For Michigan, a shot at a big win turned into a trip for a bad loss. Washington was supposed to come to town this Saturday as one of the top 20 teams in the country. Then it lost to FCS Montana in the season opener. A win wouldn't mean much for Michigan now.
Just don't try that on Jim Harbaugh. Asked about his team's perception of Washington after its shocking loss, Harbaugh said Tuesday on the Stoney & Jansen Show, "That game really is irrelevant."
If anything, the Huskies might be even hungrier to make a statement, under the lights against against a storied opponent.
"I think our team knows, they've heard from friends, because they've told me, that Washington considers Michigan their biggest game. They've been preparing for it all camp, they've been preparing for it all summer and that's the one that they had circled. That comes from guys on our team who know other guys," Harbaugh said. "So I think they realize, like a lot of teams, that happens (against Michigan). That game last week isn't indicative of the kind of team Washington team is or how they've prepared for the Michigan Wolverines."
You can bet the Huskies also have dates circled with No. 11 Oregon and No. 25 Arizona State, not to mention UCLA after it knocked off No. 16 LSU. But it's no surprise that they're gunning for Michigan, too. The two teams have waited more than a year to play each other after last season's Week 1 matchup at Washington was cancelled due to COVID-19. This weekend's clash might not be the glamorous one we were expecting -- or that ABC was hoping for -- but the result could loom large for both sides later this season.
Harbaugh also had high praise for his defense and new coordinator Mike Macdonald after the Wolverines held a high-powered Western Michigan offense to 14 points in the opener. On one play in the fourth quarter, Harbaugh said Macdonald detected Western Michigan's plan from the sideline and put freshman linebacker Junior Colson in position for a pass-breakup in the backfield.
"I thought the communication was really good," Harbaugh said. "There were some great coaching things, too. Junior Colson's tackle behind the line of scrimmage on third and 2, Mike was yelling, 'The back! The back to the field, the back to the field! Junior, cover the back to the field!' And Junior went and covered the back to the field.
"Everybody just really seemed on the same page. There were some substitution errors, things to clean up, but my impression is everybody seemed to be knowing what each other was talking about and doing."
As for the loss of Ronnie Bell, who's out for the year with a knee injury he suffered in the opener, Harbaugh said Michigan's co-captain and leading receiver the past two seasons is "going to lead from the sidelines and stay involved."
"But there's no question he was carrying our team in that first quarter and the experience he has as a fourth-year player, he's going to be tough to replace," Harbaugh said. "May not be able to do it with just one guy, may take multiple players, but it's very, very unfortunate. Hits close to home because it's my player and I've been there, too, where you have the season-ending injury. I had it happen in college and a couple times in the NFL.
"It's also something that I think ultimately defines you. The game of football isn't what defines everybody all the time, but what they do defines them. And the players that really want it, they just want it. They gotta have it. They go through that grueling rehab and they come out stronger and faster and better. The list is long of players that have had serious injuries and what they do and how they come back from that reveals their character and defines them as the man that they are."
