Michigan football must rise above its noisy offseason

Another day, another piece of Michigan football drama that emerges. That could just be me being dramatic; however, that is how things have seemed in Ann Arbor ever since the Wolverines’ loss to TCU on New Year’s Eve. To say it’s been a noisy offseason thus far would be an understatement, but regardless, Michigan needs to rise above.

Michigan football has seen a noisy offseason already

Just 24 hours after Michigan football fell to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, reports began to surface that the Denver Broncos were reportedly interested in hiring Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh. Those rumors got very real for Michigan fans when numerous credible sources began to state that Jim Harbaugh was ready (and wanted) to leave Michigan football if he was offered an NFL position.

Over the weeks of Harbaugh-based confusion, tensions rose throughout the program as Harbaugh interviewed with NFL teams and U-M didn’t offer a new contract. At the same time, Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith — whose felony gun charges had been left untouched until after the season ended — was given probation and community service for the charge that came back in October of 2022.

As the drama surrounding Jim Harbaugh worsened, the NCAA decided to pile on four Level II allegations and a daunting Level I allegation against Harbaugh and his Wolverines, even threatening a possible suspension and more for Michigan’s head coach in 2023.

The Harbaugh rumors were eventually sorted out by University of Michigan President, Santa Ono, however the drama did not stop there. Talks between Jim Harbaugh and the NCAA eventually broke down as Harbaugh refuses to admit that he lied and accept a Level I charge — according to reports, the NCAA has “little-to-no” evidence that Harbaugh knowingly lied; however, this is still an ongoing situation.

Shortly after these reports, John U. Bacon — a trusted source in the Michigan community — reported that Jim Harbaugh and Michigan’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, have not formally spoken in eight months. They have chatted at bowl practices and whatnot, though have not held a meaningful conversation since their reported fight back in May of 2022.

After Bacon’s report came out, Michigan fans had little time to talk about it, as former offensive coordinator and QB coach Matt Weiss was fired amidst a police investigation into a computer access crime. Weiss is suspected to have broken university policy, his home was searched on January 10th, and Weiss was fired soon after initial reports came out regarding the investigation.

The hits seem to just keep on coming for Michigan football right now, but that has not stopped any of the Wolverines’ momentum heading into the 2023 season.

Michigan football in-store for a monster season in 2023

As we have learned over the past two seasons, Michigan football is a true contender. Over the Wolverines’ past 28 games (since the start of 2021) they have won 25 of them. This includes two wins over Ohio State and back-to-back Big Ten Championships; additionally, the Wolverines have made two appearances in the College Football Playoff and boast back-to-back top-3 finishes for the first time since 1947-48.

Now, as we turn the page from 2022 to 2023, Michigan football must remained focused on what is important: winning a National Championship. The Wolverines have been as close as they’ve been since 1997 to winning a 12th National title, yet have fallen short in both of their CFP games.

Now, this fall, Michigan football will have yet another shot at a title run with what appears to be its best roster during the Jim Harbaugh era. Michigan retains a great deal of its production from the 2022 season — including rising juniors JJ McCarthy and Donovan Edwards, Blake Corum, two of its top-3 receivers, two talented tight ends, a stingy defense, and most of its Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.

On paper, the only team that might stand in the Wolverines’ way is Penn State, who Michigan football will meet in State College towards the end of the 2023 season. Michigan State does not appear to be a threat, and Ohio State will come to Ann Arbor for the first time since Michigan’s 42-27 win in 2021.

As Michigan football pursues another win over Ohio State, a third-straight Big Ten Championship, and even more ambitious goals, the Wolverines must tune out the noise and stay focused on the upcoming season.

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