Harbaugh: There's No Hatred In College Football
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Ohio Stadium figures to be a cauldron of intensity on Saturday afternoon when No. 2 Ohio State hosts No. 4 Michigan in the biggest game of the year for both teams.
But for all the fans' vitriol, Harbaugh said his players have nothing to fear.
"I wouldn't describe it as hatred at all," Harbaugh told the Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 The Ticket on Thursday morning. "Never associate hatred, the word hate, with college football."
Harbaugh has been in the thick of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry as both a player and a coach. In 1986, as quarterback of the Wolverines, he led his team to a 26-24 road win over the Buckeyes.
At the end of the day, Harbaugh insists the fans are just noise.
"I think my experience has been it's loud, and most places that you play are loud. But no, they can't come on the field," he said. "There's 11 on each side when you get onto the field and officials, and everybody else is not on the field. So it's determined by 11 on 11 every single down. That's the game."
Regarding Michigan's starting quarterback on Saturday, Harbaugh said he hasn't made up his mind.
"Have not decided yet, no," he said.
Harbaugh confirmed the report that Wilton Speight and John O'Korn split reps at practice on Tuesday.
"It's accurate," he said. "They both practiced. It was a good day for us yesterday. Our ball club had a very good Tuesday practice and we'll look to come back today and practice well again."
O'Korn replaced the injured Speight (shoulder) last weekend, but inspired little optimism in a shaky performance. Whether or not Speight can play this weekend will likely go a long way in deciding Michigan's fate.