Here's how Shea feels about Coach Harbaugh - and vice versa
From Coach Harbaugh's press conference
On giving Shea Patterson the game ball
I told him before he went out to take that snap, ‘Now this year, after you take the kneel down, keep the ball, and don’t throw it up in the air.’ Because he had had a heck of a game and I thought he should keep the ball. He goes ‘I’ve got another plan.’ I go, ‘What?’ And he goes, ‘Ah, you’ll see.’ And he came over (after) and gave me the ball. That was neat, but I went back into the locker room and the ball is now in his book bag, I shoved it back in his backpack. He had a whale of a game, a great game. A great game by a quarterback that he had, it was a real gem.
Among the media and competitors, Coach Harbaugh gets an unfair rap about being "eccentric". However, I think this interaction with Shea Patterson is a truer representation of what kind of coach, and person, that Jim Harbaugh is. It's not about him. It's about his players, his program, and THE TEAM!
November 17th, 2019 at 3:17 PM ^
Coach is the real deal to his players - always has been. When he beats osu and delivers nationally, the media will worship him. The praise of man, especially in sports, is remarkably fickle. Character counts. We are lucky to have Coach Harbaugh.
November 17th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
Everything you wrote is true except for the worshipping part. Beat OSU or not, Harbaugh will never get his due from the national media because:
1. He has the audacity to challenge the idea that the SEC is sacrosanct and their recruiting homeland is off-limits to Yankees. ESPN has the biggest microphone and they HATE him for those things.
2. He is honest to a fault so he gives real, not scripted, answers to questions which makes him a real easy target for those "journalists" looking for clicks.
3. I love the guy but you have to admit he's kinda of an odd duck. Again his answers to questions (like Chicken being a nervous bird) make great click-bate headers.
November 17th, 2019 at 9:32 PM ^
Nice Classy Michigan moves.
November 17th, 2019 at 3:32 PM ^
Is he an odd duck? No doubt! But, if he wins a national championship, those annoying quirks and stances against the SEC for cheating will become endearing to media... until he has a mediocre season again.
November 17th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^
In a sport of dismal conformist coaches, interesting is good.
November 17th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
agreed MGrow - but I really really value his integrity. He is a curious dude - but he has the confidence to have an open mind and admit when he might be wrong and to learn from a situation. But he doesn't cheat and won't bend on that (the whole Luke F Cincinnati transfer thing comes to mind) and is always for his players. He is not perfect, but we are lucky to have him.
November 17th, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^
Is duck also a nervous bird???
/asking for a coach
November 17th, 2019 at 4:37 PM ^
Agreed. Just look at ESPN ticker yesterday and today. Michigan has the most lopsided win in 17 years vs State and what do they call out? That Harbaugh wins at home for the first time vs State... sigh
November 17th, 2019 at 6:05 PM ^
And by that phrasing, you'd think it was for the first time in 5+ tries. It was the first in 3 (as we all know). 2015 came down to a play that we're unlikely to ever see again. 2017 came down to a backup QB playing in a monsoon and just an overall tough season. In 2019, Michigan is better than Michigan State and has the coach who is not only better at his job, but also appears to be a far better human being. So let ESPN do what they do.
November 17th, 2019 at 5:15 PM ^
Nobody's perfect. Only a few as in two or three head coaches in the Power 5 has the charisma to handle the media. Hearing Ed Orgeron from LSU makes me cringe.
Harbaugh probably doesn't care how he comes off in the media and won't say more than he has too. Then again, compare Jim to Mork Dantonio, 'nuf said.
November 17th, 2019 at 6:54 PM ^
He's not an odd duck at all. He's ultra serious about things that matter.
Like the nervous bird thing. He believes it, and instead of fearing perception, he sticks with his beliefs.
November 17th, 2019 at 11:11 PM ^
And to add to this list...
- He truly puts academics first. We don't hear of people leaving without their college degrees. The WONDERFUL opportunities he makes available to go overseas. He had his "beef" with Michigan when he was at Stanford about academics, and he has delivered.
- Stability. We took Carr's stability for granted (although it was frustrating given the talent level we had that he did not achieve more, more frequently). 10-3, 10-3, 8-5, 10-3, 8-2... That is pretty awesome compared to the path we were going down with RR & Hoke.
Yes, I want to beat OSU SOOOOOOO Badly (and he was literally inches away from that) and winning Big Ten Title & Playoffs. But, the consistency of 8-10 win seasons has been a very nice return that I personally cannot take for granted. Hopefully, he settles in with Gattis for a couple years - like he has with Brown - and creates a stable, modern Offensive identity that is soul crushing to the opponents... 'Cause that MSU game was amazing.
November 17th, 2019 at 3:25 PM ^
he is eccentric. he can be both a great dude and a little strange. seems most of his players love him and he obviously cares about his guys. good, principled coach. hes a unique dude though. as long as he wins games and graduates players...
November 17th, 2019 at 3:39 PM ^
It was nice seeing Jim showing emotion on the sideline. This game clearly meant a lot to him.
