The Wolverine

B ig Ten Media Days took place in Chicago at the end of July and, as expected, the head coach of the defending national champions, Ohio State's Urban Meyer, was among those who garnered the most attention. But he wasn't the headliner. That honor went to Michigan first-year mentor Jim Harbaugh, whose presence — well, anywhere — al- most seems to demand a Secret Service detail. Backstage at a Garth Brooks concert? He's in the photo with the country music king. On the shores of Normandy visiting a World War II memorial, tweeting at TV's Judge Judy, on the cover of ESPN The Magazine … it's Harbaugh overload, and to just about everyone besides those who wear maize and blue it's been over- bearing. For those who cherish the Michi- gan-Ohio State rivalry, though, and everything it's been — and still can (and will) be again — it's the beacon of hope at the end of a seven-year era of despair. Minus a very good 2011 season, which ended with an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory, Michigan hasn't been Michigan on the gridiron, and even some in scar- let and gray are ready to see the Wolverines show their teeth again. "Great hire," OSU linebacker Joshua Perry, one of the more impressive interviews at media day, said about Harbaugh. "I like it. I like the com- petitive edge he brings, the spirit he has. He's going to bring a little different type of re- cruiting, just the whole thing. I think he's go- ing to be pretty good." And talk about a wave of momen- tum in conference perception — first a national title for the Buckeyes, then one of the most intriguing college football hires ever with an NFL coach in his prime returning to his alma mater. Meyer's crowds at media day were large, but it was nearly impos- sible to get anywhere near Harbaugh during the breakout podium session. Perry, for one, didn't seem to mind. "Any positive attention we can get to Big Ten schools is exactly what need," he said, admitting he followed Harbaugh on Twitter and loved it. "Everything I've read, at INSIDE MICHIGAN   CHRIS BALAS May I Have Your Attention Please … First-year Michigan head coach J i m H a r b a u g h d r e w a b i g crowd at Big Ten Media Days. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL

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