What Michigan fans need to know about Big Ten Media Day

All fourteen Big Ten head coaches gathered in Chicago this week at the Big Ten Media Days. Coaches took to the podium and gave an opening statement as well as answered fifteen minutes worth of questions from the press. MGoFish has your recap of Michigan and tidbits on other Big Ten teams that Michigan fans want and need to know from the Media Day transcripts.

Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh

On social media’s impact on the Michigan team: “I don’t know that it has. I don’t know how entertaining it’s really been. Be glad to go through any of those specifics with you. Think it’s been a very productive, healthy offseason for our football team. Was really pleased with our team, the way they went through spring practice. Thought it was extremely productive. Competition was very high for spots, for starting positions, for backup roles, for contributing roles, for specialty roles, so…and then, no real long-term injuries coming out of the season. None of the six-monthers. A few things here and there that we hope that the guys will be ready for the start of camp. Maybe one or two that may not, but our goal right now as we finish up the summer is the healthiest, most in shape, prepared team for August 8th and then we’ll take our shot from there.”
On getting one percent better every day: “Just the idea of can we get 1% better each day. Can we be better today than we were yesterday, can we be better tomorrow than we were today. The notion that improvement will lead to success, and that’s the kind of improvement that really sticks. It’s almost getting in shape. If you were going to get in shape, if you do it day after day, a little bit better, a little bit better each day, you may not see it in a day, you may not see it in a week, you may not even see it in a month but at some point you’re going to see it and it’s going to stick. That improvement is going to be there for the long run. So try to paint that picture. If it’s one percent better each guy or we got one percent better as a team, then after 30 days that’s 30% better. After 60 days it’s 60% better. Even if it’s .01% better each day then that would be something that’s worthwhile, that would be something worth pursuing, aspiring to.”
“Another way to say it is look at the NASCAR boys. They’ll stay up all night long just to get one mile an hour faster. Can we get one mile an hour faster each day? That mentality simply put is better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today.“
Harbaugh also noted that he believes wide receiver Jehu Chesson will be ready for fall camp.
On true freshmen getting acclimated during three home non-conference games: “Are you talking about playing time for freshmen? Again, we have some very good freshmen that we believe have the ability and will have the license to play. Everything will be based on a meritocracy…

“That’s one of my favorite things, my personal favorite things about our program, is that you will be known by your effort and your talent. By your effort and your talent, you will be known, so the best players will be the starters and then the backup roles will be earned, the contributing roles will be earned, the specialty roles will be earned, scout team roles will. Earned. It’s as simple as that. There is no games or tricks or politics or what class are you in, what year are you, are you on scholarship, are you not on scholarship–it’s based upon a meritocracy, the way it should be…

“I hope I made that word up, too, by the way. I’ve never really researched that, whether that’s in the dictionary. Is meritocracy a word or did I make that up? It’s a real word? Gosh, I thought I made that up.”

Jim Harbaugh: “Is meritocracy a word?” https://t.co/E1eftp2yuV https://t.co/mpIrdnPm1G

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 25, 2016

On nine game conference schedule compared to eight: “I think it’s good on a number of levels. We’re closer. We’re playing the teams that are in our area. You can get on a bus and go to most of the schools. Well, not most. Some of the schools, anyway. Makes scheduling easier. We’re in the same conference. Has implications on who the champion is, so I think it’s very good.“
On recently released rap video: “My default is usually ‘yes.’ Action. Why not? And the reaction has been very good. I’ve gotten multiple texts, phone calls, comments from people who really liked it and I think the cool people liked it.”
On Michael Jordan representing Michigan and vice versa: “My thoughts are proud and honored to share a sideline with Michael Jordan. Proud, honored to share the Jumpman logo on our uniforms.“
On Jabrill Peppers: “Well, anything’s accomplishable for Jabrill Peppers in the game of football. Again, they’ve got to be worked for. He is a–well, let me start by saying this: I think football players, professional football players, are the greatest athletes in the world and Jabrill is that kind of athlete. He is that kind of athlete that has the greatest-in-the-world type of athleticism. He can play just about anywhere on a football field and be effective. Could put him in at corner, could put him at safety, could put him in at nickel, could put him at a linebacker. Ultimately nickel is probably his best position. He could be a returner of the punts, a returner of the kick offs, he could be a gunner, he could be a hold up guy. Offensively, probably right now could be our best slot receiver and would give De’Veon and all our running backs a run for their money to be the best running back on the team. Could be a wildcat quarterback. Could play outside receiver. Can run all the reverses and the fly sweeps. So I think you get the picture. He is a tremendous athlete…

