JJ McCarthy's 2020 uplifting tweet after 49-11 loss to Wisconsin

Submitted by GLORY on January 2nd, 2024 at 9:24 PM

In the Covid shortened season in '20, Michigan went 2-4.  It seemed pretty evident that our program had reached an all-time low.  Harbaugh's job was in jeopardy and there were concerns of losing our top recruits.  Then, I remember seeing this tweet from none other than JJ, who at the time was just a recruit:

I want all Michigan fans to do this. Take 3 deep breaths… And have faith. Faith that every single coach, player, employee in that building is doing everything they possibly can to be great.

Fast forward to today, JJ's led Michigan to 38 wins out of last 41, #1 in the country and is set for the National Championship game on Monday.  JJ was right, have some faith.  Players are great...coaches are great...Michigan's great.  What an incredible young man on and off the field.  So mature beyond his years.  And I agree with Harbaugh...JJ's the best ever to play the position at Michigan.  We're very fortunate to have this young man leading our program next Monday.

Go Blue!  Beat Huskies!

Football

The Harbaughnger

January 2nd, 2024 at 9:29 PM ^

Incredible maturity. Just awesome. Same with Blake and all the rest of these young men.

I have repeatedly been able to use all these guys as outstanding examples to my kids of how they should handle themselves in so many life situations.

The very definition of exemplary role models.

Joined: 08/27/2010

MGoPoints: 7324

RibbleMcDibble

January 2nd, 2024 at 9:54 PM ^

I actually think you could make the case based on the following:

If not Harbaugh, who? 

Lloyd Carr starts to lose every big game toward the end of his career? Okay, time to bring in a more modern coach. 

Rich Rodriguez doesn't work out? Okay, tried something different, didn't work.

Brady Hoke doesn't work out? Okay, he was underqualified and only given the position due to being a Michigan Man. 

But Jim Harbaugh doesn't work out? Where does the program go after that? 

Joined: 10/24/2023

MGoPoints: 7725

FrankMurphy

January 2nd, 2024 at 10:26 PM ^

The fact that 2020 was the COVID year somewhat mitigates the significance of our record that season. That was just a weird year for everyone. Remember that the B1G had decided to cancel the season altogether before reversing course in mid-September and then hurriedly putting together an abbreviated schedule riddled with COVID-related contingencies. 

The Rodriguez and Hoke eras, on the other hand, were truly dark days for the program. In the latter half of the 2014 season, when we were losing to the likes of Maryland, Rutgers, and Minnesota (not to mention the Shane Morris concussion debacle), it truly felt like the program was permanently regressing into the second tier of the B1G.

My, how far we've come.

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 31969

bo_lives

January 3rd, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^

As bleak as the RR/Hoke era was, I feel like there was still a sense that things could turn around if we got the right people. When Harbaugh was hired I remember Brian saying "If Harbaugh can't lead us to the Promised Land, I don't know if there's anyone who can." That made 2020 all the more painful, even though it was obvious the COVID year would be weird regardless.

Joined: 04/10/2011

MGoPoints: 7867

Hensons Mobile…

January 2nd, 2024 at 9:34 PM ^

 Faith that every single coach, player, employee in that building is doing everything they possibly can to be great.

That's cool and all, but not all of those coaches were still there in 2021, and that was really probably a factor.

Joined: 09/12/2019

MGoPoints: 49403

LeCheezus

January 2nd, 2024 at 9:35 PM ^

I remember (or I'm pretty sure I remember - it's been a rough day after embibing excessively last night) Sainristil had a sweet TD catch in that game (I guess it was our only one), and I remember thinking, "well, at least that guy will probably be good someday."

Joined: 06/11/2017

MGoPoints: 9852

stephenrjking

January 2nd, 2024 at 10:25 PM ^

I remember this at the time. Wisconsin was about as low as I’ve ever felt about the program. And a couple guys were pushing this and, well, my personal response was something of a “I appreciate the effort” in a pat-on-the-head kind of way, but I didn’t put any stock in it.

Turns out he was right. 

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143860

UMxWolverines

January 2nd, 2024 at 10:30 PM ^

It will be hard to replace the leaders on this team, not just from a talent standpoint, but a leadership standpoint. 

They've given their absolute all in every way, off the field and on the field. 

I'm sad that we only have one more opportunity to watch them play, but what they did will live on forever in Michigan lore. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65435

bo_lives

January 2nd, 2024 at 11:40 PM ^

I have thought about this quite a few times over the last several years. JJ's unwavering confidence provided a small ray of hope during a very bleak period. I remember thinking at the time, "I'm glad the program can still inspire this kind of enthusiasm in the recruits, because it sure looks like a sinking ship." Oh how little I knew!

Joined: 04/10/2011

MGoPoints: 7867

Qmatic

January 3rd, 2024 at 12:02 AM ^

I actually go back and watch that game’s highlights every now and then to be reminded how remarkable our turnaround has been. One interesting fact about that game is that the only TD for us was scored by Mikey making a spectacular catch from an inserted Cade. 

I remember those game threads that I participated in. I remember saying that maybe we should go get Matt Campbell. I remember thinking it would be at least another 10 years before we beat OSU again.

3 B1G championships. 3-0 vs OSU. 3 trips to the CFP. Rose Bowl Champions. I would have bet my life savings that any of that wouldn’t happen when I watched that Wisconsin game. 

One more, and history is made. Greatest team in the history of the greatest program.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32780

WichitanWolverine

January 3rd, 2024 at 1:50 AM ^

Yeah, I won’t lie. I lost faith in the program after 2-4. Wanted Harbaugh gone. Felt like my obsessive fandom of 15 years was a waste of time. I can’t believe the way Jim and the team have rebounded since then. Truly remarkable. 

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 34351

Winchester Wolverine

January 3rd, 2024 at 7:55 AM ^

Being elite felt so unattainable at that time. Many posters here, including myself, would comment on the noticeable difference in speed, strength, athleticism, and coaching between Michigan and Alabama, Clemson, or OSU. The gulf between us and them looked impossible to bridge. I personally convinced myself that I'd never see this day. That I was doomed to be emotionally tied to a Michigan program that simply would never be great again. I accepted this fate. I stopped following recruiting so heavily. I would only visit this site on game days. I stopped getting so upset when we would lose. I started to try to distance myself emotionally from my insane fandom, becoming increasingly upset that I couldn't fully cut myself off and just find a new hobby or something.

The truth is, I never could do that and I never will. I love this program. And most of all, I love this team. I never thought we'd be here, but thankfully, someone did. A whole lot of sombodies did. And we get to watch them play one more time for a National Championship. 

Simply unreal. Through this amazing group of young men, my dreams as a unhinged, passionate lunatic fan are becoming actualized. What a time to be alive.

Joined: 01/07/2015

MGoPoints: 19164

eigenket

January 3rd, 2024 at 11:29 AM ^

Like so much in life, mindset is everything.

I would  posit that this is the true difference in the team, the last three years versus the team previously.

Positive leadership is contagious, which is why I predict that JJ will be a great quarterback in the NFL, despite his physical limitations.

 

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 53