The cliché bingo card was entirely checked off in Schembechler Hall on Monday when Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and select players spoke about the upcoming rivalry game against Michigan State.
"It's a red letter game," said Harbaugh, who added it's been that way since he suited up for Bo Schembechler in the 1980s.
"We focus on them every year," said senior offensive lineman Ryan Hayes. "We don't look at the records."
Jaylen Harrell, a Florida native, discussed finally understanding the importance of the rivalry last year. As a freshman in 2020, there were no fans in the stands due to the pandemic, so he couldn't get a true sense of the atmosphere.