Jim Harbaugh bristles at question about talent or coaching gap with Ohio State

Saturday’s 56-27 loss to Ohio State forced the Michigan Wolverines to answer more difficult questions. One of them, though, was not to coach Jim Harbaugh’s liking.

Harbaugh told off a questioner who suggested that there is a talent or coaching gap between the Wolverines and Buckeyes. Harbaugh called the question an insult and acknowledging that the Buckeyes outplayed Michigan.

Some context. He was asked whether it was a talent gap, a scheme gap or a coaching gap. On the phrase “coaching gap,” Harbaugh turned and stared down the guy asking the question. Then he offered that quote. https://t.co/zL8QAPIl6S

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) November 30, 2019

Jim Harbaugh asked why there’s a gap between Michigan and Ohio State. Says “I’ll answer your questions but not your insults. They played better today.”

— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) November 30, 2019

The question is leading and a shot at Harbaugh by saying there’s a coaching gap.

Harbaugh will point to the fact that Michigan could have played a more competitive game if not for some silly individual mistakes, and he’d be correct. He has a talented team, but there’s a reason Michigan wasn’t expected to win. The Wolverines do not have a Chase Young on defense or a J.K. Dobbins on offense, and Justin Fields is a better quarterback than Shea Patterson. Michigan is talented. Ohio State is exceptionally talented. You can understand why Harbaugh won’t want to acknowledge that, but it doesn’t make it any less true.