INDIANAPOLIS – Michigan’s football team finished 2-4 in 2020 – a crossroads in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s career.
On Saturday, the second-ranked Wolverines became the first Big Ten team to win three straight outright conference titles by beating No. 16 Iowa 26-0 in Indianapolis. Harbaugh’s team improved to 13-0 and secured a third consecutive playoff berth.
“You look at this whole group, and J.J. (McCarthy), Blake (Corum), Mike (Sainristil), so many others – the worm has turned,” Harbaugh said postgame. “These are the guys. These Michigan football players, when you look back at the history of Michigan football, wrote the book on getting the worm to turn.
“The worm is pretty slippery. That thing can start wiggling back and forth and turning back on you. The hook got put in it. The hook got put in the worm. They’ve written the book on how to do it. It wasn’t that long ago we were saying, ‘We’re going to do this (win a championship) or we’re going to die trying. They just give everything they got. That’s all we ask them is to give it their very best, but they give everything they have on a daily basis.”
As Michigan waits to learn its playoff opponent Sunday afternoon, here are notable quotes from Harbaugh and players after Saturday’s victory:
“Just a playmaker. When a play has to be made, when the magic needs to happen, Mike makes it happen. It’s been game after game, especially down the stretch here these final four games. He has been a stalwart. He intercepts, he makes the big hit, he makes the big hit in the fumble, causes a fumble. Just an incredible player.
“He does it by always being in the right place where he’s supposed to be, playing the right technique at all times, leading other guys to do the exact same thing. But he also does it as a superior athlete. That combination comes together, superior athlete and a guy that does everything right. It’s fun to watch.”
– Harbaugh on defensive back Mike Sainristil, who was named Big Ten championship MVP. He forced two fumbles and had a pass breakup Saturday.
“It was a beautiful journey, a journey that taught me a lot of things about myself. I remember on December 2nd last year I was going into surgery. It was probably around this time, California time.
“Just how the whole 365 can change. It was a beautiful journey. I went through some trials and tribulations. I found myself again and became a better man on and off the field, but to be back out here with my guys, it felt great. It’s been a heck of a journey, but the journey is not over. I’m super excited to see what this next month has to offer, this next game has to offer because I know it’s going to be glorious. I know it’s going to be great. To summarize everything from what I’ve been through, last year to now, has been beautiful. I wouldn’t trade nothing in the world for it.”
– Corum on playing in the Big Ten championship this year after missing the 2022 game because of a knee injury. He rushed for 52 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The senior tied the program record for most career rushing touchdowns with 55.
“To me it feels 10 out of 10 happy, like it did last year and like it did in ‘21. After the ‘21 game, I lost my wallet on my way to see Colston Loveland, to make a home visit to see him. “I was kind of bummed I lost my wallet, but then I woke up, and we’re Big Ten champions. I don’t care about my wallet. You know? That’s when it really sinks in to me, so it will probably really sink in tomorrow when I wake up. If I lose my wallet, my phone, whatever it is, we’re Big Ten champions. It’s an amazing feeling.”
– Harbaugh on winning three straight league titles.
“This team is constantly maturing, getting better as men every single day. It’s been a process, but it’s been a very great process, a learning process, learning experience. I don’t think that you could paint a better picture, but the picture also isn’t done being painted.
“I can’t wait to continue this journey with these guys. Coach says he can’t have it any better — he has it better than nobody when it comes to players – as a player, I don’t think I could have it any better than a coach like Coach Harbaugh who loves us as his sons. When you have a coach who loves you in that way, you’re able to, as a player, then love your coach as well as love your players. We’re direct reflections of how Coach Harbaugh treats us.”
Sainristil on the team’s journey from 2-4 in 2020 to a 38-3 record over the past three years.
