It's hard to find anyone, at this point, who openly stood against Michigan's decision to pursue and eventually hire new football coach Jim Harbaugh.
And you can go ahead and include former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in the large group of people who are interested to see what Harbaugh does at Michigan.
Speaking with the Akron Beacon Journal at an event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Tressel said if anyone can close the gap between Michigan and Ohio State at the moment, it's probably Harbaugh.
"I think Jim Harbaugh will bring something to the Ohio State-Michigan storied rivalry," Tressel told the paper. "He's been successful wherever he's been. He's extremely hard-working. He has great pride in his alma mater.
"Personally, I think they're a ways away from being at the level where there's going to be a Ten Year War. I think they've got some work to do to get to that. But if anyone can do it, Jim Harbaugh can. He'll do a great job."
Michigan, of course, has dropped 13 of the last 15 meetings between the two storied rivals, and is now 0-3 against current Ohio State coach Urban Meyer -- who just clinched the program a national championship this past season.
Tressel -- who resigned in 2011 after NCAA rule breaking -- played a major role in turning the rivalry tide back in favor of Ohio State. When Tressel took the job in 2001, the Buckeyes had gone 3-12-1 against the Wolverines since 1985.
The key to turning things back for Ohio State, Tressel says, was keeping Ohio-born players inside the state of Ohio and away from Michigan. In the former coach's estimation, Harbaugh's quickest path to catching Ohio State will be winning those recruiting battles in the Buckeye state.
"I think we might have lost one guy (in our 25-man 2002 class) to Michigan," Tressel said of his first big-time class at OSU. "The door closed and it hasn't been (opened again).
"How far behind (is Michigan)? It (depends) on how long that door stays closed. That's the key. Urban will do a great job, they know how to win, they've got a great staff. But you've still got to keep it closed."
Tressel may have a point here.
When it comes to the top five recruits inside the state of Ohio (per 247sports), Michigan has signed just five prospects since 2008: Mike McCray and Dymonte Thomas in 2013, Kyle Kalis and Joe Bolden in 2012 and Justin Turner in 2009.
Michigan and Harbaugh will continue to recruit the state of Ohio, though the Wolverines are also putting together a more national approach under their new staff -- as the Wolverines continue to recruit multiple skill position players in California, Florida and Texas. Harbaugh had success recruiting all three of those talent-rich states during his run at Stanford from 2007-10.
And you can go ahead and include former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel in the large group of people who are interested to see what Harbaugh does at Michigan.
Speaking with the Akron Beacon Journal at an event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Tressel said if anyone can close the gap between Michigan and Ohio State at the moment, it's probably Harbaugh.
"I think Jim Harbaugh will bring something to the Ohio State-Michigan storied rivalry," Tressel told the paper. "He's been successful wherever he's been. He's extremely hard-working. He has great pride in his alma mater.
"Personally, I think they're a ways away from being at the level where there's going to be a Ten Year War. I think they've got some work to do to get to that. But if anyone can do it, Jim Harbaugh can. He'll do a great job."
Michigan, of course, has dropped 13 of the last 15 meetings between the two storied rivals, and is now 0-3 against current Ohio State coach Urban Meyer -- who just clinched the program a national championship this past season.
Tressel -- who resigned in 2011 after NCAA rule breaking -- played a major role in turning the rivalry tide back in favor of Ohio State. When Tressel took the job in 2001, the Buckeyes had gone 3-12-1 against the Wolverines since 1985.
The key to turning things back for Ohio State, Tressel says, was keeping Ohio-born players inside the state of Ohio and away from Michigan. In the former coach's estimation, Harbaugh's quickest path to catching Ohio State will be winning those recruiting battles in the Buckeye state.
"I think we might have lost one guy (in our 25-man 2002 class) to Michigan," Tressel said of his first big-time class at OSU. "The door closed and it hasn't been (opened again).
"How far behind (is Michigan)? It (depends) on how long that door stays closed. That's the key. Urban will do a great job, they know how to win, they've got a great staff. But you've still got to keep it closed."
Tressel may have a point here.
When it comes to the top five recruits inside the state of Ohio (per 247sports), Michigan has signed just five prospects since 2008: Mike McCray and Dymonte Thomas in 2013, Kyle Kalis and Joe Bolden in 2012 and Justin Turner in 2009.
Michigan and Harbaugh will continue to recruit the state of Ohio, though the Wolverines are also putting together a more national approach under their new staff -- as the Wolverines continue to recruit multiple skill position players in California, Florida and Texas. Harbaugh had success recruiting all three of those talent-rich states during his run at Stanford from 2007-10.
