Michigan Football Program Gets Respect From Alabama Coach

LOS ANGELES — Ahead of the Rose Bowl Game, we heard from ex-Notre Dame quarterback and current Alabama coach (offensive coordinator) Tommy Rees about his tremendous respect for the Michigan football program. Of course, seeing as Rees has experience against the Wolverines as both a player and a coach — facing Brady Hoke, Jim Harbaugh, and more over the years — he had a lot of good things to say about the Maize and Blue before facing them in the College Football Playoff semi-final on Monday.

Michigan football program has respect of Tommy Rees

Sep 7, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tommy Rees (11) looks to pass during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

It has been more than a decade since Tommy Rees suited up for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, going 1-2 against Michigan football as a player before his short NFL career bled straight into a Big Ten coaching job with Northwestern. Since then, he has also picked up jobs with San Diego State, his alma mater (Notre Dame), and now, the University of Alabama football program.

After a rough start to the 2023 season, Alabama and its new offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees, appear to have fully turned things around, now boasting one of the top offenses in the sport heading into the Rose Bowl Game against Michigan football on New Year’s Day.

What did Alabama coach say about the Wolverines ahead of the Rose Bowl?

Apr 22, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees yells instructions during the A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Sports

For Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan football program, this year marks three straight Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances — an impressive feat for the Wolverines, to say the least. On Thursday, just days before the Rose Bowl (CFP semi-final game), Tommy Rees broke down his level of respect for the Wolverines, which he has gained throughout his years of facing Michigan as a player and as a coach.

“Yeah, they were pretty good that year (2019),” said Alabama football offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. “They had the two edge guys that were both high picks. They had the middle linebacker was a high pick. They had a really good star. It was a good system in terms of who was calling it. But look, I played against Michigan for four years in college. I’ve coached against them three — this will be my fourth time now. They’ve been a great program for a long time. They’ve had really good players for a long time. Schematically they’ve had head coaches come in there and put their own twist on things and have success.”

The Alabama coach did not stop there, either.

“I have a lot of respect for (Michigan),” Rees continued. “They’re very good on defense, and they have been for a while, and their personnel is strong and big and physical, and they play their style of football, and I think you see their guys in the back end and they’ve got good corners and good safeties that can challenge you on the perimeter.

“You look at Michigan, for me, my entire life, you look at Michigan on this pedestal, and I don’t think it’s any different. I think they have a great team, and they do a really nice job defensively. Jesse (Minter) is a really good coordinator and presents a lot of challenges for what you’re trying to go attack.”

Michigan football will face Alabama coach Tommy Rees on Monday

Dec 29, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Rose Bowl logo at a press conference at the Marriott in downtown Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

There are only a few more days until Michigan football and Alabama face off in the Rose Bowl for a shot at the national title game — the winner will face whoever is victorious in the Sugar Bowl (Washington vs. Texas).

While Tommy Rees is quite familiar with the Wolverines, most recently losing 45-14 against Michigan football in Ann Arbor back in 2019 when he was a coach at Notre Dame, he has not seen anything quite like this year’s team. The 2023 Wolverines are the best roster that Jim Harbaugh has assembled since taking over the Michigan football program back in late 2014, and after falling short in two straight CFPs, the Maize and Blue are hungry to end their national championship drought, which dates back to 1997.

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