Peach Bowl Postgame Presser: Jim Harbaugh
It's been a while since I transcribed a presser, and thanks to David and the Peach Bowl's PR people and something called ASAP Sports it's going to be a little longer. A transcript of Jim Harbaugh's postgame comments was emailed out and is contained below. I'll be throwing in the ol' earbuds to transcribe player audio, though, so look for that in a couple days. That way you can pretend Michigan's New Year's Six game was actually played on New Year's Day.
THE MODERATOR: Coach, take a short opening comment, then we'll go right to questions.
JIM HARBAUGH: We can go right to questions.
THE MODERATOR: Okay.
Q. Jim, looking back, do you feel like maybe your team was not emotionally ready, maybe coming off the Ohio State game, maybe players sitting out, did you feel like they weren't quite ready for this?
JIM HARBAUGH: I thought they were ready.
Q. Emotionally?
JIM HARBAUGH: I thought they were emotionally ready, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: Next question.
Q. Overall what went wrong offensively and what made it so hard to move the ball today and put points on the board?
JIM HARBAUGH: Combination of things. Started out not picking up in the third and short and the fourth and very short. That hurt. That hurt one drive. We were moving the ball at times and close to getting into a rhythm, but we didn't get the run game going effectively enough. Or the passing game, the protection, and the rhythm in that area to make it -- we got outplayed, really, on that side of the ball. Florida did a nice job defensively.
Defensively, it was really the same story. We didn't play as well. Had some -- had missed calls, adjustments. We left a couple receivers wide open, some things that we don't normally do.
[More after THE JUMP]
JIM HARBAUGH: It was a very good season. It would have been a great season had we won this game. Didn't get that done.
My feeling about the team is we're right there to the top, but we have to put it over the top. Especially in the big games at the end of the year.
Q. Last year, after the bowl game, you made a lot of changes. Do you anticipate making a lot of changes after this, or what are you going to take from this and change?
JIM HARBAUGH: I think we're going to take what we have and reload. A new season and tighten up. But keep working. Keep working to put it over the top.
Q. I have two. So piggybacking on that, so you don't anticipate any changes on the staff going into next season?
JIM HARBAUGH: No.
Q. Also, Kwity Paye and Devin Gil, a couple injuries. Can you share what those were?
JIM HARBAUGH: Yeah. They were both hamstrings.
Q. Just to follow up, you said you're right there, just can't get over the top, especially in the big games. What do you think has been missing in the big games late in the season?
JIM HARBAUGH: We're beaten by -- on those days, we were beaten by better teams. So we have to persevere, be persistent, keep working, and put it over the top.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach.
December 31st, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
JPC and his ilk have no point, cKone, other than "I WANT IT NOWWWWWW!" and if they don't get it they're going cry and scream about it. The problem is, they've got no perspective and their solution is wreck everything and start over. At the beginning of the season there were so many pessimists saying 8-5 again with losses to ND, MSU, PSU, Wisconsin and OSU. But, when MSU, PSU, and Wisconsin got beat, they move the goalposts and said those don't count. Just wait for JPC's response to the stats I've posted, he'll say they're meaningless ... again, all or nothing mentality.
1st order of business: pull away from the abyss of irrelevancy and stop losing to teams Michigan "should" beat ... done.
2nd order of business: pull even with MSU, PSU and Wisconsin ... Done.
3rd order of business : pull even with OSU ... yet to be accomplished.
Yes, it's year 4. So what? If it's taking longer than expected, maybe the timetable many set in their mind was unrealistic considering how statistically difficult it is to beat OSU.
You get it ... so many don't.
December 31st, 2018 at 7:30 PM ^
You may be too sensible for this blog.
Goodonya. We are damn lucky to have Coach Harbaugh running the team. This alum fondly remembers him from his playing days (I graduated UM ChE in 91) and have followed his career keenly. He is a damn fine coach. Look at his track record from San Diego to Stanford to 49ers he has a pattern of transforming losers into winners. It's not clear to me where these wild expectations come from the haters and cynics that populate this blog. Michigan has never been a football factory and never will be. We can have sustained periods of good to great and periodically contend for titles of some sort or another. I'd rather keep some semblance of academic integrity and playing by the rules. I think Harbaugh and Beilein represent 2 of the too few coaches at Power 5 programs that have integrity and run clean programs.
Happy New Year from Sydney!
