Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh made his weekly appearance on the Big Ten coaches conference call, answering various questions from media members. Harbaugh spoke about the Ohio State game, what it means, star DL Maurice Hurst the QB situation and more.
The transcript of quotes from Harbaugh's Big Ten coaches conference call is below. The paraphrased and shortened questions are bolded, with Harbaugh's answers in quotes below. The order is as asked during the conference call. As usual, Harbaugh passed on making an opening statement.
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On describing the recruiting battles vs Ohio State:
"I don’t know. Don’t have one or two words to sum it up with."
On the importance of the state of Ohio in recruiting:
"It’s good football there. They're Well-trained. We aspire to get the best student-athletes and the best football players to come to Michigan. Tha's a free will decision, but we think that they'll be happy if they come to Michigan. That's how we describe it. Ohio is very good at football. I was born in Ohio, played with a lot of Ohio players. Like Ohio. Can’t see enough good things about that."
On the challenges of facing the OSU offense:
"They’re very good. Very good at all phases of offense. Especially good, as you pointed out, with the big play. And protections are good. All facets are good. Experienced, good schemes, good players.”
On the challenges of finding a balance at stopping the run and the pass:
"You said it perfectly. It’s a balance. Making sure that you can defend both the run and pass. That puts pressure on a defense and it’s what an offense aspires to do. To be good at both the run and the pass. To put that pressure on a defensive unit. And they do a good job of it."
On OSU center Billy Price:
"We’ve had a chance to watch both sides of the ball. He’s come in an done a really fine job. Everything is precision with which he plays. The entire offensive line is very impressive."
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On when players "get" the importance of The Game:
"The more that they play, the more they get it. Some have never played in the game, can even be on the team and not played in the game. You’re a freshman, you haven't played in the game. The more experience you have, the more you understand the excitement, intensity and just how important it is. How immense the stage is. You come to embrace that. After they're done with their playing career, their appreciation and understanding grows."
On Maurice Hurst and his intensity:
"I think you captured it really well. The intensity he brings to play every week. He's got talent, but he has an intensity about him. A motor. Has really refined his technique, his fundamentals. He’s grown into his own style of play. He’s very good, very disruptive. To have the size he does and initial quickness. He has all those things. Really a great example of someone who has developed into, it’s an understatement to say valuable, but really, really valuable player.
On preparing multiple QBs to play with Brandon Peters hurt:
"We do every week, prepare multiple QBs for the game. We’ve had experience at it this year. Had three different QBs who have started games. I don’t know the degree of difficulty, but we’ve been doing that. We’ve been preparing multiple QBs … Kind of our way. Always feel it necessary to prepare more than one QB for each game."
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