The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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the University of Michigan football program." Harbaugh also made certain to address a topic he knew would come up, his comments regarding academics and Michigan football, ut- tered when he was at Stanford. In 2007, Harbaugh spoke of Stanford's scholar-athletes and referenced Michigan getting "borderline guys in" and steering them to what were perceived as lesser courses of study. Carr labeled the remarks "elitist" and "self-serving" at that time, and former running back Mike Hart un- leashed a barrage on Harbaugh's "Michigan Man" status. The new coach wasn't short or dismissive when the inevitable question arrived. "That was another thing I didn't understand at the time, didn't fully understand," Harbaugh said. "I made the mistake of not knowing that you don't compare things, and especially you don't compare great to great. That's what I did. "That was a mistake. I've since learned that you don't compare. If you compare one thing to another or one person to another, or two great institutions compared to each other, somebody always gets diminished when you do that. That's another les- son I have learned since eight years ago." HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING Harbaugh arrived with a host of duties facing him: meeting with the What They're Saying Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News: "It was never implausible, no matter how many times you heard it was. But getting to this day, when Michigan football landed one of the biggest names in coaching, required an incredible series of events — some fortuitous, some planned — all wrapped in a singular mission. "Michigan was sick of getting humbled, tired of sitting on stashes of untapped passion and desperate to compete again. And Jim Harbaugh was ready to return to a place that wanted him and understood him, and would not be denied. "How could Michigan afford to dole out a reported $48 million over six or eight years for Harbaugh? Please. How could it afford not to?" Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press: "These days, state football excellence re- sides in East Lansing. And the most famous coach in the Big Ten works in Colum- bus, Ohio. And the fans get angry here, Jim, sometimes downright nasty. You don't want to read the comments or blogs; it'll just depress you. It's not enough anymore to be Maize and Blue and have good graduation rates and compete for the conference championship. "They want national titles. "Or they want your head. "The way they tracked your coming here, Jim, was embarrassing, like hunters stalking a deer. Your every move was analyzed. Every statement. Every hint. And