Jim Harbaugh reflects on Ohio State win, previews Big Ten Championship Game

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh joined the Big Ten Championship Game Coaches Webinar on Sunday afternoon.

Harbaugh previewed the title game against Purdue, but he also spent significant time reflecting on the victory over Ohio State.

Here are select quotes from his appearance:

On his bye week comments about having the time of his life coaching in San Francisco:

There’s nothing more than that time. There’s nothing more than this time. Very blessed to be having the time of my life right now.

On facing Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game:

My earliest thought is I’ve been watching Purdue quite a bit. Coach Brohm has done a tremendous job with the team from their very first game.

I remember being in this position now and what that feels like. It’s just so filled with optimism and good feeling with your team. I remember the feeling last year. Nobody expected us to be there last year. And here’s this opportunity to go play into the championship game.

I know how dangerous a team like that can be. I would imagine that is the same feelings that Purdue is having — same feelings we’re having. It inspires your team and invigorates it and the preparation, the plans, the practices. They’re just easy, they flow. Everybody is just so into it. So, I know that’s the kind of position they’re in, kind of position we’re in, and makes both teams very dangerous.

On making it to the Big Ten Championship game twice in a row:

What it means is, it’s just a great thrill. A great thrill of winning, a great thrill of being able to go for a championship.

There’s a time to live. There’s a time to die. But there’s never a time to reject the moment.

That our players get to go through that. That they get the benefits of being in that moment and having that opportunity. That’s what means so much. Also that my wife, my kids, the players I coach, the families of the players that we coach — their sisters, their brothers, their parents, their grandparents — that everybody gets to have the excitement of going for a championship. To be a champion, there’s few accolades better in the United States of America.

So what it means to me, personally, is that my wife, my sons, my daughters, my brothers, my sisters, my parents, our players, their parents, sisters, brothers, families, get to go through that same pursuit of excellence and see that in their sons and brothers and sisters and friends.

On the Michigan football offense against Ohio State:

Our offense was explosive, physical, unselfish.

JJ ran a play toward the boundaries and CJ Stokes is over there, trying to get a block for him. The offensive line running to pick up JJ. The deep ball connection, the great protection. Our offensive line: tremendous protection in this last game. I mean, number 44 is one of the best pass rushers out there, and I thought our protection was really good.

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