Daily Brews: Jim and Jack Harbaugh’s relationship given a spotlight

Happy Friday! A mixed bag of basketball and football news this morning. So let’s finish the week out on a high note, shall we?

Jim and Jack Harbaugh’s relationship given a spotlight

Ethan Sears over at U-M student newspaper The Michigan Daily put out a terrific piece on Thursday that highlighted Jim Harbaugh’s relationship with his father, Jack, a man that is somewhat of an advisor to the football program, but holds nothing but a chair outside of Jim’s office.

The entire read itself is something to check out, but here’s a taste of what Sears offered in his story. You tell me if this is a man who sounds like he ever wants to leave Ann Arbor.

Jim still puts in long hours — Jack drives to and from Schembechler Hall alone because he can’t do the same — but the pull of living next door to his parents and seeing his kids grow up in the same place he did is real for him, just as the pull of spending each day with family is everything for Jack. After Michigan’s win over Middle Tennessee State last week, as Shea Patterson sat at a Crisler Center podium taking questions, Jim entered the room from the back, seeing his family before anyone else. He whispered “Hi,” sharing the moment as everyone around them focused on a meaningless game of football.

Jim is on his second marriage and became a grandfather in the middle of last season. (Jay Harbaugh, Michigan’s running backs coach, joked to reporters at the time that his paternity leave lasted from 3 a.m. to noon). Four of Jim’s seven children — Addie, Katie, Jack and John — are still growing up. He tries his best to spend time at home and by all accounts, does a good job. This summer, he bought a lawnmower and cut his own grass.

“I’m so proud of him for doing that,” Jackie Harbaugh said, “because I love yard work anyway, but he’s enjoying it. And I see him enjoying it. And he will, I’m sure when Jack’s old enough, teach him how to do it.”

You can find the full story from the Daily here.

Inside the journey of an Army recruit

The Wolverines on the gridiron of course welcome Army to the Big House this weekend for Military Appreciation Day in a game that a lot of people have circled as a potential upset on the Week 2 docket.

Anyone who knows anything about Army and the service academy schools is that we usually get to see the triple option offense, which makes its way to Ann Arbor this weekend. Teams often do this because they are not nearly as big or athletic and seek to control the clock.

Well, this is an inside look at what makes an Army offensive lineman an Army offensive lineman, courtesy of Sports Illustrated. You will need an SI TV account to watch the full segment, but the teaser gives you a good idea, as well.

Michigan Basketball picked fifth in Big Ten by Lindy’s

U-M Hoops got its hands on a copy of the Lindy’s College Basketball Preview magazine for the 2019-20 season, where the Wolverines are picked to finish fifth in the conference but miss the NCAA Tournament in the team’s first season under Juwan Howard.

The full Big Ten pecking order per Lindy’s is as follows: Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Rutgers, Nebraska, and Northwestern.

Point guard Zavier Simpson was ranked as the No. 63 player in the country, while incoming freshman Cole Bajema was named as a player that could surprise. We will have more hoops preview coverage as we get closer to the season.

Also, the TV schedule and times dropped for the 2019-20 season for the Wolverines on Thursday, which you can check out here. The good news is that there is not a home game that currently tips off later than 7 p.m. ET.

National Brews

• There’s still a tie to Michigan and the area here, but Kelly Stafford (wife of Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford) shared her personal story on her brain tumor diagnosis and 12-hour surgery that she underwent earlier this year with Local 4 in Detroit. Her surgery was performed at University of Michigan Hospital with Dr. Byron Gregory Thompson, Jr.
• Georgia State football continues to stay in the news after its upset of Tennessee last weekend, this time offering complimentary tickets to its home opener against Furman to people who have been displaced due to Hurrican Dorian.
• Matthew McConaughey will be the guest picker for ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday ahead of the showdown of No. 6 LSU at No. 9 Texas. Nothing more to say here. Insert your favorite McConaughey gif in the comments below or something.
• Northwestern QB TJ Green is out for the season after undergoing foot surgery. Former five-star Hunter Johnson now officially takes over the show in Evanston.

That’s it for Friday’s Brews. See you again next week.