Michigan Wolverines star quarterback J.J. McCarthy wore a ‘FREE Harbaugh’ shirt before and after the team’s 30-3 opening-day win over East Carolina.
Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh is currently serving a school-imposed three-game suspension due to recruiting violations.
McCarthy wore a Harbaugh No 4 shirt with ‘FREE’ – written in marker on white tape -above the coach’s name as he stepped off the bus, during the pregame warmup and at the postgame news conference.
‘That was definitely a tribute to coach Harbaugh,’ McCarthy said after throwing three touchdown passes to Roman Wilson to help the second-ranked Wolverines secure an easy win to start the season. ‘That was pretty cool to do that.’
‘I just want my coach back,’ McCarthy continued. ‘It´s as simple as that.’
J.J. McCarthy wore a ‘FREE Harbaugh’ shirt before and after the game against East Carolina
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is currently serving a school-imposed three-game ban
McCarthy said he believed Harbaugh watched the game at Moore’s house. Harbaugh was able to coach the team during the week, and helped the staff with the game plan.
McCarthy completed 26 of 30 passes for 280 yards in the first meeting between the teams.
The quarterback said he felt much different than he did a year ago when he was coming off a shoulder injury and competing with Cade McNamara to be the team’s starting quarterback.
‘This one felt effortless,’ he said.
All-America running back Blake Corum, coming off knee surgery, ran for 73 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. He showed his speed is back on 37- and 21-yard runs.
Fans also wore their own customized ‘free Harbaugh’ shirts in support of the head coach
‘It felt great being back out there, making some cuts and some long runs,’ Corum said. ‘That was my first time, honestly, getting hit since the Ohio State game.’
The Pirates (0-1) were overmatched as expected against a team with national championship aspirations that’s coming off two straight Big Ten titles and trips to the College Football Playoff.
They avoided a shutout with Andrew Conrad’s 33-yard field goal as time expired.
Harbaugh´s game-day role was filled by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore also missed the game, suspended by the school for one game due to violating unspecified NCAA rules.
‘When I saw him last night, it really really hit me that it’s really going down,’ Minter said.