Ann Arbor — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh skillfully and pleasantly brushed off the question after his team had beaten Penn State on Saturday.
“That was a long, long time ago,” Harbaugh said, smiling. “In my youth, in my youth.”
It was a long time ago, that day, a Monday after Michigan — which had been ranked No. 2 and quarterbacked and captained by Harbaugh — was upset by unranked Minnesota, dashing the Wolverines’ national title intentions.
Harbaugh, young, bold and brash, told reporters there would be no lingering effects from the Minnesota game as the Wolverines prepared for the regular-season finale against archrival Ohio State.