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Jim Harbaugh, Will Johnson react to 15-0 being ‘sweeter’ after off-the-field issues
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Jim Harbaugh and Will Johnson were taking it all in at the post-game press conference following Michigan’s national championship win over Washington.
The Michigan head coach wasn’t sure if the season could have gone any smoother. Harbaugh was proud of the players for keeping their heads down and working throughout the NCAA’s and Big Ten’s investigation into the alleged sign stealing.
“It couldn’t have gone better. It went exactly how we wanted it to go to win every game. The off-the-field issues, we’re innocent and we stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent. And I’d like to point that out,” said Harbaugh. “And these guys are innocent. And overcome that, it wasn’t that hard because we knew we were innocent. So yeah, that’s really what I wanted to say. It went exactly how we wanted it to go. It went exactly how we wanted it to go.”
Johnson thanked the coaches for keeping the players focused on football during that time. Nothing about how Michigan handled it was a surprise to Johnson.
“I would just say that the coaches, Coach Harbaugh and Coach Herb and all those guys instill in us, the distractions, we’re built to last no matter what the outside circumstance is,” said Johnson. “That’s just what we’re all about.”
It wasn’t anything new in Harbaugh’s eyes from the players. Michigan took care of business and is now on top of the college football world.
“I also want to point out, nothing fancy here. There was nothing surprising,” said Harbaugh. “It was just good old-fashioned teamwork, good old-fashioned hard work by these players and these coaches and none of us are up here taking a deep, long bow because we know this was just good old-fashioned teamwork.”
Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.