Jim Harbaugh catches a pass during Peach Bowl warm-ups
[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

Peach Bowl Postgame Presser: Jim Harbaugh Comment Count

Adam Schnepp December 31st, 2018 at 10:00 AM

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]


Q. Jim, is it too early to tell what taste you'll take from this season, a 10-3 season with two losses to end it?

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.

Comments

freelion

December 31st, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^

A dumb and insulting press conference by Harbaugh. Such a slap in the face to fans to say no major changes needed. Has no answer for how to win big games as he admits those teams are better. Normal coaches would get fired for this kind of admission

vablue

December 31st, 2018 at 10:26 AM ^

Insulting, really?  How can he say anything differently?  You don’t fire people at the press conference after the game, and saying anything differently would be doing just that.  The reality is that this team has been in a bad place for some time and it will take time to be fixed. Harbaugh has them moving in the right direction.  His job is not to tell us everything at a press conference, it is to run a good and relatively clean program.  He does that and does it pretty well, hope that the naysayers admit how wrong they were in future years.

It is worth noting that this team exceeded the preseason expectations this year, nobody had them pegged as a top team in a NY6 bowl.  He is building the right foundation and doing it with integrity.  

MonkeyMan

December 31st, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^

Harbaugh may get the team a little higher now that Meyer is gone but UM will be totally embarrassed in any playoff game by at least a 40 point spread. After 4 years the coach is who he is and the team will only go so far. JH is paid elite salary but his ceiling is the 5th floor- not all the way up to the 14th floor penthouse where folks like Saban live. 

After 4 years you pretty much know what a coach can do. The occasional late bloomer coach is very rare- 99% of all coaches don't go much farther than their 4th year accomplishments. People here keep talking about the few exceptions- this shows you how desperate people are here. JH is in his 4th year and getting blown out regularly- quit running from this fact.

The interview above shows JH thinks he is perfectly on course and need not reflect at all- this tells you that things will not get much better. It is hard for a cock sure coach to grow and JH sees himself as the smartest man in the room. UM will never win a NC with JH- we are miles from being an elite team. Hopefully we can get one Big Ten title- that's it. 

It's over folks- this interview seals it.

JPC

December 31st, 2018 at 3:13 PM ^

At some point the recruiting is going to dry up as well, if he keeps getting blown out like this. They're still selling a promise of future glory to kids. Clearly they're pretty good at it, since this class was very strong. After year six of 10-3 and a couple blowout losses a year in primetime games, even the greatest recruiter won't be able to sell future glory to elite recruits. 

Just look at Harbaugh's QB recruiting now. Top 200 QBs aren't beating down Michigan's door. After we squander our WR hall, we're not getting elite WRs either. 

Yost Ghost

January 2nd, 2019 at 9:42 AM ^

Being critical of the OSU loss is fine but I can't believe there are people on this board that honestly thought that this team would beat Florida after we lose 3 key starters to the NFL draft and 2 more to injury in the first half. That's a lot of talent to replace on a team that doesn't have a lot of depth.

ijohnb

December 31st, 2018 at 3:17 PM ^

Dude, we have no way of knowing what is going to happen.  After the ND game we we said to be a 7-5 team, and 10 weeks later and every pundit in the country picked us to beat OSU.  Nobody knows what the hell is going to happen and anybody who says they do is lying.

Sideline

January 1st, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^

Dude, have perspective. Had Michigan had their entire roster— Gary, Bush, JBB, and Higdon— this is no contest. Has Mullen done a great job? Sure. Florida clearly wanted it more and it seemed like Michigan just wanted to come out and win on talent alone and not ‘work’ for it. Congratulations to Florida on their win, but in no way does this diminish the work Harbaugh has done and is doing. 

The Florida schools are always going to get talent due to the resources of that state. 

skwogler

December 31st, 2018 at 3:59 PM ^

Amen, brother.

Harbaugh has integrity stacked like cordwood.  Just listen to his podcasts with his Dad and that'll tell you everything you need to know.  He loves the University and he loves coaching football.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  We are improving steadily. Michigan will likely never be 2018 Alabama or Clemson but what it can be is a team that competes to win Big Ten Championships and make a run at a National Title every 5 years or so.  Graduating players with meaningful degrees along the way.  Turning minnows into men.

caup

December 31st, 2018 at 10:26 AM ^

Dude, he is PISSED after a shitty effort by his team. His team’s Captains on both sides of the ball sat out. He is still seething 30 minutes after that shitshow of missed tackles, missed blocks, and blown assignments.

Harbaugh handled it better than I would have. He showed admirable restraint and was not in any mood to share what his actual plans are for the off season.

