How did Michigan football get to the cusp of a national title? Start with Jim Harbaugh’s staff

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HOUSTON — The spotlight is usually reserved for Jim Harbaugh.

But on Saturday morning, roughly 57 hours before Michigan football faces Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game for the greatest prize of all, the Wolverines’ young brigade of assistants received a little shine as well. One by one, they took their turn on the dais inside Hall A of the George R. Brown Convention Center at the team’s media day. Jesse Minter. Sherrone Moore. Mike Hart. Steve Clinkscale. Kirk Campbell. And Harbaugh’s own son, Jay, the longest-tenured member of the group. They were front and center because Harbaugh wanted them there.

“Like Moses,” he said, “I’m going to die leaning on my staff.”

Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore speaks during national championship game media day at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

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This was Harbaugh hyperbole at its finest. But there was a kernel of truth packed into his melodramatic statement because he wouldn’t be here, on the cusp of a national title, in the CFP title game, without them or some of their immediate predecessors.

After all, they were the men who helped Michigan rebound from the blight of 2020, when the program had lost its way during a disastrous 2-4 season. They were the guys who revamped the culture within Schembechler Hall and ignited a rebirth. They were the ones who installed a new defense, allowed Harbaugh to return to his roots and implemented the winning formula that has produced 39 victories in Michigan’s past 42 games.

“It’s the best staff I’ve been on,” said Clinkscale, a 23-year veteran who oversees the defensive backs. It’s been extremely enjoyable. You see where we are now. So, it is…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/did-michigan-football-cusp-national-110829267.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-01-07 11:08:29

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