Ohio State Postgame Presser: Jim Harbaugh
[Bryan Fuller]
What’s your view of the last spot there before the touchdown?
“That it wasn’t a first down by that much.” [holds hands apart about eight inches]
So you agreed with the call, then?
“That it was not a first down. The officiating, I’m bitterly disappointed with the officiating today. That spot—the graphic display is the interference penalties. The one not called on us when Grant Perry clearly was being hooked before the ball got there, and the previous penalty called on Delano Hill, the ball’s uncatchable and by the receiver. So yeah, I’m bitterly disappointed in the officiating. Can’t make that any more clear.”
[Ed. A- The second Harbaugh used “bitterly” I knew that I’d heard that word spoken with the exact same inflection before. I realized about the time we were leaving the stadium that Harbaugh said it the way Bo did in the archival footage used in Tiebreaker. Watch through 33:38 if you can stomach it.]
[After THE JUMP: the most bizarre explanation for a personal foul I have ever heard]
I misunderstood--
“My view of the first down was that it was that short [holds hands apart about eight inches].”
How do you feel this game affects the rivalry?
“Right now it’s not on my mind. It’s what I said.”
Do you feel that your team deserved to win?
“I thought our guys have worked incredibly hard. They have done everything that they could, and they’ve done it so very well. I’m very proud of our players, yes.”
Did you consider going for two?
“Two penalties all day. Multiple holding penalties let go. Multiple false starts. The official on my side who’s supposed to be watching that is concerned with whether our coaches are in the white or not in the white. Not on the field. Their coaches were on the field [and] practically in the huddle at times. Yeah, I’m bitter.”
Did you consider going for two after the touchdown in overtime?
“No. Considered it, considered and decided to kick the extra point.”
Do you think there’s any shot at getting into the playoff with two losses?
“I don’t know.”
Do you think you deserve to be in the playoff?
[chuckles] “I told you what I think. Thought our guys did everything they possibly could. Bitterly disappointed with the officiating. That’s how I feel right now.”
Jim, when did you know Wilton would go and can you talk about his play other than the big turnovers?
“Yeah, um, doctors had cleared him to practice this week. He was chomping at the bit to go. He showed that he was functional right up to the level that he’s been playing at all year. After he practiced on Tuesday, Wednesday, made the decision that he would start.”
What did you say to your team when you got in the locker room right after? I’m sure it was a very disappointed group. What did you say to them?
“Same things I’ve said to you.”
Disappointed in the officiating.
“And the other thing before that. Very proud of our team. This group has worked incredibly hard. Done everything they possibly could do, and they’ve done it so very well. Very proud of our team. That’s what I told them.”
Despite the officiating, are these the two best teams in the Big Ten?
“Uh, I don’t know.”
Defensively, you did a really good job of holding right up until the fourth quarter, then they got some things going. What were you able to do so well defensively, and did anything change from what you saw in the fourth quarter?
“Yeah, I mean, I thought we were doing a heck of a job. They got a gift interference call. A gift. The ball was uncatchable, past the receiver, when our guy, Delano Hill, made contact. And then fast forward to overtime, second overtime, Grant Perry is getting hooked, turned before the ball gets there. I think that really benefitted them, that gift interference penalty.”
Do you feel you lost this game or had it taken from you?
“I don’t know. What do you think? That’s what I think. As I said, bitterly disappointed in the officiating.
“So concerned about—could have been watching the game instead of being concerned about throwing a—what, did you throw a hat? Throw your script toward your sideline? That’s a penalty? I asked him that and he said, ‘Well, it is in basketball.’ I go, ‘Well, this isn’t basketball.’ He told me he officiates basketball. I don’t know the relevance. He said it would have been a technical in basketball. Yeah, I’m bitter.”
It’s gonna be tough to make the playoff. What would you say, what would your case be to get your team in there?
“We make our case on the field. I’m not here to make any arguments or any cases. I feel like our team has done everything they possibly could do and done it very well.”
Could you talk about Kenny Allen today and how big he came up for you?
“Yeah, Kenny was really outstanding, especially that last punt. Kickoffs were great. Field goals were great. He played as well as he possibly can play.”
Jim, you’ve been in a lot of big games. Can you remember a time where you came out of a game feeling like this about the officiating and the outcome?
“Yeah, I can remember a few other times. Not to this level, though.
[SID points to next reporter, reporter almost starts to ask question]
“Felt like there were some outrageous calls, including the one that would have ended the game. They had a good camera angle on it, ball doesn’t make it to the line. Gave ‘em a first down.”
Before the announcement that that call was upheld, did you ever get a good look at it before it was actually announced on review?
“Uh, our guys in the box were seeing it. I was seeing it on the big screen. You guys were seeing it on TV. What’d you see?”
[someone whispers ‘Short’]
“Short? What’d you see?”
Short.
“Short. It’s outrageous.”
Your defense played so well for much of the game, really dominated at stages. Does that add to the disappointment that it looked like you had control of the game?
“Yeah, I thought we were—I thought we did a heck of a job defensively. Got a gift interference call. You see that one? We’re probably just gonna keep beating a dead horse here because you know how I feel. Don’t know where else we can go with this.”