 

Hail Harbo

December 31st, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^

He said his team was prepared but that they were beat by a better team.  So what was there to be pissed about?  

The truth is the nutritionists have banned whole milk from the training table and have curtailed most of the red meat.  And that's why he's pissed.  Oh, and he just found out that Docker's inspector #8 took a leave of absence which explains why his Khaki pants just don't feel right.

JPC

December 31st, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^

The shitty effort starts with him and his coaching staff. If those guys don't know that the TEs can't be depended on to make clutch plays after 12 previous games, I'm not sure why they're employed. 

Harbaugh and his guys set up a shitty system and it resulted in a shitty outcome. He's to blame more than anyone else. 

Communist Football

December 31st, 2018 at 10:30 AM ^

I understand that Harbaugh will never throw any of his players or coaches under the bus. But it would be great to have him some way, some how, address:

- The lack of a real passing game despite 5-stars at QB and WR (or, why Jake Rudock had a better passing season in 2015 than Shea Patterson in 2018)

- The predictability of the offense (you didn't get the 4th and 1 because you ran it up the middle into a 9-man box)

MileHighWolverine

December 31st, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^

This is the correct answer....he was able to turn the team around his first year because he had a good line but a new QB made the transition incomplete. Second year, ok line with a bad QB.No he has a completely retooled OL and a 5 star QB. SHOULD be better next year assuming two things:

1. Pep is gone

2. He doesn't jump to the Dolphins

Roy G. Biv

December 31st, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^

I think there is a lot of truth in this statement.  The OL has improved by leaps and bounds, but still struggles against defenses with NFL talent (ND OSU and UF this season).  Now obviously everyone struggles against better defenses, but for Michigan to move  to top 5 status instead of top 12-15 the OL must play the best defenses to at least a draw.  Possess the ball, pull safeties up to the LOS to open the passing game.  Keep our D off the field to stay fresh and minimize exposure.  I hope Warriner can get that unit where it needs to be.

 

DaftPunk

December 31st, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^

Harbaugh will never throw any of his players or coaches under the bus.

I disagree.  By saying they got beaten by better teams, he says he didn't have the players, not that he did, but couldn't get them ready.  Promising more of the same without any changes implies he thinks he has the right approach, but the problem is execution.

Alumnus93

December 31st, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^

When there were rumors we're getting Pep, I couldnt believe it.  Seemed when he had Luck he made him worse...  Then gets fired in Cleveland too. Then after the hire I gave benefit of doubt... but yet again the offense seems to be vastly underperforming . We have the guns at wr... Opposing coaches coaches but be in disbelief we don't attack downfield constantly...brussel I sure am . It seems like Jim is trying to establish the run first to point where teams plan to stop it , And then hopes to open up...but hasnt gotten there yet . 

mgoblue98

January 1st, 2019 at 3:10 AM ^

If Michigan had run any other play and not converted, every fan and the announcers and everyone else who watched the game would have bitched that he has Mason and didn't run him on 4th and short. 

The defense didn't switch on the jet and that was that.  There's really no excuse for that lack of simple execution.

dipshit moron

December 31st, 2018 at 12:08 PM ^

freelion!!!! how about explaining to everyone what you are so mad about? the coaches and team didn't live up to your expectations? they made you feel bad about yourself, because now you can't put your michigan gear on and go outside with your chest puffed out?

     they are what they are, so either get used to it or find something else to occupy your time with. they as a team and the coaches owe you nothing.

New Carr

December 31st, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^

I'M SO PISSED AND INSULTED!  WE DESERVE BETTER, THE PLAYERS DESERVE BETTER! HARBAUGH IS THE MOST OVERRATED COACH IN THE HISTORY OF COACHING OF ANY SPORT AND I AM ENTITLED TO WINS...SO MANY MORE WINS THAN THE UNPREPARED, POORLY COACHED OUT-SCHEMED GARBAGE I AM WATCHING EVERY WEEK!

AS A FAN I DEMAND BETTER AND EXPECT CHAMPIONSHIPS.  HARBAUGH IS PAID TO BE AN ELITE COACH AND IS A LOSER IN ALL BIG GAMES.  FIRE HIM, NEXT MAN UP.  I AM INSULTED, SLAP IN THE FACE, UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!

