Michigan football players explain feelings behind losing Coach Harbaugh

Today was an odd day for many Michigan football players, including JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum. With Jim Harbaugh suspended, the Wolverines were without their 9th-year head coach for their season-opening matchup against East Carolina — a game that Michigan won, 30-3. After the game, a few star players explained the wave of emotions behind losing Harbaugh for today’s game.

Michigan football players explain emotions behind losing Jim Harbaugh

After the Wolverines’ season-opening win over East Carolina this afternoon, Michigan football players JJ McCarthy (junior, quarterback) and Blake Corum (senior, running back) addressed the media. There, they explained the feelings that came behind losing Jim Harbaugh for today’s game.

JJ McCarthy

“I’m not gonna lie to you, I wasn’t expecting it to be that much different, but I personally just felt like something was missing today,” JJ McCarthy said of losing Jim Harbaugh. “And it was definitely him. He has just this presence that, it’s all about winning, all about competing, all about pushing through — as simple as the pregame speech, I was missing that voice. It just really sucked going out there first game, him not being out there because he put as much blood, sweat, and tears into this as much as we have. So it’s unfortunate, but we know we get them back week four, and he’s gonna be hungrier than ever.”

Blake Corum

“Before the game I texted coach,” Blake Corum explained. “I said, ‘Play as hard as you can, as fast as you can, and don’t worry.’ And that’s what he tells us before the game and like JJ said, I miss hearing that. It kind of gets me pumped up. And then after that, I said, ‘You know, we got you coach,’ and he said, ‘I know you do.’ It was definitely different but Coach Minter did a great job stepping in as the head coach today. But I can’t wait to get Coach Harbaugh back, that’s my guy.”

Michigan football stars JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum both had solid outings without Jim Harbaugh today. Still, it’s clear that they both want their head coach back as soon as possible.

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