The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508023
36 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan head coach Jim Harbaugh wasn't sure what he was going to do on Saturdays during his university-imposed three-game suspen- sion for alleged recruiting violations, but he did know one thing — he was going to leave his team in good hands. Harbaugh showed up to pregame press conferences before the East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green games in a great mood, all things considered, and as ex- cited as ever about his team's prospects. In Week 1, Harbaugh watched the Wol- verines on TV with offensive coordina- tor Sherrone Moore (suspended one game himself) at his house, eating Panera Bread sandwiches with some of his and Moore's children. For UNLV, Harbaugh worked the chain gang at son Jack's peewee football game in the morning before watching the U-M game at home with his kids. He never had a doubt that defensive co- ordinator Jesse Minter, the interim coach vs. ECU, assistants Jay Harbaugh and Mike Hart (a half each vs. UNLV), and Moore (Bowling Green) would be the "guardians of victory," as he called them. "I know how good they are," Harbaugh said before the Sept. 2 season opener. "As I've said, all 10 coaches, I believe, are tre- mendous and talented. I think it's what's best for our team. It's a tremendous op- portunity for each one of them to have the experience of managing the game. "I know each time a coach is the head coach that their preparation is going to be the fullest at the max, and that is going to be the best thing for our football team … It's not just defense, it's not just offense, it's not just special teams. It's the whole team. They're all going to be great at it." Bringing home a win was the only thing on his mind, Minter said in praising Har- baugh for the way he'd handled the con- troversial suspension, and the Wolverines had no problem dispatching ECU, 30-3. Minter's aspirations are likely more on the NFL side, probably starting as a co- ordinator, but getting the experience was valuable. It allowed him to see the game from a different point of view. "I was just so used to focusing on the defense. When we were on offense, I was able to listen to the offense talk about some of the situations — like fourth down, are we going to go or are we going to punt?" he said. "Are we going to be in field goal range? What's our thought process here? I wasn't in on the defensive adjustments quite as much. I sort of talked to those guys real quick like, 'Hey, here's what I'm thinking for the next series — you guys handle it.' I thought they did a great job. "I was trying to call one side and man- age the game in a way that would allow us to be successful. … I'm sure there was some good and bad, but it was definitely a great experience." Minter didn't have much to worry about in a game the Wolverines dominated start to finish, but he did lean heavily on Har- baugh's advice entering the game. "Be you," Minter said, recalling Har- baugh's words. "He's such an advocate for us; he's such an advocate for our play- ers. We're trained for this situation, the way we operate, the way he empowers 'GUARDIANS OF VICTORY' Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Turns A Negative Into A Positive By Promoting Several Assistants During His Suspension PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN PHOTO BY LON HOÒRWEDEL Week 1 Week 2, First Half