Did I do that right?  Seriously, all you "why aren't we Bama or OSU yet schmucks" get a fucking grip and grow up.  Yeah, it sucks that it is taking longer than expected and shit, god forbid, maybe we don't get to elite status. UM is not a football factory, it never has been.  We will hopefully compete for the playoff (we have been 1 game short in 2 of Harbaugh's 4 seasons - after the dumpster fire that was the RR and Hoke years) and it seems we are a few players and schematic changes away from getting there.  The "unacceptable", "I feel insulted", entitled, recency bias, pitch fork, reactionary crowd need to find another fucking team or grow the fuck up. We all want better - as an alum, nothing would be more amazing than to attend a national title game.

And no, Harbaugh is not perfect and has plenty of flaws and the team was uninspired for that game and there is much improvement to be had and criticism is warranted.  But if you think anybody better is walking through the door to take the job, which does not allow for SEC win at all costs tactics (and with this delusional and entitled fanbase nonetheless) get a clue.  Harbaugh is the best thing for UM football and it means more to him to get them over the top than any of you vitriolic spewing morons.

If you wish to share tactical, coaching, schematic or talent critiques, I think this board is fair and open to it.  If you just want to spew UNACCEPTABLE, I AM ENTITLED TO MOAR WINS! - go fuck off.  You aren't entitled to shit.

 

Whirled Peas

December 31st, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^

Thank you NewCarr and Stan Carlson for not letting the hysterical element of the fan base get too much unchecked stage time.  You both were extremely well spoken.  As you said, reasonable criticisms and discussions are definitely in order after any loss, but the complete lack of perspective by some is startling even by internet standards.  We should hold our own fan base to a higher standard of discourse and I applaud your efforts.  

freelion

December 31st, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^

You guys shoot the messenger but I'm saying what the whole world of college football is saying. Our opponents laugh at us for being ridiculously predictable. They know we can't beat a quality team - especially on the road. They have true freshman QBs leading their teams to the playoffs while our QBs have to spend 6 years in the system before seeing the field. I don't want Harbaugh fired. I just want him to show that he is going to change because this is not working.

Sten Carlson

December 31st, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^

They have true freshman QBs leading their teams to the playoffs ...

You forgot to add -- something that I detailed during the CFP games -- "playing behind an ELITE OL."

Tony Elliot, Clemson's OC, said that Clemson didn't become a Championship team until their OL improved and that THIS OL is the BEST that they've had.

Elite programs have elite OL Pipelines, period.  They don't go entire recruiting cycles with ZERO OLinemen, and neither do they play a bunch of "also rans" unless there is a massive injury issue.  Michigan had BOTH a complete destruction of its OL Pipeline AND injury issues. 

You're the most clueless -- and whiny, entitled poster in here -- so I am not surprised that you don't understand what is going on.

JPC

December 31st, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^

Elite programs have elite everything, but don't act like you can't not get blown out by Florida unless you have Clemson's OL. There are teams all over the country who do more with less than Harbaugh has at his disposal. 

The only clueless people, are those who continue to attack others while making excuses for Harbaugh's performance in his fourth year on the job. 

Harbaugh made an immediate positive impact on Michigan when he got here. That's great, but he hasn't done anything since then - except possibly piss off a bunch of the players that he chose to recruit here. 

Sten Carlson

December 31st, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^

Don't put words in my mouth, asshat!

He said, " They have true freshman QBs leading their teams to the playoffs ..."  The only CFP team with a true freshman QB is Clemson, and I added a quote from Clemson's OC regarding their OL.

Harbaugh hasn't done anything except coach the failing Michigan program to its first back-to-back 10 win seasons since 2003-2004, and it's first three of four 10 win seasons since 1997-2000.  He also coached the Michigan program to within an inch of a CFP berth in second year.  I guess those things are nothing because everything has become "all or nothing" now.

Teams "all over the country" huh?  Name them. 

Only 7 P5 teams had 10 or more regular season wins ... that's 7 teams out of 54 P5 teams.  Nah ... he's doing nothing.

Since 2008 (when all this bullshit hit the fan) Michigan is 83-57 (59.3%).  Since 2015 38-14 (73.1%) notice a trend?  There are only 9 P5 programs winning at the same or a higher rate in that same time period and of those, 4 are in the B10, and 3 of those are in the B10 East.

Nah, he's done nothing. 

cKone

December 31st, 2018 at 4:30 PM ^

What’s your point JPC? Michigan has 20 years of recruiting to catch up on. That doesn’t happen in 4 years. Relationships need to be rebuilt with HS coaches and systems. Reputations of integrity need to be restored. This recruiting class, if I remember correctly, is the first one Higher than OSU in years. That’s a big step that doesn’t seem to be getting much credit. If Michigan chose to dump Harbaugh after 4 years with 3 ten win seasons I would be done with college football because the model of changing coaches every 4 years never has and never will work.