Harbaugh: Title would mean so much to so many
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Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON — For Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, a win against Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday would be an “overwhelming” experience because of how many people it would impact.
“It would mean so much for our players, for them to know what it’s like to be champions,” Harbaugh said. “Just be simply referred to as national champions.
“And for their parents to have their son be a champion, a national champion; for their grandparents to have a grandson; for their brothers and sisters to have a brother who is a [national champion].”
Harbaugh downplayed the idea that he cared about how the win would impact his own legacy, but he acknowledged he cares deeply about how his family would be able to revel in a Wolverines title.
“What it would mean to me, for my kids to know their dad is a national champion and for my parents and my brother and my sister,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the overwhelming thing, just that so many people would be able to enjoy that, be a part of that.
“For my wife, for her husband to be a national champion. For me, not so much, but for everybody else, yeah, that would be huge.”
Harbaugh, in his ninth season as the Michigan coach, has previously been named the NFL Coach of the Year and the AP College Football Coach of the Year. But he has yet to coach a team beyond a conference or division title in four head-coaching stops (FCS San Diego, Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan).
Harbaugh and Washington coach Kalen DeBoer took turns during the coaches news conference Sunday trading compliments about each other’s programs in what became an exercise in civility.
When asked about what his message would be to his players if he were to depart for a NFL job, Harbaugh paid no attention to the premise, instead opting to speak to the message going into the game.
“I can’t wait to watch them compete, watch them have at it,” he said. “That’s going to be my overwhelming feeling is, let’s just go let it rip.”
Without missing a beat, he shifted into a quick rundown of Washington, calling the teams “mirror images” of each other in how thorough they are.
“Really feel like these are the two best teams,” Harbaugh said. “They’re the last two standing.”
While questions linger about Harbaugh’s future with Michigan, DeBoer’s tenure at Washington is in its early days. After inheriting a team that went 4-8 in 2021, DeBoer has gone 25-2 in his two seasons with the Huskies.
“I think the team, each win, has been celebrated on somewhat of a level, because I make sure they do that because it’s really hard to win a college football game,” DeBoer said. “But it’s been this really even keel kind of mentality and just knowing that the work’s not done — the job’s not done — and we’re going to celebrate the win. But the next game’s the most important.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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