After months of sign-stealing talk and more, the Wolverines finally had their chance to shine on a national stage: the Rose Bowl against Alabama. After a thrilling win over the Crimson Tide, the narrative surrounding Michigan football is starting to change, and the nation is finally giving Michigan its credit. Ahead of the National Championship Game, which pits No. 1 Michigan against No. 2 Washington, college football insider Bruce Feldman explained how the narrative has flipped when it comes to Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines.
The narrative about Michigan football and sign-stealing is starting to change
After beating Alabama, even ESPN pundit Paul Finebaum changed his stance on Michigan football, finally giving the Wolverines their flowers for beating the SEC’s best and advancing to the National Championship Game.
Leading up to the natty, college football insider Bruce Feldman of The Athletic met with Michigan alum Rich Eisen on his show to explain how the national perceptive of the Wolverines has changed since its first-ever College Football Playoff victory.
“I think there is respect for (Michigan football) now. I think there absolutely is,” Feldman explained. “… There seemed to be a lot more respect for Alabama (before the Rose Bowl) than there was towards Michigan. I think some of that is the undertow in the Big Ten — the animosity towards Michigan, especially Jim Harbaugh.”
In the days since Michigan football won the Rose Bowl, ESPN talking heads and other national analysts have largely changed their tune about Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines. No, Michigan is not only good because of the sign-stealing scandal — the Wolverines are simply one of the best teams in the land, and on Monday, they can prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt by beating Washington in the title game.
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