Favorite Harbaugh Quotes
Jim Harbaugh is not one to shy away from throwing shade at opposing coaches, programs or the media. He does not randomly talk trash or start feuds, but instead, when it feels appropriate, will quote others or use sayings to get his point across.
With the Urban Meyer Jacksonville tire fire reaching peak levels with his firing this week, and Urban being fully exposed as a hypocrite and a fraud, and UM finally beating OSU (particularly after Day's "Hang 100" comments) I'm getting more and more joy from these two Harbaugh shots.
For Meyer -
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" - Sir Walter Scott
For Day -
"Some people wake up on third base and think they hit a triple, but they didn't"
So mgoblog, what are some of your favorite Harbaugh-isms from our quirky coach?
December 17th, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
Yes. It feels good. And we are gonna beat OSU next year too.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:32 AM ^
That last one you mentioned is the best in my book. Some people wake up on third and think they hit a triple. Awesome quote and fitting as well. Day took over a dynasty built by two other crazy successful coaches. He hasn't built anything. It's not like the mess Harbaugh took over. If you con't remain humble you leave yourself open to stuff like that. I just hope our coaches quotes from this year don't serve as extra motivation for the buckeyes next season.
December 17th, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
This quote is so good on so many levels. It is absolutely insidious in the minds of the Ohio State faithful and at the same time it is a direct response to Day that is not an attack on the OSU team and or student athletes. I am not generally a fan of trash talk but if you are going to do something you might as well do it well.
December 17th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
Except it's a misquote. That's not what Harbaugh said. Wouldn't really care except for that its a central part of the OP.
What Harbaugh actually said:
“Sometimes people that are standing on third base think they hit a triple, but they didn't."
December 17th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
Yeah, in the moment, he didn't get the exact quote right but got the spirit of it right. So all good in my book. What I loved about it is that it came shortly after he said something about "taking the high road" and then ... as if he said to himself "Eff it," he let it rip.
December 17th, 2021 at 2:06 PM ^
The statement Harbaugh made has been misquoted several different ways. Words have meanings. Definitions matter. Different words change the meaning. If you’re going to use quote marks you better get it right.
December 17th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
^^This. And usually I wouldn't nitpick, but the OP's title is 'Favorite Harbaugh Quotes' and when you do start a thread with that title you have to get the quote right.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
A man can be destroyed but not defeated.
(Yes I know Ernest Hemmingway said it first.)
December 17th, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
When he said Rudddock was harder than hens’ teeth, but only because I had never heard it before. The old saying was “rarer than hens’ teeth”, because hens don’t have teeth.
December 17th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
Everybody knows only roosters have teeth. It's science.
December 17th, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^
But, does a chicken have lips?
December 17th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
"A chicken is a nervous bird."
December 17th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
He said Rudock was tougher than a $2 steak.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:42 AM ^
At the press conference introducing him here, when asked why he had the personality he did::
"All the other personalities were taken."
quoting his since released assistant, someone will remember his name:
"If the worms had machine guns, the robins would leave them alone."
December 17th, 2021 at 9:43 AM ^
“Attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind"
As my daughter continues her year and half fight against cancer We have said this quote many times . She doesn't just say it but puts it in action. A lot tough at 5 years old than I ever was..
December 17th, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
You've got this. You're stronger than you realize.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
Prayers to you and your family. Go blue!
December 17th, 2021 at 9:53 AM ^
Prayers sent! Love as well *hugs*
December 17th, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
My best to you and your family in this fight
December 17th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
whew, pioneer! that puts it all in perspective. blessings to your precious daughter, courage for you and mother.
December 17th, 2021 at 12:15 PM ^
All strength to your daughter and family. Can't imagine what this time is like for any of you.
December 17th, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^
Prayers and blessings for your courageous daughter Mr Mgopioneer!
December 17th, 2021 at 3:57 PM ^
She sounds like a tough young woman. We’re pulling for her and you and your family
December 17th, 2021 at 9:44 AM ^
Who's got it better than us???
December 17th, 2021 at 9:52 AM ^
NOOOBODY!!!
Last year or so, that one had been collecting dust. I love saying it now!
