In Wake Of Recruiting Success, Harbaugh Says 'I Do Grow On People After Awhile'
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Jim Harbaugh loves football. Jim Harbaugh also loves milk.
Turns out, Jim Harbaugh loves love, too.
It's something that has struck him on the recruiting trail of late, where the Michigan coach has raked in a number of fine players. A good portion of them have flipped their commitments to Michigan after meeting Harbaugh and hitting it off with the charismatic coach.
"Usually I don't make a great first impression, but I do grow on people after a while. But sometimes you hit it off right off the bat and I've made friends right off the bat here lately, it's been a good feeling," Harbaugh told the Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 The Ticket on Thursday morning.
The latest example came last weekend, when 2017 recruit Donovan Jeter spurned Notre Dame for Michigan after visiting U-M and spending time with Harbaugh. When Jeter announced his final decision on Sunday via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he called Harbaugh "the coolest dude I ever met in my life."
Apparently, Harbaugh picked up Jeter and a few other recruits from campus on Saturday night in typically unique style.
"He picked us up in a van to take us back to the hotel," Jeter told the Post-Gazette. "What other head coach would come and pick up recruits at midnight in a van?"
Told on Thursday of Jeter calling him the "coolest dude," Harbaugh replied, "That's very flattering."
Then he mused some more on the nuances of love.
"The best kind of love is when you love somebody and they love you back, that's truly the best. Maybe the best is love at first sight, too. When you really just hit it off right off the bat, you love somebody and they love you back right away, right at first sight, maybe that's the absolute best," Harbaugh said.
The coach was in a reflective mood on Thursday, also gushing affection for defensive coordinator Jim Brown.
Jeter, a four-star defensive end from Beaver Falls High School in Pennsylvania, originally committed to Notre Dame in early September. He said Michigan's superior record this season swayed his decision, as well as the contrast between Harbaugh and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly.
"(Harbaugh) doesn't act like he's important. … He's real down to earth and humble. He's easy to talk to. Talking to Brian Kelly wasn't fun. It wasn't cool. You have to make an appointment just to go to his office. Coach Harbaugh has an open-door policy. Every one of Michigan's coaches has an open-door policy," Jeter said.