Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh isn’t exactly the sanest of individuals. The stories of his exploits have been well documented over the years.
This has led some to believe that Harbaugh’s mentality makes him a good coach or causes him to wear out his welcome.
Either way, Harbaugh himself isn’t holding back from giving us seemingly never-ending soundbites from his complicated mind.
In a recent interview on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, the former San Francisco 49ers and Stanford Cardinal head coach made some interesting remarks.
I love football. Love it. Love it. I think it’s the last bastion of hope for toughness in America in men, in males.”
What?
Sure football itself takes toughness to play. That’s never been questioned, especially within the machismo culture of the sport.
But the “last bastion?” Here’s a narrow-minded view that inadvertently disrespects other, more important professions within American society. What about first responders and men in the military? What about those tasked with educating our youth?
Without taking Harbaugh’s comments too seriously (too late?), this might give us a bit more of an inside view regarding his thought process surrounding football. It might also tell us why he rubs some players the wrong way.
It’s all up for interpretation. Some players love the hard-nosed head coach, while others prefer the more “player friendly” approach.
If Harbaugh truly believes football is the “last bastion of hope for toughness in American men,” let’s just hope his college students are up for this teaching style.
Photo: USA Today Sports