Jim Harbaugh meets with media before season opener vs. Western Michigan
With the six-game 2020 season in the rear-view mirror, Michigan head coach Jim Harbuagh is looking to make it a distant memory with a bounce-back season in 2021.
The opener against Western Michigan is on Saturday, and the pressure on Harbaugh to open with a win is high as he enters his seventh season in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh is looking to some new faces on the sidelines to make a difference, specifically the debut of defensive coordination Mike Macdonald. The former NFL assistant will be charged with turning around the Wolverines defense that simply couldn’t get the job done last season.
Last season’s absence of fans in the stands resulted in playing in an empty “Big House” and bringing back the fans is something Harbaugh is looking forward to this season.
In his Monday press conference, he discussed the impact of the fans coming back, as well as announcing that Cade McNamara is the official starter at quarterback and his impressions of his Week 1 opponent.
Here is more of what he had to say.
Harbaugh says team is “99%” vaccinated
— angelique (@chengelis) August 30, 2021
Harbaugh says McNamara will be starting QB
— angelique (@chengelis) August 30, 2021
Harbaugh says he’s excited to have fans back at the Big House and says he compares it to a “Super Bowl environment”.
Michigan opens the season at home on Saturday against Western Michigan. #GoBlue— Sydney Cariel (@SydCariel) August 30, 2021
Jim Harbaugh also doesn’t name a starting offensive line, saying they feel like they have 8 starters on the offensive line.
Would expect LG Chuck Filiaga, Flex Karsen Barnhart and RT Trente Jones are the three off the bench. Hayes, Keegan, Vastardis, Zinter, Stueber starters.
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) August 30, 2021
Harbaugh says Moody and Robbins have had great camps … says it's the best situation they've had at kicker since he's been here. Won't disclose return men yet
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) August 30, 2021
Harbaugh does not name a starting CB, says Gemon Green, DJ Turner and Vincent Gray are all starters.
If you subscribe to availability theory, Gray being made available to reporters this week suggests he has the edge over Turner.
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) August 30, 2021
“Most people I’ve talked to can’t wait to be back in that stadium,” Jim Harbaugh said about welcome Michigan fans to the Big House.
“The only thing I can compare it to is a Super Bowl environment with all the people around the stadium.”
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 30, 2021
Harbaugh impressed with WMU defense. Especially TFLs. Says it’s a very aggressive unit.
— Ed Kengerski (@EdUofM) August 30, 2021
“I believe we’re capable and have a chance to win.” – Jim Harbaugh
We’ll have more from him tonight on @ABC12WJRT at 5 & 6! pic.twitter.com/HHwzBIcbod— Sydney Cariel (@SydCariel) August 30, 2021
“Cade McNamara is our starting quarterback” – Harbaugh has named his QB1 for the 2021 Wolverines. @WLNS #HereforYou pic.twitter.com/9jm8TG7Qnm
— Nick Mantas (@Nick__Mantas) August 30, 2021
Jim Harbaugh loves depth of OL. Didn’t reveal the starting lineup but indicated he feels they have 5-8 starters.
— Ed Kengerski (@EdUofM) August 30, 2021
Harbaugh says walk-ons Hunter Neff, Jake Thaw and Lucas Andrighetto are out for the season. Those are the only scratches right now.
— Isaiah Hole (@isaiahhole) August 30, 2021
