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Kirk Herbstreit begs reporter to not ask him what’s wrong with Michigan: ‘Please don’t ask’

Kristian Dyer

By Kristian Dyer

Published:

Kirk Herbstreit summed up the suffering of Michigan football fans so far this year, back-to-back losses the past two weeks a source of frustration for the Wolverine faithful.

In a media conference call on Wednesday previewing ESPN’s broadcast of No. 13 Wisconsin at now unranked Michigan, Herbstreit began to roll and writhe when he realized the question from Angelique S. Chengelis of the Detroit News was going to be about Michigan’s struggles. His agony, playful and irreverent, was the perfect answer to the state of the Michigan program.

It has not been an easy start to the year for Michigan. Fans and some in the media are even questioning the long-term viability of head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Oh no, here we go,” Herbstreit said when it was announced by the moderator that Chengelis had the next question, clutching his head in faux-agony.

“What in the heck is going on up there? Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Oh. Please don’t ask.”

After a bit of banter, Herbstreit asked “Can I pass?”

Herbstreit, of course, ended up answering the question. He defended Harbaugh, saying he is capable of coaching, this despite their struggles this season. At 1-2, Michigan beat Minnesota in their season opener and then fell to Michigan State and No. 10 Wisconsin in consecutive weeks.

With those losses, they’ve tumbled out of the national polls.

“You know, you knowthat nobody wants to see him do better than me outside of the Michigan family. Like, I am all in,”Herbstreit said according to Chengelis. “When they made the hire, I was like, ‘Here we go,’ because I want the Big Ten to be elite, and I want the bluebloods to be elite, and I want Ohio State and Michigan to play each other with everything on the line every year. That’s my dream scenario as the fan in me. I enjoy that.”

Kristian Dyer