Jim Harbaugh is a unique individual. The 60-year-old head coach won a national championship on Monday night and immediately celebrated with his Michigan team by leading a rousing rendition of ‘For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow’ in the locker room.
It was an unusual victory song. However, more than likely, it is something that Harbaugh has done for years after every win. He probably picks the ‘MVP’ of each game and sings it on their behalf.
In this instance, it was for the whole team.
Football coaches all have their individual quirky postgame rituals like that. That doesn’t make it any less funny to see a group of large college football players join together to belt out ‘For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow’ after winning the biggest game of their lives. Guys being dudes!
While that specific tradition isn’t that weird, Harbaugh’s day-to-day music choices are more ecclectic.
His team spilled the beans prior to Monday’s national title game.
One player described his head coach’s taste as “interesting.” Another said that it is “significant,” meaning that there is always a deeper message involved even thought they’re “weird.”
Show tunes are a big part of the practice playlist. One of Harbaugh’s current favorites is ‘Defying Gravity,’ from the musical Wicked.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 1976 folk rock song by Gordon Lightfoot is high on the list. He also incorporates some opera— in addition to the more modern rock and rap music.
Everybody’s taste in music is their own, so there is no judgement toward Jim Harbaugh. He likes what he likes and that’s cool.
However, to imagine the college football national champions running sprints at the end of practice while some Andrea Bocelli or Phantom of the Opera is blaring over the speakers is pretty funny. It’s even funnier to picture guys smacking pads while something from Les Misérables echoes throughout the practice field.
Hey, if it works – it works!