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Michigan honors Jim Harbaugh with wild formation, 4 fingers during season opener

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Michigan is opening the 2023 season against East Carolina, but the Wolverines enter the game without head coach Jim Harbaugh or offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore on the sideline. Harbaugh is serving a self-imposed 3-game suspension while Moore is sidelined for a 1-game suspension.

However, the players took a moment to recognize their head coach prior to one snap in the first quarter. Prior to the offense running a play, the Wolverines lined up single file behind the ball with JJ McCarthy off to the side.

The players all held up four fingers to honor Harbaugh during his absence. The head coach wore No. 4 during his playing days with the program and at various stops in his NFL career.

After a signal from McCarthy, the players dispersed into a formation and ran the plan.

While Harbaugh is not on the sideline, Michigan has looked just fine through the first quarter of action. The Wolverines scored on an early touchdown pass from McCarthy with the QB starting the game 7-for-9 for 70 yards. Blake Corum also has 54 yards (and counting) in his first action since a season-ending knee injury.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.