“The other thing about Jabrill is he is highly, highly motivated and very serious about being good. I mean, he’s seen a lot in his life from an early age. He’s felt people try to put him down. He’s felt people try to hate on him from an early age, some about even where he went to high school. Has taken a lot of racial and other type of directed hate toward him and he has never let that get him down or put him down. He has always used that as fuel or motivation, so he is a very fiery guy. He’s highly motivated, and with the type of athleticism that he has I truly believe if he keeps working and having the same intensity and focus that he’s had and seriousness about being a very good football player and student and person, all those things, it could explode into, I mean, a giant of a man.”

Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio

“We’re 36-5 the past four years, 24-2 in the Big Ten conference. As you’ve heard, we’ve sort of set the table in terms of what we have to do every year.”
According to the roster given out at Media Day, LJ Scott is down eight pounds and Madre London down 14 pounds.
“LJ played heavy last year at 235 (pounds) like Le’Veon Bell.”
All four quarterbacks in the mix to start, Tyler O’Connor, Damien Terry, Brian Lewerke, and Messiah DeWeaver. Dantonio wants competition and not name a starter this early. Give people opportunities early in the season. “Tyler has the lead.”
On negative recruiting toward Penn State: “From my standpoint, I have not said anything negative about Penn State and hopefully that our coaches haven’t as well. I was surprised to read that. I don’t know what happens out there on the road completely. That’s not our M.O and that’s not how we do business.” –Mark Dantonio
On Malik McDowell: “Malik is a playmaker, there’s no doubt about that. He comes to play. I think that this is the year that sort of catapults him. We have seven starters coming back.”
“Our players know how to win, we won a lot of football games. Our younger players have only seen the past three years of what we’ve been able to accomplish. Our fifth year seniors saw 2012. You have to be able to handle the bad times as much as the good.”

Ohio State’s Urban Meyer

On Michigan-Ohio State rivalry: “That’s a long ways off. It’s a rivalry and everyone knows how we treat that rivalry at Ohio State. It’s there every day. We’ve had very, very good recruiting classes the past few years… I can’t wait for the first day of practice.”
“Have to find a way to replace arguably one of the best groups of players to play college football; they won 50 games, a National Title, highest graduation rate at Ohio State University, and a record NFL draft. We’re young, but talented.”
“44 of our scholarship players have never played a game. We as coaches have to get them ready. This will be a new challenge for us and one I can’t wait to get our hands on, I believe August 6 we report.”
On former Michigan recruiting target RB Brionte Dunn, who was dismissed from OSU after being accused of domestic abuse: “There’s no chance Brionte will come back.”
On Mike Weber and potentially starting: “I think so; his performance in spring, I like where he’s at, I love where he’s at. I anticipate he will be our starting running back.”
On Michael Jordan: “I can’t wait to watch our offensive line; Michael Jordan, a true freshman, will probably be in the starting lineup. From what I’ve seen in his development since he got here in January is excellent.”
On negatively recruiting Penn State: “Absolutely not, that’s the first time I’ve heard of that. I’ll address that with Coach Franklin. We do just fine in recruiting…”
Overall, Meyer is looking forward to the challenge of breaking in new players that have little to no experience in college football. Early test at Oklahoma is going to be tough. Stated that this year’s team is capable of making the playoff.

Maryland’s DJ Durkin

“It’s good to finally talk about football and not Satellite Camps, it’s good to be off that topic.”
Durkin is proud of the coaching staff that he has been able to put together at Maryland. Mentioned there is “a lot” to be excited about Maryland football.
On recruiting the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area so well: “Our backyard is one of the most talent-rich areas in the country in terms of football recruiting. That’s obviously been our priority and we’re putting a lot of time and effort into that.”
Durkin has worked for both Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer: “It’s great. Those guys bring the competitive level up. You want to be a part of the highest level and they stand for that.”

There’s no denying that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh was the hit of the media days. What did you think of his quotes and what other programs said about both him and Michigan? Let us know in the comment section below!

Photo Credit: Tim Fuller / USA TODAY Sports