December 31st, 2018 at 10:16 PM ^
What most of the sky is falling people don't see is that we are very close to being elite. We have the hosses on both sides of the ball. Recruiting is going well. Better than OSU this year for the first time in a long time. The schemes just need to be tweaked and coached up. That can be accomplished by the end of spring ball, certainly by the completion of fall camp. I think Harbaugh understands this and will get it done. A much bigger problem is not having the horses to execute at an elite level. That is NOT where Michigan is at right now and we should be relieved to know this.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:26 PM ^
I’m not a sky is falling fan, but I do think Harbaugh needs to evaluate what he has to do differently to change his team’s capability to compete against top teams. All of the 10-3 seasons won’t mean much if he stays close to a 1-whatever record against the best teams.
The other issue is more of a perception thing. Some of those losses against top teams have been ugly. It is hard to say you are close to being elite when the last two games go like they did. It was 6-21 late in the first half against OSU. And Michigan gave up 40 more after that. Against Florida Michigan never looked right on either side of the ball.
January 1st, 2019 at 6:02 AM ^
My honest question to you would be when has Harbaugh not demonstrated a willingness to change personnel, scheme, and staff in order to improve? The offense improved by leaps and bounds this year as did the OL. Both the DL and the OL need to improve to compete at a higher level against elite competition. I have full confidence that Harbaugh will take the necessary steps to move this forward. I am sure nobody is more disappointed with the end of the season and he will not rest until all goals are reach.
January 1st, 2019 at 3:12 AM ^
I was able to predict what Florida was going to run. The whole predictable meme is really old.
December 31st, 2018 at 3:28 PM ^
What exactly do you want the guy to say in a press conference right after the game. Tell you every detail of changes he might make and conversations he’s had with coaches. Believe me behind closed doors there is some chewing out going on and ideas being thrown about on how to fix things. You don’t make that stuff public
December 31st, 2018 at 11:08 PM ^
I don't think Harbaugh is going to tell us about any changes. Only time will tell.
January 1st, 2019 at 5:44 PM ^
yes, how dare he not rend his garments and throw himself off the goddamned stage! HE MUST ANSWER TO US FANS AND LAY OUT A PLAN TO WIN THE 2019 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE POSTGAME PEACH BOWL PRESS CONFERENCE INCLUDING COACHING STAFF CHANGES, DEPTH CHARTS FOR THE COMING SEASON, HOW HE WILL ORGANIZE THE SPRING GAME, AND WHAT SONGS THE MARCHING BAND WILL PLAY DURING THEIR HALFTIME SHOWS.
dumbass.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
Same old crap. I wish he'd open up and be a little more candid, but we'll never see that. Instead, he is defensive and snarky. I'm not in the "fire Harbaugh" camp, but I'd sure like a little more accountability and explanation.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:17 AM ^
You wanted an explanation 30 minutes after a loss in an exhibition game? You are very bold sir.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
Dude did you read the pregame presser with him and Mullen? Shit was an embarrassment. Harbaugh’s anti-media antics wear super thin if you’re not winning. Mullen has charisma and at least showed himself to be a normal person who can joke around and talk about things like Jordan brand etc.
Queue the “but Harbaugh doesn’t need to answer to the media, He’s just so focused on winning!” crowd.
Hell would it kill the guy to talk to media reporters before halftime? Saban and Swinney do it and they actually win when it counts.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
Agree! The whole not talkin to reporters before halftime thing, did that start at Michigan or was he always like that?
December 31st, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^
You asked:
Harbaugh doesn't owe anything to the media.
Hope that helps.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
Really, Saban is your example of a guy who responds with proper decorum to the media on any occasion? You must live in a different world than I do when it comes to interpretation of q and a sessions. The media's intetrest is the media's interest, and I can assure you that in NY the media is still promoting the idea that Harbaugh is going to be the next coach of the Jets. This speculation is on Fred Wilpon's cable blog. You know Wilpon, the majority owner of the Mets, whose name graces the women's softball complex at Michigan.
What is relevant to the media, what is asked and what is reported out of press conferences have very little to do with actual news reporting. And if you don't get that, then you don't understand how the news world works. Jim Harbaugh like all coaches is obligated by contract to answer media questions and represent the interests of his program. HIs job isn't to assure restless fans that he will soon be making changes in staff to punish people for not taking us where we all want the program to be.
That will come. He has never worked a year here without making a change of some kind with staff and work assignments. Why would anyone believe otherwise at this point. His staff has undergone major chanbe in the time that he's been here. And you can't deny it. So, why make a complaint about some bs response to a question after a sad defeat and add to the discomfort?
December 31st, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^
You're an embarrassment. Your obsession with Harbaugh is an unhealthy pathology, and yet you shamelessly come here day in and day out and display it for everyone to see and laugh at.