November 17th, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
Seeing Harbaugh really into the game actually meant quite a bit to me yesterday. When he completely verbally undressed an official over the unsportsmanlike conduct call on Tarik Black, I was applauding that, not the call.
November 17th, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^
JiM hArBaUgH's PeRsOnAlItY wEaRs PeOpLe OuT
November 17th, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
Let truth be guided by popular sentiment.
November 17th, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
Double post
double post!
fitter, happier, more credits at, moral bank.
November 17th, 2019 at 4:33 PM ^
I know Michigan fans always feel cornered, and like the whole world is out to get their beloved Michigan--BUT
Harbaugh is a media darling. The microphone follows him wherever he goes. And whatever he says, it is national news. Also, every opening that comes up in the NFL is another opening the media will ask about Harbaugh being the one for that job.
NOBODY hates Jim Harbaugh--like the SEC and their characters, Harbaugh makes the sport that much more interesting. They might chide him a bit for his underperformance in what they consider Big Games, and there are exactly zero B1G championship trophies after five years, so what do you expect?
If he was the coach of another big name school, coming in with all the bravado and national coverage and media love, and a zillion dollar contract, but put up these numbers, people on this board would be ripping him.
It is about time to put aside the whole Us against the world crybaby routine.
November 17th, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
sad day for MSU fans, huh?
November 17th, 2019 at 7:11 PM ^
Serious question here...
How do you have 42 points?
November 17th, 2019 at 4:58 PM ^
Harbaugh had Shea’s back when the heat was on. Harbaugh is very loyal that way with his players and staff. He’s been the same with Gattis.
I’m pretty confident the improvement in the offense has both Harbaugh and Warinner’s finger prints on it. I think they have mentored Gattis and the improvements are partly due to some tweaking of the scheme.
Harbaugh may be a bit odd but he gets people.
November 17th, 2019 at 5:03 PM ^
Gattis deserves most of the credit. It’s his offense. He is directing it.
November 17th, 2019 at 6:17 PM ^
And it sure was fun to watch Saturday. It seemed like everyone was involved and we were taking what the defense offered vs trying to jam a square peg in a round hole.
November 17th, 2019 at 7:16 PM ^
There were so many dopes who, in the earlier part of the season when things weren't working as well, complained that it was all Harbaugh's offense and thus all his fault.
I think that it has all been largely Gattis's offense from the start.
However, I'm wondering if Harbaugh and/or Warinner put in changes to the blocking and running game, bringing back what worked well in 2018 instead of letting persist what was sucking in 2019 in those two areas.
November 17th, 2019 at 11:15 PM ^
I think Gattis has matured under Harbaugh's tutalage. The way Gattis walked the sidelines vs. MSU.... was a totally different Gattis than the one they showed early season vs. Army/MTSU. I hope we pay him well and that he stays a good number of years to build consistency and identity (ala Don Brown). I understand we will eventually lose him to becoming a head coach some where, but I hope it is not for at least 4-5 years.
November 17th, 2019 at 7:07 PM ^
Where does this idea that Warriner is the reason the offense has turned around?
November 17th, 2019 at 7:30 PM ^
Warinner certainly deserves a ton of credit. The ND game proved that our O-line can run block. The MSU game proved that our O-line can pass block. Ultimately, coaching a football team is every bit a team effort as is actually playing the game.
November 17th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
How can it not be when his old coach and mentor were his dad and Bo. He is what he is, but he's always been a winner. And I damn proud that he's our coach.
November 17th, 2019 at 5:20 PM ^
Speaking for myself, didn't think Shea would be the starting QB back in Sept when the team and #1 QB looked so inept. Harbaugh stuck with Shea and knew better. Might have taken until the last few games for Shea to hit his stride. As they say, you either get better each week or get worse.
Great to see Shea reaching his potential. Kudos to Jim for believing in Shea. It's a nice story.
November 17th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
Has Shea hit his stride? I am not calling for McCaffrey, and I am not trashing Shea. But I feel like it has really only been one great game for him. Hope I'm wrong but I am not convinced that all our offense's problems are solved yet.
November 17th, 2019 at 7:20 PM ^
Color you skeptical.
November 17th, 2019 at 9:06 PM ^
Yep. It's a shade of ecru tinged with emerald.
November 17th, 2019 at 8:31 PM ^
Shea was right. I'm watching this game right now looking for Neck Sharpie topics and it was a slaying.
November 17th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
Cool story - thanks for posting.
November 18th, 2019 at 6:52 AM ^
Harbaughs weird as fuck but enjoy him. The guy could have folded and we could have had an 8-4 kind of year but he went work and got things fixed. I for one am enjoying the fact that we’re peaking heading to the end of the season unlike dipping in yrs past. I still don’t think we’ll beat OSU but this team is getting better and gaining confidence week by week and in college football, not just Michigan, that makes for a dangerous team.
November 18th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
Just saw this elsewhere, thought it appropriate for this discussion.
November 18th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
Harbaugh has tons of game balls as a Michigan Wolverine, Chicago Bear, Indy Colt and SD Charger.
Shea Patterson deserved this one.