Yesterday, Michigan football defensive coordinator Jesse Minter got the opportunity to act as interim head coach while Jim Harbaugh serves a 3-game suspension. In his first-ever game as head coach, Minter led the Wolverines to a 30-3 victory over the East Carolina Pirates. After the game, Minter discussed how coach Harbaugh put him in a great position to succeed.
Michigan football defensive coordinator Jesse Minter discusses first game as head coach
Coach Minter used a great analogy after the game to describe what it was like to coach the Wolverines. “I equate it to a first-time driver getting to drive the safest, most durable, reliable car possible,” Minter said.
Minter emphasized the significance of Coach Harbaugh’s impact on the team’s success as well. “So a lot of first times, your first game as a head coach, you’re at a new program. You’re trying to do all this. My opportunity was to take over a really well-oiled machine that Coach Harbaugh has built here over his time.”
Michigan football certainly operated like a well-oiled machine yesterday. The Wolverines accumulated 402 total yards on offense and the defense held a shutout up until the final play of the game.
“Certainly, the players just knew what we needed to do,” Minter added. “(We) did what we were trained to do from how we worked all offseason. Knew this was coming for a while so the guy’s mindset was right and how we needed to attack it. Just good to be 1-0.”
Michigan football will continue its nonconference schedule next week against the UNLV Rebels. Kickoff at the Big House will be at 3:30 PM ET.
Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!