Jim Harbaugh wasn't in the Big House for his team's season-opener against East Carolina on Saturday, serving the first game of Michigan's self-imposed three-game suspension for recruiting violations and for Harbaugh allegedly misleading NCAA investigators, but his players had him in mind.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy stepped off the team bus and onto the field during warm-ups wearing a homemade 'Free Harbaugh' shirt -- which appeared to be a No. 4 Michigan Harbaugh T-shirt jersey worn backwards with the word 'Free' written on athletic tape above Harbaugh's name. Resourceful, if nothing else.
And on the first play of Michigan's second drive, the offense assembled in the train formation, a favorite of Harbaugh's in the past, and held up Harbaugh's No. 4 in the air.
A bit excessive for a coach who broke NCAA rules and was suspended by his own university as a result? Sure.
But clearly, Harbaugh's players will take motivation wherever they can find it. The Wolverines had built a 20-0 lead on East Carolina midway through the second quarter.