very good. I've gotten multiple texts, phone calls, comments from people who really liked it and I think the cool people liked it."

Michael Jordan's going to be your honorary captain for your home opener. What are your thoughts on having one of the greatest athletes in history represent your program for a day like that?

"My thoughts are proud and honored to share a sideline with Michael Jordan. Proud, honored to share the Jumpman logo on our uniforms."

When you look at what Jabrill Peppers has done in his career at Michigan and what he's poised to do, what makes him such a special athlete that he is and how high is the ceiling for Mr. Peppers?

"Well, anything's accomplishable for Jabrill Peppers in the game of football. Again, they've got to be worked for. He is a--well, let me start by saying this: I think football players, professional football players, are the greatest athletes in the world and Jabrill is that kind of athlete. He is that kind of athlete that has the greatest-in-the-world type of athleticism. He can play just about anywhere on a football field and be effective. Could put him in at corner, could put him at safety, could put him in at nickel, could put him at a linebacker. Ultimately nickel is probably his best position. He could be a returner of the punts, a returner of the kick offs, he could be a gunner, he could be a hold up guy. Offensively, probably right now could be our best slot receiver and would give De'Veon and all our running backs a run for their money to be the best running back on the team. Could be a wildcat quarterback. Could play outside receiver. Can run all the reverses and the fly sweeps. So I think you get the picture. He is a tremendous athlete.

"The other thing about Jabrill is he is highly, highly motivated and very serious about being good. I mean, he's seen a lot in his life from an early age. He's felt people try to put him down. He's felt people try to hate on him from an early age, some about even where he went to high school. Has taken a lot of racial and other type of directed hate toward him and he has never let that get him down or put him down. He has always used that as fuel or motivation, so he is a very fiery guy. He's highly motivated, and with the type of athleticism that he has I truly believe if he keeps working and having the same intensity and focus that he's had and seriousness about being a very good football player and student and person, all those things, it could explode into, I mean, a giant of a man."