Did Michigan Think They Were Touring France's Notre Dame?

Full marks to Jim Harbaugh for doing what he can to enhance his team's college experience.

Dude's got donors for his by-now traditional spring trips to Europe.

This year's destination was France.

Lots to see there, including the legendary Notre Dame cathredal, sans hunchback.

 

Wolverine fans will swear that dude bears an uncanny resemblance to Urban Meyer, but they've still gotta prove they've the right to say it.

And right now, it still looks like the program's got a 'ways to go.

But at least its players could add a touch of culture during their visit to South Bend:

 

Clearly, this enlightenment was lost on the Fighting Irish.

Then again, they coulda offered a post-game retort à la Rick Neuheisel of tableau de bord, baby:

 

Michigan's first quarter and a fair share of the second looked like Harbaugh's crew was still in vacation mode. Dudes only logged 90 yards of offense in the first half.

It's ultimately what did them in.

 

These Wolverines are the players Harbaugh recruited. Clearly, European field trips are an enticing perk, but have they significantly attracted the jocks who will make a difference in the program?

With Brady Hoke's recruits, dude went 10-3 in each of his first two seasons. Year 3 saw Michigan lose its last three games to go 8-5. It was capped by falling to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

The record Michigan men really notice, though, is that Harbaugh's squads -- with Hoke's players and/or his own -- are:

• 1-7 against Top Ten teams,
• 1-5 against Ohio State and Michigan State, and worse,
• 0-3 against the Buckeyes.

 

Much of the issue has been a paucity of healthy slingers, but Harbaugh may finally have one.

Shea Patterson was able to transfer from Ole Miss because they're on probation. Dude's got the talent like the QBs before him at Michigan. There's reason to believe, though, that he can apply it in actual games.

 

 

Yeah. More of that.

It took a couple of centuries to build the historic cathedral in Paris. Safe to say Harbaugh doesn't have that long.

But he is a Michigan man, which means he's ensconced at the Big House on more than a wing and a prayer.