ANAHEIM, Calif. — With a third straight trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals, Michigan can’t be considered a Cinderella.
However, as coach Jim Harbaugh and some of his players took in a day at Disneyland before resuming preparations for Monday’s Rose Bowl against Alabama, many considered this year’s journey a cross between “The Lion King” and a spin on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
The top-ranked and 13-0 Wolverines have shown that whatever obstacles are put in their way, it ends up galvanizing them. That included two suspensions to coach Jim Harbaugh that ended up being a total of six games.
Running back Blake Corum already thought Michigan had a strong team mentally going into the season. But it ended getting even stronger with all of the tumult surrounding their coach.
“We’ve built up a strong callus. Whatever anyone throws at us, we take it on the chin and keep on pushing,” he said.
The best example of Michigan using it to their advantage and then punishing its opponent came at Penn State on Nov. 11. One day after Harbaugh was suspended three games by the Big Ten for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy over alleged sign-stealing, the Wolverines ran it on 32 straight plays in a 24-15 victory.
“The more stress you throw at us, it hypes us even more. It gives us purpose to do what we do,” senior linebacker Kris Jenkins said. “We are ready to show the world and shock the world.”
Even though Harbaugh’s suspensions have ended, questions about his future at his alma mater remain. When asked if he would entertain offers from the NFL during the offseason, including one from the Los Angeles Chargers after they fired Brandon Staley on Dec. 14, Harbaugh deflected both questions and said his singular focus is on the upcoming game
