Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh believes TV networks play up the hatred between the Wolverines and Ohio State for audiences.
“I’m not going to go as far as to say contrived, but it is hyped up to no ends,” Harbaugh said Monday, according to ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren. “And these are student-athletes that are young kids, young adults, that are playing this game. And all we ask them to do is go out there and play the very best.
“I think that it’s very manufactured for the TV show that people want to watch and see.”
Harbaugh added the hype created for the game isn’t beneficial for players participating.
“It’s not healthy for the student-athletes on either side when you’re trying to put that much (pressure),” Harbaugh said. “That somebody’s practically thinking it’s life or death.”
Michigan defeated Ohio State for the third straight year Saturday, stamping its place in the Big Ten championship game. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said he felt “sick” after the loss.
The Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes despite not having Harbaugh on the sideline due to the coach serving a three-game suspension over allegations of in-person scouting and sign-stealing committed by the program.
Interim coach Sherrone Moore guided the Wolverines to victory Saturday, earning huge praise from Harbaugh.
“I’m not saying that I’m in a position of granting who a Michigan man is or who isn’t, or who a Michigan legend is or is not,” Harbaugh said. “(I’m) not the maker of those two lists, but I have nominated people before, and I nominate Sherrone Moore as a Michigan legend.”
Harbaugh is set to return to the sideline for Michigan’s Big Ten title game against Iowa on Saturday.
