Michigan Football: Harbaugh Pushes Back On 'Championship Or Bust' Narrative

Although the Wolverines certainly have championship aspirations in 2023, head coach Jim Harbaugh wasn't buying into the 'championship or bust' talk.

With a little over 30 days until the Michigan Wolverines make their official return to the Big House, the expectations seem to be growing by the day. Discussing those high expectations at Big Ten Media Days, head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged that his team is loaded with veteran talent across the board, but also pushed back on the 'championship or bust' narrative. 

"Championship or bust? What does that mean," Harbaugh asked. "That doesn't mean anything to me, that's not real. We're the same as we always are. The way we go into every year, our goal is to win the championship, win the national championship, to beat Michigan State, beat Ohio State, beat Penn State. We have We have so many...there's so many good teams that we play, so many football fights.

"I haven't heard one football player say 'championship or bust'. I know I've heard that media-driven slogan, but that means nothing, that word 'bust'". 

Harbaugh might not buy into that narrative, but his top running back certainly does. During his time at the podium in Indy, Michigan's Blake Corum didn't shy away from that narrative at all. In fact, he gave it his full endorsement. 

"If we don't go all the way, I would call it a bust," Corum said via CBS Sports. 

"We have a team that is very special right now," Corum said. "A lot of guys coming back, JJ has another year under his belt, we have transfers - Drake Nugent, LD (LaDarius Henderson), big (Myles) Hinton. Up front, we're great. Team-wise, we're great. We've been working our butts off this summer, and I believe in my guys. I believe the comradery, the brotherly love that we have within each other right now - it's crazy. 

"What I'm telling the guys now is that it's just day to day now. We've had enough dreaming, we've had enough talk about the national championship, now it's just day to day. We have to beat ECU first, we can't think too far ahead...be where our feet are. We have to take care of the regular schedule, beat our rivals, and then, if we get there, we've just got to get over the hump. For me, I have high standards - so yeah, it's win or bust. I think the guys know that, but we don't have to say anything...we know what it is."