The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2021 THE WOLVERINE 19 the field in 2021, and thereafter. "It's something in you," Harbaugh said. "You've got that gene in you that says you want to do your best, to the best of your God-given ability. Then you want to actually compete to be the best, and then you want to be the best. That's something that drives you in that way. "Those guys you're talking to [ju- nior defensive end Aidan Hutchin- son, redshirt sophomore running back Hassan Haskins and redshirt junior linebacker Josh Ross, repre- senting U-M in Indy] — they've got that gene. "For better or worse, whether it's a blessing or a curse, you just have that gene in you. You've got to do your best … give your best at all times, and eventually you've got to be the best. We're capable of that." Naysayers? Oh, there will be plenty, the Michigan head coach as- sured. They're not without ammu- nition, either. The Wolverines have yet to beat the Buckeyes under Har- baugh, and are going through an his- toric victory drought in the regular- season finale. They're 3-3 against Michigan State over the past six seasons, including a couple of serious clunkers. Harbaugh doesn't want to hear about it. He likened those who insist the past struggles portend endless short- falls to World War II-era propagan- dists. "People are trying to discourage you," he said. "It's almost like pro- paganda: let's discourage him. Al- most like World War II propaganda machines … 'Quit, no need to try, you've got no chance, don't even try any further.' "We don't subscribe to that at all. We'll try to get to the top. We're ei- ther going to get there, or die trying." HOW TO MAKE THE CLIMB Death isn't option No. 1, of course. Harbaugh has taken multiple steps to try and make last year and the rivalry- game disappointments aberrations. He revamped nearly his entire de- fensive staff, turning over the reins Harbaugh "We'll try to get to the top. We're either going to get there, or die trying."