November 27th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
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November 28th, 2016 at 6:49 AM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 7:28 AM ^
More like Top 4.
See you in January.
November 27th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^
Yes, with at least one call (the 4th down) going another way, UM could have won the game probably assuming we could run out the clock. The other calls it's hard to say. It could have changed how the game played out, but does any of them gurantee UM would have won? I don't see it that way. Any number of variables could have changed if those PI calls go our way.
Wilton could have not thrown a pick-6. Wilton could have not fumbled on the goal line. OSU could have kicked 2 FGs. We could have stopped JT and pressured him more in the 4th quarter like we did in the first half. It looked like our defense got fatigued in the 4th quarter and their defense took over in the 4th quarter, which is what better teams do.
So, although if calls went a different way could we have won?...yes. Did OSU make mistakes and give us an opportunity to win?...yes. But, they also shut us down when they had to and made plays when they had to. We still had an opportunity to make plays despite the officiating, so IMO the officials gave them an advantage, but didn't give them the game. We still had an opportunity to take it, but were unable to. I thought the better team won on that particular day (I think UM wins on a neutral site or at home).
November 27th, 2016 at 6:34 PM ^
"Yes, with at least one call (the 4th down) going another way, UM could have won the game probably assuming we could run out the clock." [MGoStrength]
If the 4th down spot in OT went our way, the game would have been over right there and then. No "probably" or "run out the clock" needed.
November 28th, 2016 at 7:39 AM ^
If they make that call correctly, game instantly over.
Then we are talking about how Ohio State does not deserve to be in the CFP because they made so many mistakes:
- Pick by Barrett
- Derped fake punt that lead to a Michigan TD
- Two missed chip shot field goals
- Less than 50% pass completion by Barrett
- Kickoffs that failed to reach the end zone every time
- Long return given up to Peppers
But that's not how it works folks. When 2 elite teams take the field, they force pressure. There will be errors. You are not just going to throw your play sheet out there and have everything work as planned. You'll make mistakes or the other team will cause mistakes. You play through that.
It's not about "Michgian made some mistakes" or "Ohio State made some mistakes". It's about playing through the challenges on the field.
Michigan is as deserving of a CFP slot as Ohio State is.
November 27th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
If you model the outcome of a football game as a function of performance + random chaos, I'd say that Michigan played well enough to be ahead in performance, but not quite well enough to make them 100% safe from the effects of chaos. And while it is disputable whether the chaos in this case was in fact random, you can say that OSU played well enough to be able to benefit (in game-winning fashion) from some things that are outside of either team's control. Ultimately, the point of football isn't to be the better team - it's to win. So it's always a bit of a conciliatory thought exercise to claim that the loser is the better team, but it does happen, and it's a double-edged sword: on the one hand, it makes you feel better to think your team is good, but it makes you feel especially disappointed that they were not justly rewarded. Very, very tough loss to stomach. I would congratulate any Buckeye fan sincerely, but I do personally think Michigan is the best team in the Big Ten, and I think football is worse off for having OSU go forward in our place.
November 28th, 2016 at 1:08 AM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 4:36 AM ^
Game was over and the better team was cheated.
And here's one for you that will blow your mind because you're a stupid fucking Buckeye - Samuel's run essentially lost the game for OSU. It induced Meyer to go for it on 4th and 1 and risk losing the game on that play. And when Barrett's ass hit the ground, you lost the game.
Now get the fuck off of our board you classless piece of shit.
Amazing you have the nerve to talk shit after your team got something they didn't earn. They got a W on the books, but on the field, they earned AN L.
November 28th, 2016 at 7:47 AM ^
As Woody said when Ohio State was gifted the Rose Bowl after the '73 tie: "We just smiled quietly and said 'Yes Sir" and then he silently snuck away.
You got a gift. Time to shut up and sneak away before the CFP notices and seeds you with Alabama.
November 28th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^
You haven't really argued anything at all other than the fact that Michigan -- like every other team ever to play football -- wasn't perfect. This is so obvious it need not be said, and it is entirely nonresponsive to the issue. Harbaugh's point, and the point of Brian's post, is that officiating errors were egregious, one-sided, and possibly outcome-determanitive (definitely outcome determanitive if the spot was wrong). Your argument amounts to saying Michigan should have played well enough to beat both Ohio State and to overcome biased and/or inept officiating. That's not how that should work, and Michigan's play (which on the whole was better than Ohio State's) has nothing to do with the qualtiy of the officiating.
November 29th, 2016 at 5:30 AM ^
Fuck you piece of fucking shit
November 29th, 2016 at 5:30 AM ^
Fuck you piece of fucking shit
November 27th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
What the heck kind of explanation for the personal foul was that. Just bizarre. Such a shame because of the seniors on this team deserved to get this one
November 27th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
I really think we should have gone for 2 after the darboh TD in OT. (I think Dantonio was right to do it last week and Hoke in 2013) Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but since we had to switch and go on offense for the first series of 2nd ot osu had the advantage
November 27th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^
in the second OT as well. OSU from the 25 was too dangerous.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^
But I don't agree. The defense had been outplaying osu's offense all day. If you go for two (or go for it on 4th down in the subsequent overtime) you are taking the game out of the hands of Taco and Co. and relying on an offensive line that has been dubious all day. The chance of picking up 2 yards was not too high.
