Mazi Smith says "Don't nobody talk about" JH rumors to NFL

Submitted by KO Stradivarius on January 25th, 2023 at 2:18 PM

I saw this article from a couple of days ago that apparently nobody has posted yet (gasp!).

Team captain Mazi Smith was interviewed and says the guys inside of the program didn't seem to be impacted by the uncertainty surrounding Harbaugh's future at Michigan. 

"Don't nobody talk about it," said Smith. "We're kind of trained to be like, once something becomes a reality, then we can react. But until then, what are you going to do?"

"My coach left before I seen him, I never saw Coach Matty on campus," Smith said. Greg Mattison, the former U-M defensive coordinator who recruited Smith for several years, took a job with Ohio State shortly before Smith even made it to campus for his freshman year. 

"So I learned early that this isn't about personal relationships or friendships, this is about business, and this is about winning. And just like I want to move on at some point and go to the NFL for my career, the coaches are in the same boat."

"I think what helped me a lot was what I told you earlier. No matter what circumstance I'm in, I'm going to make it. I'm going to make sure that I make something happen. My biggest fear is to be one of them guys on the field getting put on their ass. I don't like that shit. And it happens sometimes, but that ain't something that I want to go through. So whatever I can do to keep me from doing that, I'm going to do. Who your head coach is don't got nothing to do with you getting put on your ass. So you've kind of got to keep the main thing the main thing at the end of the day."

Love that last part in bold.  

https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-player-discusses-harbaughs-nfl-flirtation-its-impact-on-program

 

Daleppard

January 26th, 2023 at 7:50 AM ^

I coached his grandson in baseball. On picture day I see this guy all decked out in that shitty team down south gear. I of course am always in my Michigan hat. I walked up to him and asked him why he would leave Michigan to go there. He looked at me, rubbed his fingers together, and said it's all about the money. 

 

Go Blue!!!!

Bo Harbaugh

January 25th, 2023 at 2:29 PM ^

When your rivals and competition are left to simply negative recruit on the notion that the head coach is so good he may jump to the NFL (because he wins at both levels) - they are getting desperate.

I'd love to see a solid contract basically guaranteeing 3-4 years of Harbaugh without all the offseason NFL chatter (bigger buyout, big guarantees up front per each year further out in the deal), but at some point the program will and needs to morph into an enterprise greater than the head coach.

I'm very grateful to Jim and what he's done for UM, and I'm hopeful that if/when he is done, he weill leave a very strong foundation and lineage for future success - unlike the scenario we faced when Lloyd left and we were wandering in the desert for 2 decades.

mGrowOld

January 25th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^

I think I speak for everyone here that Mazi is saying Jim is gone without saying Jim is gone.  Pretty clear to me that this is his way of saying "it's ok Jim, you can go.  You can go."

I mean anyone can see it.  That whole Santa/Jim/Warde love triangle was just a ruse to give everyone time to process things.  

Looks like my dollar is safe.