Ann Arbor — The Michigan players left the Ohio Stadium field last fall, a third straight loss to the Buckeyes, a five-win season that ensured there would be no bowl game, and they knew the job security of their coach was in serious trouble.
Fast forward a year, and the atmosphere in the Michigan program is vastly different. Coach Jim Harbaugh, who spent the last four years coaching the San Francisco 49ers, has breathed new life into his alma mater’s football program, while instilling the players with a confidence that hadn’t been evidenced in a long while.