Michigan Loses to Utah in Jim Harbaugh’s Coaching Debut

The much anticipated, greatly overhyped debut of new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh did not go as planned in the Wolverines season opener at Utah. The former San Francisco 49ers head coach was anointed as the savior of a Michigan program that no longer was at the top of the Big Ten, but fans expecting an unrealistic immediate reversal of fortune were disappointed as Michigan lost 24-17. Michigan made it closer than it really was with a late touchdown as Utah was in control for the whole game. It didn’t help that Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock threw three interceptions for an offense that struggled just as it did last season.

Still, Harbaugh has won at the college level at both San Diego and Stanford, so fans will need to be patient as he builds a team. And Utah is no slouch; the Utes were 9-4 in 2014, including wins over UCLA and USC. Michigan’s program still has a certain aura about it despite being down a bit, which helps in recruiting. We expect the Wolverines will show improvement as the season continues, and will be on the road back.