Jesse Minter reveals what Jim Harbaugh said to him before the ECU game

Yesterday, second-year defensive play-caller Jesse Minter had the opportunity to assume the responsibility of being the Wolverines’ interim head coach. Minter led Michigan football to a 30-3 Week 1 victory — after the game, he revealed what Jim Harbaugh told him before his first game as head coach.

What did Jim Harbaugh tell Jesse Minter?

Next weekend, Mike Hart and Jay Harbaugh will be calling the shots for the Wolverines; the weekend after, it will be Sherrone Moore filling in. That said, yesterday was all for Jesse Minter, who led Michigan football to a 30-3 victory over the ECU Pirates, starting off the 2023 season with a perfect record. After Minter’s impressive showing as a head coach, he revealed to the media what Jim Harbaugh said to him before the game.

“Be you,” is what Jim Harbaugh said to Jesse Minter.

“I think he’s such an advocate for us; he’s such an advocate for our players,” Minter explained. “It was like, we’re trained for this situation. The way we operate, the way he empowers our players, the way he empowers our coaches — he breeds confidence in our team just with how he operates. So there’s a level of respect that everybody has not only for him, but the way he builds us up for us as well. And I think it allows us to thrive in those situations if we have to. Certainly will be better when he’s back, because he’s our head coach, and I think he’s the best head coach in college football. And so, definitely, be excited to get him back, but I’m glad we were able to be a ‘guardian of victory’ for the first week.”

Minter impressed during his first game as the Michigan football head coach

Jesse Minter, who led Michigan football to a fantastic defensive season in 2022, is one of the most touted assistant coaches in the sport right now. While he seemed to handle his role as interim head coach well yesterday, there were undoubtedly some challenges for Minter with Jim Harbaugh suspended.

“I’d say for me, just so used to just focusing on the defense,” Jesse Minter said. “So when we were on offense, being able to listen into the offense, talk about some of the — like fourth down. Are we going to go, are we going to punt, are we going to be in field goal range? What’s our thought process here? So not being on the defensive adjustments quite as much, sort of talk to those guys real quick, ‘Hey, here’s what I’m thinking for the next series. You guys handle it.’ Thought they did a great job. But just that back and forth that you see as still trying to call one side and manage the game in a way that would allow us to be successful. So I’m sure there was some good and bad, but it was definitely a great experience.”

In the coming week, when UNLV comes to town for Week 2 of the Michigan football season, Jesse Minter will still have a huge role for the Wolverines. Even though he is no longer filling in for Jim Harbaugh, Minter will still be looking to lead one of the most prolific and forceful defenses in the entire nation.

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