... and more. He talked about…
• The U-M-MSU aftermath: "I always wanted to have an Alabama-Auburn caliber of intensity for the two instate rivals, and I think we have it now…
"I think [Jim Harbaugh's intensity] is what everybody on Dec. 29, 2014 thought all Michigan fans signed up for, that the Stanford version of Jim Harbaugh was coming to Ann Arbor, with the Pete Carroll interaction at midfield, slapping Jim Schwartz on the back real hard after beating the Lions when coaching the 49ers.
"That's the kind of version they want — that fire. All of a sudden, it's popped. The Michigan fan base is ecstatic right now. All I hear is the word, 'Finally!' It's here.
"It's probably finally here because he knows he has the infrastructure, personnel-wise, on this team, to make it work."
• Michigan State's outlook: "The Michigan State people are extremely upset. They've always felt threatened by Harbaugh for whatever reason, even though they'd beaten him two out of three going into this game. Now it's even at 2-2.
"That they see in Jim Harbaugh is what they wish their coach would do. He'd make that uncomfortable coaching change with his personnel, like he did with Ed Warinner replacing Tim Drevno. He makes changes that Mark Dantonio — loyal to a fault — [might not make]. Maybe it brings back memories of George Perles, who was loyal to a fault to his coaching staff.
"I think there's a little envy in that regard. The people who know what's going on with Michigan football know there were changes made on that staff, and those changes are being realized right now in a positive way…
"The other thing about Michigan State — this program is very fragile, in terms of the fan base. They're waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it comes to Michigan. I think there's some insecurity now, that Harbaugh is going to get this thing revved up, and look out."
• Michigan's immediate future: "I think Michigan's fan base has been galvanized by this situation, with what happened both pre- and postgame. If you talk to anybody in the state, this is like what's going on in the political world.
"There's no middle ground. It's totally polarizing. Both coaches, both fan bases, they're sticking to their side of the program. There's no wiggle room. You can't even get into a conversation up here with a Michigan State person, or if you're a Michigan State person, get into a conversation with a Michigan person on this topic. It's crazy.
"I think it's going to simmer down which is good for Michigan, and for Michigan State as well. Michigan can use this improvement week, as Jim Harbaugh calls it, to get ready for Penn State.
"You can't take that game lightly, and I even think the trap game out there … you've got to worry about Indiana. We go back to 1986, and remember when Harbaugh was a senior, they were No. 2 in the nation and Minnesota came in here and knocked them off. You can't get caught up too far."
Here's the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/mi...tball-podcast-tom-crawford-with-john-borton-1
• The U-M-MSU aftermath: "I always wanted to have an Alabama-Auburn caliber of intensity for the two instate rivals, and I think we have it now…
"I think [Jim Harbaugh's intensity] is what everybody on Dec. 29, 2014 thought all Michigan fans signed up for, that the Stanford version of Jim Harbaugh was coming to Ann Arbor, with the Pete Carroll interaction at midfield, slapping Jim Schwartz on the back real hard after beating the Lions when coaching the 49ers.
"That's the kind of version they want — that fire. All of a sudden, it's popped. The Michigan fan base is ecstatic right now. All I hear is the word, 'Finally!' It's here.
"It's probably finally here because he knows he has the infrastructure, personnel-wise, on this team, to make it work."
• Michigan State's outlook: "The Michigan State people are extremely upset. They've always felt threatened by Harbaugh for whatever reason, even though they'd beaten him two out of three going into this game. Now it's even at 2-2.
"That they see in Jim Harbaugh is what they wish their coach would do. He'd make that uncomfortable coaching change with his personnel, like he did with Ed Warinner replacing Tim Drevno. He makes changes that Mark Dantonio — loyal to a fault — [might not make]. Maybe it brings back memories of George Perles, who was loyal to a fault to his coaching staff.
"I think there's a little envy in that regard. The people who know what's going on with Michigan football know there were changes made on that staff, and those changes are being realized right now in a positive way…
"The other thing about Michigan State — this program is very fragile, in terms of the fan base. They're waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it comes to Michigan. I think there's some insecurity now, that Harbaugh is going to get this thing revved up, and look out."
• Michigan's immediate future: "I think Michigan's fan base has been galvanized by this situation, with what happened both pre- and postgame. If you talk to anybody in the state, this is like what's going on in the political world.
"There's no middle ground. It's totally polarizing. Both coaches, both fan bases, they're sticking to their side of the program. There's no wiggle room. You can't even get into a conversation up here with a Michigan State person, or if you're a Michigan State person, get into a conversation with a Michigan person on this topic. It's crazy.
"I think it's going to simmer down which is good for Michigan, and for Michigan State as well. Michigan can use this improvement week, as Jim Harbaugh calls it, to get ready for Penn State.
"You can't take that game lightly, and I even think the trap game out there … you've got to worry about Indiana. We go back to 1986, and remember when Harbaugh was a senior, they were No. 2 in the nation and Minnesota came in here and knocked them off. You can't get caught up too far."
Here's the full podcast: https://michigan.rivals.com/news/mi...tball-podcast-tom-crawford-with-john-borton-1
