The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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at the highest level. "What's not to like about him? We're happy today. He's back, and we welcome him back with open arms." Former Michigan fullback Bob Thornbladh trumpeted Harbaugh's ability to teach, particularly when it comes to developing quarterbacks. He had a mes- sage for Michigan sophomore QB Shane Morris, who showed up for Harbaugh's introduction. "He'll impact things immediately," Thornbladh asserted. "I just told Shane Mor- ris, the best thing that ever happened to him happened today. Ever. Because this guy knows how to coach, and he's going to be demanding." Former linebacker Jarrett Irons concurred on the point regarding quarter- backs. A big Brady Hoke booster, Irons still served when asked on interim ath- letic director Jim Hackett's advisory committee to find a new coach. Irons expressed gratitude that the Wolverines landed the No. 1 man on the list. "I think Brady did a great job," Irons noted. "If Brady was here for one more year, you would see a different team, I think. Where Jim is going to help out a lot is in the quarterback play. That's his thing. He's a guru. "Defensively, we're strong. Our offensive line will be a lot better this year. He brings that extra push from a quarterback development standpoint. I think it's going to help. We're really young at that position, and we don't have a lot of experience." Jon Jansen served as a captain for Michigan's success apex over the last sev- eral decades, the 1997 national championship squad. He wasn't very old when Harbaugh led the Wolverines to within one spot of that magical No. 1, but insisted he remembers No. 4 as a player quite well. "I sure do," Jansen said. "In '85, I'd have been about 9 or 10 years old when I started to really get a look at college football and what it meant. He's really my first memory as a Wolverine." What Harbaugh coming back to Ann Arbor means now, Jansen noted, is tough to quantify. "Having success in the pros, having success in college, is obviously a rare trait," Jansen said. "And being able to get a guy who has had success in the NFL to come back to college is an even rarer move. It's a huge win for Michigan today, but the wins need to come in September, October and November." They will, Walker assured. He's seen it happen and is convinced he's about to see it again. "We're back on track," Walker said. "We got the right guy. We got the guy ev- erybody wanted. I played with him. I know what he stands for. I went to a Rose Bowl with him. I know what he's all about." — John Borton