Jim Harbaugh: MSU is the big kid on the block, not U-M

Standing in the heart of Detroit, Jim Harbaugh stepped back.

The Michigan football coach admitted in front of nearly 200 high school coaches that his program is not currently the state's primary football program right now.

But he was at the Horatio Williams clinic in Detroit, where MSU has come in previous years, to ask for the help of Detroit-area football coaches.

"We know we're not the biggest guy on the block – Michigan State's the biggest guy," Harbaugh said.

That was met by a single individual in back of the room clapping, which Harbaugh acknowledged.

"Rightfully so," he said early in his 15-minute speech, which was preceded by an extended video presentation of still frames from spring practice set to music. "They have done a tremendous job. We respect the job they've done, but we want to be that."

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It's an obvious concession, given Michigan State is two years removed from a Rose Bowl win and has won two Big Ten titles in the past five years, while Michigan has fired two coaches since 2011 and only had one season of double-digit wins. But Harbaugh also wanted to point out the target.

"It's winning and where their program is, it's been earned," he said. "We respect the job that they've done. We want people to know what our ambitions are and how we go about things and what kind of program we're developing and has been developed for many years. And get their help."

That message went a long way with the coaches in the room as well, many who are still establishing ties with the U-M staff. The Mark Dantonio message, by not dismissing him, fed into Harbaugh's earlier comment about being honest to gain respect.

"The most important thing I saw Jim do today was he recognized, this is Michigan but right now, Michigan State is on the big block," said Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher, a Michigan grad whose program had sent elite kids to U-M for years but recently has seen them go elsewhere, including Ohio State. "That gives you an opportunity to say hey, we've got to get back on that block right now at the top. He gave respect to (MSU coach) Mark Dantonio and the most important thing is he took that and will build upon that. He understands where he's at and he understands where he has to go. He has a vision. And that's what's important."

Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder.

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