And in fact, we were a blown first down call away from being vindicated on the decision. And if you don't buy that, we outschemed OSU on the play before. The defense was clearly fatigued and that lends credence to your side...but I simply don't think the chances of picking up 2 yards on a given play against OSU was very high.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^
I totally agree with this. The defense was the main reason we were controlling play all game. The offense had a lot of trouble running the football in the fourth quarter. Any decision that put the balance of the game in the defense's hands was good by me. In all honesty I don't think we would've gotten the 2-point conversion. OSU's defense had our offense figured out at that point. Speight's passes and timing with receivers was getting worse as the game went on.
November 27th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
November 28th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
Agreed. The defense was clearly winded, but they had been fantastic for nearly the entire game while our offense had struggled in short-yardage situations. Relying on the defense was clearly defensible, and I think they gave us the best chance to win.
November 27th, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
I don't have an issue with that, but the one game-management nitpick I have is us not calling a timeout on defense after their 3rd-down completion. I would have liked to have done that so that we could have given our offense a little time to do something, which could have made a difference after Lewis's kickoff return into their territory. Granted, after his return we might have been under 10 seconds, but I think we could have had time to run one pass to set up a FG.
November 27th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
On the road, hostile crowd, and OSU has a good red zone offense. Go for the win asap.
November 28th, 2016 at 7:49 AM ^
They have a good red zone defense too,
Hind sight is 20/20.
November 27th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
Barret got the ball over the 15. He just did. Barret slid up the back of his own guy, it crossed the plane. The PI calls were tougher to swallow.
November 27th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
Nope, just paused the video right at the most forward progress and looked where the ball was. Ther only has to be a millimeter of the ball over any part of that line. The ball was over it. It just was. I know it's hard to accept that Michigan got beat, but Barret got the line. No point in clinging to something that's not true.
November 27th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^
Oh, okay then. Preacher Mike got it all figured out guys, he just did. No more to see here.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^
I guess we'll agree to disagree. I've watched that clip 20 times, and it seems phyically impossible that he touched the line. It's difficult to be sure since the angle of the replay makes it diffcult to be 100% sure. Harbaugh had a good angle though.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
You see Wormley's arm pushing Barrett back. Number 88 is standing over the line, where he's been holding Wormley for a couple seconds; now he might not have any Ass but most TE's do, that ball never made it to the line.
November 27th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
HIs arm slid over the TE's ass and touched the black piece of equipment under the TE's shirt. From the front angle this is clear. From the behind angle it's hard to see because Barret's helmet blocks the view of where his arm is.
November 27th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 11:14 PM ^
The ball does slide up the butt of #88 a bit, and, at the furthest point of Barrett's forward progress, the ball does just touch the black undershirt hanging out from #88's jersey...
... The problem is that it touches the undershirt on the back right side of #88's body when that part of his body is still short of the 15 (by like four or five inches).
To be clear, I thought there were more blatant bad calls, but--assuming you aren't just trolling--I don't understand what you're seeing.
November 27th, 2016 at 11:38 PM ^
It was a visible stop short of 1st in real time and in replays. OSU base is going crazy over this gift spot, and rightfully so. They know they never actually won the game.
November 27th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
Barret got drilled by a Michigan player as he's lunging forward and before Barret hit's his own TE.
November 27th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
I still haven't seen anything that clearly states the rule if forward progress is stopped by your own player, but he went forward after the Michigan player hit him. I don't think the Michigan player that hit him stopped his forward progress.
November 27th, 2016 at 3:23 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 8:38 PM ^
So, the only shot they kept showing us was from BEHIND the LOS, and he still looked short. My neighbor, a Nebraska fan, and his wife, came over right after the game and both thought Michigan got jobbed all day, but especially on the 4th and 1 call. Frustrating as hell. We all know refs miss a call once in a while, but this officiating horseshit flim-flammery is just too ]obvious.
November 27th, 2016 at 11:56 AM ^
I can't put into words how stupid this is, or how ragey it makes me feel. Get your goddamn eyes checked, man. It was clear as day. Why didn't they show a few more replays? Why didn't they spend a few minutes in reviewing such a massively important call?
Just fuck.
I'm so angry.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^
Well, rage away. Doesn't change anything. You don't need to look at a million angles. Just stop the video when Barret's arm slides up to the black piece of equpment on his own guy. Barret's arm slides up over the top edge of his guy's pants. That was over the 15. It just was. I don't care what you want to see, what you wish you were seeing, how mad it makes you that you're not seeing what you want to see. Barret's arm makes forward progress over the pants of his won guy and crosses the plane. If this were the goal line with time runnign out and a Michigan player did this exact same thing, you'd be screaming that he broke the plane. Barret got the line. He just did.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
You are blind. You just are.
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