Jim Harbaugh on Spat with Gene Smith: Felt Shot Tossed Across Michigan's Bow, Claims It's Even Now

By 11W Staff on March 26, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Jim Harbaugh at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago
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Michigan held an open practice at Ford Field in Detroit Saturday afternoon and following the session, the Michigan beat had their first chance to ask Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh about the tweet he directed at Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith earlier in the week.

If you'll recall, in the course of saying he was not in favor of Ohio State following Michigan's lead and holding spring practices, Smith said it would be something he'd look into if he was trying to jump-start a program. Hours later, Harbaugh fired back:

Childish? Sure, but par for the course for Harbaugh (and Ohio State players wasted little time in roasting him in response).

When asked about his response today, Harbaugh chalked it up to getting even for what he felt like was a shot across his program's bow:

Michigan's All-Big Ten cornerback Jourdan Lewis also had some words about the incident, telling the Detroit News' Angelique Chengelis that Smith's original comment was “unprofessional.”

Sure.

Harbaugh's Twitter antics are nothing new. He's recently exchanged barbs with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Georgia coach Kirby Smart, Tennessee coach Butch Jones, and the SEC as a whole.

The really interesting angle to all of this is the sudden flip for “Michigan Men” – fans of the program, who for decades have espoused dignity, stoicism, and doing things the right way. Guess losing changes a man.

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