Michigan football: Will Harbaugh’s first spring game point U-M to past glory?

By Joel Greer | Mar 24, 2015

Michigan football fans will get their first look at Jim Harbaugh’s inaugural Wolverine squad, when U-M plays its annual spring game at noon April 4 in Michigan Stadium.

Harbaugh took the job in late December after Brady Hoke was discharged after a 5-7 record in his fourth season. His goal is to return the Wolverines to an incredible era, where coaches Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr produced a total of 21 Big Ten titles and one co-national championship (1997).

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What’s most remarkable is the 400-118-11 record the trio of coaches collectively achieved.

Harbaugh, who played quarterback for Schembechler in the mid-80s, has been a candidate for the Michigan job since Carr retired after the 2007 season.

Hackett’s starring role

Finally, Harbaugh became available after he was fired by the NFL San Francisco 49ers after an 8-8 slate in 2014. With Hoke already gone, interim athletic director Jim Hackett jumped on the chance and landed Michigan’s man.

“Throughout my life I have dreamed of coaching at the University of Michigan,” said Harbaugh. “Now I have the honor to do it.”

Harbaugh’s brash demeanor is a reminder of the late Schembechler who was a stickler for detail and rarely minced words.

Sep 13, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Dennis Norfleet (23) runs the ball against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Bo would run the same play 20 times in practice until the team got it right. That’s right, 20 times.

Michigan fans who suffered over the last seven years and two coaches, are just hoping the Wolverines can jog their memory with a long kickoff return (Dennis Norfleet?), a 55-yard run for a touchdown (De’Veon Smith) or Jabrill Peppers impersonating Charles Woodson.

‘This is how we do it’

“I think one big thing that’s going to happen is you’re going to see a lot of the old things that used to happen — bring the tradition out of the old walls. Bring it out,” Moeller said. “This is how we do it at Michigan. This is the way we want it done. I’m sure Jim’s going to approach it that way, because that’s all he knows.”

After Harbaugh took the job, he barely had time to complete the 2015 recruiting class, before diving into spring practice.

It’s probably unfair to expect a Big Ten title in his first year, but thanks to a pair of excellent recruiting classes by Hoke’s staff in 2012 and 2014, rest assured Harbaugh’s first team will be very competitive.

Competition

The 2015 team will be similar to Hoke’s (11-2) 2011 squad, which was loaded with juniors and seniors from the Rich Rodriguez regime.

So Michigan will have plenty of bodies to hold a “real” spring game.

You’ll see the ongoing battles at quarterback, running back and center, along with the competition along the defensive front.

And lets hope the weatherman cooperates. No need for an early April snowstorm.

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