Life According To Jim Harbaugh: No Vitamins, Plenty Of Steak

By Christy Strawser

ANN ARBOR (CBS Detroit) We know a lot about Jim Harbaugh, frankly probably more than we need to know about any college football coach, from what he looks like bare chested to how he likes his khakis.

Pleated, he likes them pleated. And he likes them cheap.

And now we know how he likes his diet: He prefers to dine like a woolly-haired man who lives in the woods with nothing but his two hands and an ax to keep him sustained.

"I take a vitamin every day," Harbaugh said on his radio show Monday night. "It's called a steak."

Answering a question about growing potential football players big and strong, Harbaugh went on to praise whole milk.

"I truly believe the No. 1 natural steroid is sleep, and the No. 2 natural steroid is milk, whole milk," Harbaugh said. "Three would be water. Four would be steak.

"(Steak) ... it goes with everything."

This has us thinking about other Harbaugh life lessons -- fewer vitamins, more red meat, more khakis, fewer jeans, more energy, passion and vigor, less everything else.

More lessons from Harbaugh:

If at first you don't succeed, succeed at something else

Harbaugh told 97.1 The Ticket's he dreamed about becoming Derek Jeter. But apparently pitching in the mayor leagues wasn't for him, so he became a coach instead. That worked out pretty well for him, too.

"It was really good to have Derek Jeter on the sideline, personally for me," Harbaugh said in an interview on the Stoney and Bill with Sara show on 97.1 The Ticket Thursday morning. "I took great pleasure in that. As a youngster, I wanted to be a major league shortstop. I dreamed about being Derek Jeter."

Dine with Ditka if you get the chance

"I had a chance to spend the evening with Coach [Ditka] last night at his restaurant and Diana [Ditka] was there and Sarah [Harbaugh] was there," Harbaugh said after bringing Ditka's jersey to media day in July. "It was just really, really special to be with my coach. In fact, I picked up a Ditka jersey from the restaurant…No, he didn't autograph it, but I'll be proud to wear that."

There was no word on who picked up the tab, but if you're at dinner with Ditka, it's a good idea to at least reach for your wallet first.

Having trouble making a decision? Go to the experts

Harbaugh made headlines when he stopped by the Supreme Court to, you know, hang out and get to know the peeps in the heavy robes. Golly, they know stuff. Interviewed after his impromptu visit with the most important justices in the land, Harbaugh appeared ready to recruit Justice Clarence Thomas as a friend.

Harbaugh told the Wall Street Journal  he tried to convince Thomas, a noted Nebraska football fan, to add Michigan as his second favorite. He left without that promise, but with a nice feeling about the guy.

"I've been around some enthusiastic people," Harbaugh said of Thomas. "He's one of the most enthusiastic people I've ever met. It was a great thrill." We can only imagine Thomas would return the compliment.

Be generous with everything, including your footwear

A video surfaced that showed Harbaugh taking off the socks he was wearing to give them to running back Drake Johnson. We can only assume -- and hope -- there was some reason Johnson needed them.

Travel the world

Jim Harbaugh seemed to be having fun

In one case of what we can only hope is irony, Harbaugh took a snap of himself outside a McDonald's. In another, he was looking at the menu, which hilariously enough was in French.

He appeared to enjoy a baguette with Coke, and really, who wouldn't?

Passion is everything

Losing is for losers, quitting is for quitters and letting things slide is for people who, well, let things slide. And Harbaugh isn't one to let things slide. It doesn't matter if he's winning by a wide margin, Harbaugh wants to make sure every minute of a game counts.

Relaxation is for people who don't own headsets.

In:
• Jim Harbaugh