Jim Harbaugh was very complimentary of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe during his pre-Rose Bowl press conference at Disneyland on Wednesday afternoon. However, he made one big mistake.
Michigan’s head football coach handed bulletin board material to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Harbaugh accidentally lit a fire under the starting signal-caller of the team he is set to face in the College Football Playoff semifinal by comparing him to his backup.
Oops!
Wolverines backup quarterback Alex Orji stands 6-foot-3, 236 pounds. Although he has not been a big part of the offense during his first two seasons of college football, the former three-star recruit is considered to be one of the best athletes on the roster.
Orji is built like a boulder. As is Jalen Milroe.
The true sophomore signal-caller is such a good athlete that Harbaugh considered using him as a kick returner because it is so hard to keep him off of the field. He’s a lot of fun to watch.
There is a lot of excitement about Orji’s future in Ann Arbor and his head coach considers him to be a legitimate contender for the starting job next year.
Alex has grown and grown right before our eyes. He’s always been a confident person; smart, has his wits about him. But just, you can see it grow and grow. He’ll come up to you, start a conversation, stick the hand out, ‘how ya doin’ coach?’ Before our eyes, we’ve seen him come from a really good place, to where he’s at now. So yeah, excited to turn Alex loose. I think he’ll be right in the battle next year for sure, depending on what JJ does. It’s fun to think about.
There’s some Monday scrimmages he’s just dominating. The Monday young-guy scrimmage, there’s some plays he’s made … he’s gotta start making a highlight tape.
— Jim Harbaugh prior to the Rose Bowl
Unfortunately for Jim Harbaugh, he did not stop there. His comments continued to compliment Orji — his backup quarterback — while comparing him to Milroe in a positive manner.
And it scares me a little bit that Jalen Milroe would be as athletic as Alex Orji, because Alex is like the most scariest, athletic guy on our whole team. So, okay, that’s a little scary.
— Jim Harbaugh prior to the Rose Bowl
Harbaugh was praising Orji by comparing him to Milroe. It was not a diss at Milroe at all.
Doesn’t matter!
Nick Saban has an uncanny ability to motivate. Alabama players adopt their head coach’s mindset.
Jim Harbaugh accidentally poked the bear.
There is no doubt that Milroe and the Crimson Tide are going to take Harbaugh’s somewhat flattering remark as a slight. Technically, despite the intended praise, he compared the opponent’s starting quarterback to his backup.
How dare Harbaugh disrespect Milroe in such manner??
Alabama is going to take the quote out of context and hang it on the bulletin board in the locker room. Harbaugh done did it this time!