Seek help!
December 31st, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
Please ID the snarky spots in those terse responses.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:18 AM ^
None here. I meant in general. He's definitely shown that side in the past.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
Q: Coach, can you understand that the fans are angry with many of them having a healthy dose of apathy?
JIM HARBAUGH: I can respect that.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:48 AM ^
This fanbase is an absolutely miserable, self loathing embarrassment.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^
I think all of the Big Program fan bases have the irrational faction.
I would like to see Harbaugh called out regarding time management. The shit show to end the half is embarrassing and not acceptable. He owes people an explanation.
Dont think for a minute that doesn’t have an effect on the psyche of the team going into halftime.
December 31st, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
I agree with you there.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:06 AM ^
The *social media* fanbase
For every armchair coach, there is a normal fan. Let's not go generalizing that every Michigan fan is insufferable.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
The last 4 years have certainly held a healthy amount of gut punches, but if you told me in 2013 that we were going to hire Harbaugh and he'd win 10 games in 3 of the next 4 years I would take it no question. Obviously there is still room for improvement on Harbaugh's end, but I swear our fanbase loves being miserable
December 31st, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
No question that some of the hysteria is just that--people with little self-awareness swollen with indignity over. . . football.
But I do think it's possible for saner souls, while acknowledging that Harbaugh's record so far is a successful one, to feel concerned at this stage, not even so much about losses (several key losses--to MSU in the punt debacle, to OSU at OSU two years ago--just look like breaks of the game) as about games where we just sh*t the bed, and about a certain sloppiness that could indicate that Jimmy just isn't. . . always on top of the details.* I'd lump the last two bowl games in that category. They have been huge disappointments to me. And to me the question of really using the great players you've got on hand--in an entertaining and artful way--is absolutely legit.
*Maybe trying to juggle three play-callers really is a bit too much; maybe it does make it hard to also keep an eye on the clock. These things, with so much on the line, really do want regular review.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:16 AM ^
Correct.
I'm almost at the point where I want Harbaugh to go to the Jets or something and win the Super Bowl while Michigan hires this genius offensive mind that is hanging around waiting for the Michigan job to open up and promptly goes 8-5 every year while losing 56-55 shootouts to Purdue.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:26 AM ^
Same.
It's clear that we unable or unwilling to recruit to the level of Alabama/Georgia/OSU and dont have the coaching talent of Clemson.
Harbaugh would be better served in the NFL where theres at least some personnel parity.
December 31st, 2018 at 12:14 PM ^
I mean you don't get it. Or you don't appreciate the shit that Harbaugh went through changing the dynamic of recruiting at Michigan upon his arrival. The SEC recognized it and cut him off ASAP after he started holding football camps in their backyard and used all the tactics necessary to get the media to push back on his recruiting efforts as loony and out of place in order to protect their talent turf.
You know it's really kind of funny, because teams like Oklahoma are never gonna win NC's unless they put together complete teams. And teams like ND, with all their ties and tradition, will never win one without superior play on both sides of the ball that is guaranteed by the kind of tactics that the SEC engages in to maintain their league's talent pool and ability. Look at the West Coast, the schools out there don't even compete at the top level any more. The years of Oregon and USC domimnating are over.
The SEC operates diffferently than any other confrerence. They schedule differently, they politicize their interests with greater representation on the playoff committee, and they get the NCAA to look the other way with regard to their recruiting practices. Division 1 college football is the only sport regulated by the NCAA without a more expansive tournament ending the season. And there is a reason for that which is both historical but also tied to regional interests.
You should know that no SEC school rarely if ever plays a game outside its footprint of influence, ever.
And the SEC as a conference prefers it that way because their sacred ground is assured both through regional representation of bowl games and the ultimate big game, which are never held outside the South or West.
So, until the college football championship is expanded and scheduling changes are brought to bear in earning that title, the SEC will continue its dominance in the game. And it matters not what other coaches and officials try to do about it. But, Harbaugh has done more than any other coach in recent memory to defy and change the complexion of the game.
In the end, it comes down to players and those in the game changing the nature of how its played and won.
January 1st, 2019 at 6:13 AM ^
But wait, I wanted Harbaugh to overturn all of this in four years. This current situation is unacceptable and I am unhappy. Heads should roll. I have this high expectation for Michigan football but nothing else in my life.
/s (shouldn’t need this identification, but obviously....)
December 31st, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
Now that is self-loathing. You would rather things get worse to prove you were right than to have things get better to prove you were right.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:21 AM ^
Translation:
"Not gonna throw any players under the bus."
