2018 National Champs - Harbaugh story

Submitted by Z on

Less than 24 hours left until kickoff!  A fun, short Harbaugh story for you:

In July, one of the owners of my company had the opportunity to meet Jim Harbaugh with one of his Executive Mentorship groups.  Couldn't have said more great things about the visit.  They had an hour on Harbaugh's calendar, and he graciously hosted them for over 1 1/2 hours.  The cherry on top, as they were saying goodbye:

 

One gentleman from the group:  "Mr. Harbaugh, I wanted to let you know that last year we had the opportunity to have a meeting like this with Theo Epstein (President of Baseball Ops for the Chicago Cubs).  The Cubs ended up winning the World Series.  So we expect you to bring home the National Championship for the Wolverines this year." <--(tongue-in-cheek)

Harbaugh, with the corners of his mouth turned upwards in that sly smile: "We expect to bring home the National Championship, too."

 

Fuck all these people who tell us to take off our homer glasses and have more realistic expectations.  Last August, how many people expected Clemson to win the National Championship?  I just love that our coach has the highest level of expectations for himself and everyone in the program.  So I am going to have that same level of optimism, and if it doesn't work out that way, well, I've been on this emotional rollercoaster enough times to compartmentalize it better than I used to  and when we win that National Championship in January, I'm going to re-link to this post and yell at everyone who didn't have enough faith to believe that it could be done!

MGoBoard
Football

Blue from Ohio

September 1st, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^

Natty trophy?  I didn't know a Natural Light drinking contest was involved.  I'll get my old fraternity brothers from the University of Toledo back together and we'll win this thing!  Hope Foodtown in Toledo still honors the $4.99 a 12 pack deal we got 20 years ago.

Joined: 08/30/2013

MGoPoints: 769

Z

September 1st, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^

I never said anything about who is or isn't a true Michigan fan (frankly, I agree with you about that tone on this blog sometimes).  But I think it is a lot more fun when you don't temper your expectations!  Especially when we have an NFL coaching staff!

Joined: 01/18/2010

MGoPoints: 2141

fksljj

September 2nd, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^

"I hate this idea that is pushed here that if you don't expect Michigan to win every game then you're not a true Michigan fan."

 

 

I'm with you on that. You can be a Michigan fan and not have the homer glasses on. I'm going to love bumping this thread at the end of the season. I'm all for winning the national championship, there's very few things that I want more in this world than to see this team be the best. But it's not going to happen this year. Let's be realistic.

Joined: 11/27/2016

MGoPoints: -9997905

Gr1mlock

September 1st, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^

After careful consideration, deep contemplation, and some serious soul searching I have determined that I, too, would like us to win a National Championship this year. 

Joined: 12/24/2013

MGoPoints: 6252

mphillip49

September 1st, 2017 at 5:33 PM ^

I love your optimism, but realistically I don't think we are there yet. I do expect Us to be better than most non fans expect. People are simply just looking at how many starters we lost and not thinking about how much experience is returning.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 53

H8anythingState

September 1st, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^

One can handle disappointment and has no problem believing in and hoping they reach the summit. The other chooses to temper their expectations to avoid disappointment.

I rather be the first man. A Michigan Man!

Joined: 05/01/2017

MGoPoints: -414

Wolvie3758

September 1st, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^

of watching Michigan Football..Ive seen ALOT...ALOT!  Wins and losses in every imaginable way possible.  In 1969 while on vacation as a kid in Florida I remember one Nov Sat day when while In our hotel room I heard a bunch of hooping and hollering and celebrating.. Someone yelled Michigan just beat Ohio St!!!,, Of course we all know what game that was.....Ever since that day Ive been a diehard...So I started my Michigan fandom with Michigan being a top 10 team every single year and a top 5 most... I go into every season thinking Just be in the Hunt Just be in the Hunt....,Under Jim Harbaugh WE ARE BACK IN  THE HUNT!

Joined: 12/12/2010

MGoPoints: 6338

JWG Wolverine

September 1st, 2017 at 6:03 PM ^

I totally agree, we're close enough to GameDay where it's time to stop with the hard core analysis and begin getting hyped to win every game, because we will. Why? WHO'S GOT IT BETTER THAN US?

Joined: 01/07/2017

MGoPoints: 28434

UNCWolverine

September 1st, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^

that's nothing. I lived in LA in 2012 when the Kings won the Stanley Cup. I lived in Chicago when the Blackhawks won it in 2013. Then I lived in LA again when the Kings won it back in 2014. 

Joined: 10/06/2008

MGoPoints: 23192

UNCWolverine

September 1st, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^

HA!

Actually what's funny is I went to 8 Michigan road losses in a row at one point....

 

1997 IU W

1997/8 Rose Bowl W

1998  NW W

1999 Wisky W

2000 UCLA L

2000 Purdue L

2000 NW L

2001 Washington L

2004 ND L

2006/7 Rose Bowl L

2009 Iowa L

2012 Alabama L

2012 Purdue W

2012 ND L

2013 NW W

2014 ND L

2015 Utah L

Joined: 10/06/2008

MGoPoints: 23192

1VaBlue1

September 1st, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^

When I look at this team, and the schedule, I cannot see a loss.  I know there's a loss in there, maybe two.  But I can't pick out which game(s).  OSU is the most likely, that's a toss-up.  The others?  I know there's probably a loss between PSU, Wisky, and Floriduh somewhere.  But when I look at each of them, I can't see it.  Won't be UF...  The other two are road games, probably at night, in great home atmospheres.  Prolly lose one of them, but for the life of me, I can't see either one being a loss by the time we get there...

National Championship?  Why Not?

Go BLUE!!!

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 126893

Ahriman

September 1st, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^

they'll be tough to beat (with the losses last year, a really good o-line could've polished off victories against Iowa, Ohio & FSU). With Coach Brown on defense, and the addition of Coach Frey, Michigan should be elite again soon (real shame what happened to Grant Newsome, hopefully he'll be ok, but if he was healthy, the O-line probably would've been really good this year).

Joined: 11/30/2015

MGoPoints: 938

Glen Masons Hot Wife

September 1st, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^

I get tired of these antecdotal stories and how someone's personal experience somehow relates to the team or UM sports... like dude people don't really care, save it.

But I like that last paragraph.  A little bit gangster, and you might be right.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 3685