ANN ARBOR, MI -- Call it a jab, call it a shoutout -- it doesn't matter to Jim Harbaugh, he's just thankful to be mentioned. And mentioned he was on Sunday night, in the airing of FOX's longstanding animated series, The Simpsons.

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In the new episode, Homer Simpson is on the phone with his wife, Marge, talking about how another character "Is like a sports genius everybody hates."

Marge responds, "Like Jim Harbaugh?"

Harbaugh told Jim Brandstatter during his weekly radio segment that he saw the jab from the show, but he takes such things in stride, as he's been through it all before, ever since he was little. However, he says getting it from The Simpsons is another level.

"People have been making sport of me ever since I can remember, ever since my earliest memories," Harbaugh said. "Five, six, seven -- in the schoolyard. My whole life, they make sport of me. But it's pretty high class -- The Simpsons! I stepped up! It's one of my favorite shows. I love The Simpsons. The animated shows, The Simpsons and Sponge Bob are two of my all time favorites."

Watch the mention from The Simpsons below:

Brandstatter asked who his favorite character from the show is, and Harbaugh not only rattled off a few in the same manner he does when talking about ascending players, or players who impressed him in a game.

"Homer!" Harbaugh said. "I like Homer a lot. And all the characters: Marge, Bart. There's so many good ones. I love how they always bring in the voice of Julia Roberts, or -- it's so good!

"There was one time where there was a baseball show, they showed a baseball player, and the fans were heckling him. And they go, 'He hears that all the time, he doesn't care about that.' Then they go to a close up to the baseball player, and he's got a tear coming down his eyes. They think of the most incredible things!"

But Harbaugh had more to say: Brandstatter asked about his favorite character in Sponge Bob Square Pants, and Harbaugh says that his favorite character from that animated series is who he's most inspired by.

"Sponge Bob!" Harbaugh answered. "I love his attitude. He attacks each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind! I've kind of modeled my behavior after him. We all should. What a great employee he is. He's a go-getter. He's always got a bounce to his step. He's got pizzazz. He puts his heart and soul into making those crabby patties. I think he's awesome."

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