"I thought my game planning was sufficient."
"Yes, you'll be seeing the same thing next year."
I am firmly in BPONE. Harbaugh is an honest man; last year he acknowledged issues and made changes. This year it's a commitment to NOT making changes.
Please let me be wrong, please let me be wrong, please let me be wrong...
December 31st, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
He said he doesn't anticipate changes. That's a backdoor in case it's needed.
I have no idea what will or might take place. But Harbaugh is careful with his words, and my gut sense is he was deliberate in his wording here to allow himself room to maneuver once the dust settled from the Peach Bowl and he figured out what changes were really needed.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:53 AM ^
Yeah, he said the same thing last year IIRC. It's not all even his decision to make. DB goes, he goes. An assistant gets an offer that looks more attractive. . .
December 31st, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
Karen Higdon and Devin Bush showed a lack of character and should have their status as captains revoked from the records. Pathetic and selfish young men. Your leaders of the team as captains.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^
This comment is actually what is pathetic and selfish. You know nothing about the players’ situations yet you spout of an ignorant opinion like this. These players worked their asses off for their team for years.
December 31st, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
They get a full ride degree to u of m with no student loan debt at all. Then abandon their team as captains. Yep, working hard for the team. How about have confidence in yourself and go out one last time and run for 150 yds and boost your draft stock even more instead of letting fear keep you from playing? Were you their watching them work their asses off? Ignorant tool.
December 31st, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Ban this moron.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:08 AM ^
What part of hip flexor injury do you not understand?
Unless youre Stephen Ross, Bobby Kotick or Larry Page, you haven’t done shit for the school while Devin has brought in millions for the program.
The vitriol for Karan I understand, but it seems like there’s an internal strife within the program with the Higdon family and the coaching staff
December 31st, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
Maybe you should check with Nick Baumgardner of Detroit Free Press since he listed Bush as out due to injury/choice. Even if it was due to not being medically cleared yet, then as a team captain you need to publicly announce that's why you're not playing or ask a coach to. Especially when you have teammates sitting because of choice.
December 31st, 2018 at 4:01 PM ^
Except he did publicly announce why he isn't playing. He literally made a goodbye letter for the fans on his Twitter/IG page.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
I do love this pot calling the kettle black mentality. Yes, the players are making a selfish (and in my opinion, correct) decision to sit out the bowl game, but it's pretty rich when fans decry their selfishness without also acknowledging that our desire for them to play in this game is selfish on our part. We selfishly want Michigan to not get destroyed by Florida which is a fine thing to want, but let's not pretend like we're on some high moral pedestal
December 31st, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
Just fuck off. Please.
You have no idea how badly Devin Bush wanted to play in this game. None.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
But you do?
December 31st, 2018 at 1:08 PM ^
This response is dumber than the one I answered. Work through it, ok?
December 31st, 2018 at 2:47 PM ^
You sound pretty classy throwing around f bombs. Keep up the good work. Tell Devin we said hello since you know him so well to have all that inside info.
December 31st, 2018 at 3:22 PM ^
Let me help you out on this one. The poster decided to make a sweeping, lazy take re Devin Bush, a guy who was willing to single-handedly fight the entire spartan walk, a guy who who said on the record that he planned to play before he was not cleared to practice let alone play, a guy who gave his entire fucking soul to every play over the past couple years, had every intention of playing in this game regardless of his draft status. It pisses me off that I have to write this and I can't possibly neg you enough.
December 31st, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
Devin Bush was not medically cleared to play in the bowl game.
Chase Winovich apparently had the option to delay surgery after the IU game, so he chose to wait.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
Tired of the we got beat by tbe better team meme. Do we need better players? Then go get them coach. Do we need better coaching? Then get people in the program who can fix the stuff going on so we are at least 50:50 in games vs OSU and top 10 games. Is it a motivation / execution issue with the players / coaches? Then figure out why it keeps happening and get it fixed. 4 years into Harbaugh. We dont suck anymore, but we are not where we should be either. Jimmy needs to really, really look at himself and the program and make the necessary changes / corrections to get past all these big game losses.
December 31st, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^
Did we get beat by a better team? Did they become a better team when some of our guys decided they didn't want to play anymore?
December 31st, 2018 at 11:05 AM ^
Do you recall getting beat by Rutgers? Just let that sink in then try to imagine turning a program around from that kind of low point.
We are on the right path, but this rebuild could take 7-10 years to recover from being that bad. I am sticking with a Harbaugh as no one else out there with his skills has the fortitude to take on that type of job.
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