Jim Harbaugh’s honeymoon with the media may be coming to a crashing halt. Earlier this week, Harbaugh stormed out of a media session at the University of Michigan when he was asked about player suspensions. Now Harbaugh’s unwillingness to answer some tough questions is gaining attention nationwide from radio host Jim Rome.
Rome was critical of Harbaugh and his reaction to reporters just doing their job and called out the Michigan coach on his radio show and said it showed that he’s “not going to last long” if he can’t handle a preseason media session.
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“Maybe you forgot over the summer that it’s their job to cover your team, not asking you what your favorite Drake album is,” Rome said on his show. “Just like they’re not there to write another tired story about your latest throwback jersey, or your Walmart khakis, or your latest shirtless photo from satellite camp, or another (attack) on the SEC.
“They’re not on your staff, they do not work for the university. You preside over an alleged national power. If you suspend guys, reporters are going to ask you about it. They’re just doing their job, so you should do yours and answer the question.”
“If anybody thought this was going to be a kinder, gentler Harbaugh since he went home to Ann Arbor to rescue the football program, make no mistake, it’s the same exact guy,” Rome said. “Nothing’s changed. Same guy. Same insanely intense dude that got run from Frisco, because he was miserable. He runs way too hot and he was wearing people out. Don’t get it twisted now. Great coach. Unbelievable coach. I’m sure he’ll do a great job there. But when you have a coach who wins as he wins and nobody is ever sorry to see him leave, that tells you a little something about that guy.”
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“Michigan fan will love this guy for winning. They’ll love him even more if he gets around to beating Michigan State, and even more than that, if he can finally find a way to get over Ohio State. But anybody who thinks Harbaugh is wired to grow old in that job is kidding themselves. Enjoy it while it lasts, because even though it’s his alma mater, it probably won’t. This cat runs way too hot. If he can’t get through an August press session, media session, when they’re asking him about guys that are not in a team photo, this guy’s not going to last long.”
Harbaugh’s response was much less verbose. And he responded to Rome where else? Through what Harbaugh does best – Twitter subtweets! There was really only one way for Harbaugh to go, right?
Do you remember the provocateur who went personal with another Big 10 QB and had the tables turned on him? #déjàvu https://t.co/0GAciV74tQ
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) August 17, 2016
It’s too bad Jim Rome doesn’t have a television show anymore because if there’s anyone in sports who would be willing to reenact Jim Everett’s theatrics, it’s probably Harbaugh.
On a more serious note, this will be a fascinating story to watch as the year unfolds. Much of the media has had fun with Harbaugh’s slightly off-beat personality and the revival happening with Michigan football. But if the media and Harbaugh turn against each other, and Michigan underperforms with growing expectations, it could make things somewhat dicey in Ann Arbor.
