It’s been nearly three months since Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters, but he broke his silence amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday.

Appearing on a podcast with Jay Nordlinger, childhood friend and senior editor of the conservative National Review magazine, the Michigan football coach said he’s hopeful a college football season can be played this fall.

“Hope and going to prepare,” Harbaugh said. "I’m not going to give it one thought that it’s not going to happen, because it’s like being a quarterback. I learned that it’s better to be prepared and not have the opportunity, than to not prepare and your chance comes and your opportunity comes and you’re not prepared to do it.

"You got to not have one thought that it won’t happen.”

But the novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the United States, infecting more than 459,000 people, killing more than 16,500, as of Thursday afternoon, according to updated numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In mid-March, the Big Ten announced the suspension of all organized team activities, and since extended the suspension to May 4, wiping out the Wolverines’ spring practice schedule.

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Michigan’s coaches have been working from home ever since, talking over the phone and electronically, while doing their best to recruit.

“Doing the virtual (thing),” Harbaugh said. “God has stopped the world from spinning, but doing things from home. Calls — like I see a lot of people doing — and also, just things with my kids. With coaching, there’s so many hours a day that you work — and it’s pretty much 365 days a year. So, I’m trying to make memories with my kids.”

Harbaugh says he and his kids are picking a different activity to do every day, from various sports (field hockey, soccer, basketball, baseball, and, of course, football) to bird watching to scouring YouTube for videos “to learning how to play dominoes.”

“And some blue jobs; chopping wood as well, cutting grass — trying to do things with my wife and kids so I can look back and say, ‘This was the time we got to spend the whole month together and made memories.’”

Even so, there’s some concern nationally that the football season this fall could be impacted by the novel coronavirus, or not even take place. More than 95 percent of the U.S. population is currently under a stay-at-home order, including Michigan where the law was extended through April 30.

Beyond that, no one really knows what life will be like. Could the order be extended? Could cases of COVID-19 return in the summer or fall? Could games be played inside of empty stadiums?

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Harbaugh doesn’t have an answer (to be fair, he wasn’t asked about it) — but he does miss seeing his colleagues and players.

"I miss the team being together and practicing — and the coaches, the managers,” Harbaugh said. "Everybody being around and working toward a goal. Just the company. They’re fun, hilarious and good guys. Being around them everyday, I miss ‘em.”

While the game of football has been put on pause, at least physically, Harbaugh believes there is a silver lining to come from all of this. He sees more people concerned about others, more prayer — all while reiterating that “God has virtually stopped the world from spinning.”

“I don’t think it’s coincidence, personally, living a faith-based life,” Harbaugh said. “This is a message — this is something where, a time we grow in our faith. Having reverence and respect for God. You see people taking more a view of sanctity of life. I hope that continues — and not just in this time of crisis or pandemic.

"We talk about sanctity of life, yet we live in a society that aborts babies. There can’t be anything more horrendous.”

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