J.J. McCarthy says being without Jim Harbaugh Week 1 ‘really sucked’

Michigan was without head coach Jim Harbaugh for their season opener. Harbaugh’s currently serving a self-imposed (by the university) suspension the first three games of the year in the midst of an NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harbaugh not being on the sideline, being with the team, is something that quarterback J.J. McCarthy reflected upon after Michigan’s 30-3 win over East Carolina.

“I’m not going to lie to you, I wasn’t expecting it to be that much different, but I personally just felt like something was missing today and it was definitely him,” McCarthy said. “His presence — it’s all about winning, all about competing, all about…