December 17th, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
"We'll beat Ohio State this week. I'll guarantee it."
-JH, November 1986
December 17th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
I remember this vividly.
December 17th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
Me too. We thought that Bo would rip his head off. Instead Bo said that Jim must be pretty confident then.
December 17th, 2021 at 1:17 PM ^
IIRC, Bo had a blunt conversation with Harbaugh where he said something to the effect of "you better back it up." Harbaugh gave Wino the same message during the Revenge Tour.
December 17th, 2021 at 4:49 PM ^
What Bo actually said was “Well Harbaugh shot his mouth off, so now we have to back him up”,
December 17th, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
And the 34 year old follow up
"and we're gonna do it, or die trying"
December 17th, 2021 at 9:46 AM ^
"God Willing and the creek don't rise..." Originally penned by Jerry Reed, I first heard the expression via Johnny Cash.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^
I clearly spend too much time in the city. My wife, whose 'kin' come from Alabama and Kentucky, drop this one on me the other day. Sometimes I wonder if she married the right guy...
December 17th, 2021 at 10:10 AM ^
Yeah, she could probably do better. J/K
December 17th, 2021 at 9:46 AM ^
"WHO'S GOT IT BETTER THAN US?!"
I love that quote and that way of thinking. Have adopted it in my family to try and teach the kids appreciation for what we have and instilling a positive outlook on life. Not quite as catchy as "we'll beat ohio state or die trying", but still a good one.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
I was and still am happier than a pig in slop.
December 17th, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
He's got a surprisingly large number of them. Reflecting on the last two big games, this one rings true, "Winning as a team is better than anything. It's great to share success"
December 17th, 2021 at 9:59 AM ^
“URBAN MEYER'S HAD A WINNING RECORD. REALLY PHENOMENAL RECORD EVERYWHERE HE'S BEEN. BUT ALSO, CONTROVERSY FOLLOWS EVERYWHERE HE'S BEEN.”– JIM HARBAUGH
December 17th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
Turned out to be prophetic as well.
December 17th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
It's just a matter of time with Urban. There has been some sort of controversy every, single place he has been.
December 17th, 2021 at 10:02 AM ^
“That kid is tougher than a $2 steak”
December 17th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
"I don't take vacations. I don't get sick. I don't observe major holidays. I'm a jack hammer."
One of the funniest things I read was the quiz where you had to guess whether the quote was from Harbaugh or the Zodiac Killer.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/nzpyvk/jim-harbaugh-or-the-zodiac-killer-an-important-quiz
He might be a crazy son of a bitch, but he's our crazy son of a bitch. Love the guy.
December 17th, 2021 at 10:20 AM ^
Hah! On the subject of personal health, I like these:
- "I take a vitamin every day. It's called 'steak.'"
- “I truly believe the No. 1 natural steroid is sleep and the No. 2 natural steroid is milk, whole milk, and three would be water,” he said. “Four would be steak.”
I suspect Abigail might suggest mixing in a few vegetables, but I like the way this man thinks.
(Please be gentle, I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster.)
December 17th, 2021 at 10:10 AM ^
We're gonna beat OSU or die tryin'
December 17th, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
"Early in his Michigan tenure, Harbaugh pulled Speight aside and told him not to eat chicken, a protein that is considered fairly safe by nutritionists," Hayes wrote. "When Speight asked why, Harbaugh said, 'because it's a nervous bird'"
December 17th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Iron sharpens Iron
December 17th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
That ground has been thoroughly plowed.When he isn’t gonna talk about it anymore.
December 17th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
"It's like Thanksgiving. It's like New Year's Day. It's like a family reunion. And having it all rolled into one. Most people think of January 1st as the start of a new year. To people who espouse to Catholicism and Christianity, they might correlate that with the birth of Christ. Us in football, the start of spring practice and the first day of summer training camp are what you look at as the New Year with fireworks going off, it's your birthday. It's being born back into football, it's a happening."
Love it when Jim spontaneously gets philosophical on us...
December 17th, 2021 at 11:07 AM ^
Lot to unpack there. . .
December 17th, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
Throughout my life, I have dreamed of coaching at the University of Michigan.