# @michigandaily on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CwjIm_gMWcY
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/8417827-michigandaily-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/330083be8f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-08-30T00:41:02.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Michigan Daily (@michigandaily) — https://gondola.cc/michigandaily

## Caption

#SportsMonday: Of course, the Michigan football team can win these first three games without Harbaugh.

No, I’m not referring to Jack Harbaugh, although I suppose the claim could apply to him as he will be the Wolverines’ temporary assistant head coach for the first three weeks of the season. It can apply to Jack’s grandson, Jay, who’s another coach with a temporary promotion — or any of the four coaches who will split time as head coach. The claim can apply to anyone, really. 

Because the Wolverines don’t need anyone in particular to start the season 3-0 during Jim Harbaugh’s university-imposed suspension. But they do need consistency no matter the opponent, and Jim’s zany coaching carousel gives that away.

I get it, nothing about the first three weeks is hard. Call it a bakery schedule, because with three cupcakes at home against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green, Michigan could be without a head coach entirely on game day and still probably cook its opponents.

But that’s not the point of the Wolverines’ facile non-conference slate. Winning or losing isn’t really in question, and hosting Rutgers to open Big Ten play in Jim’s return to the sidelines shouldn’t be all too difficult, either. 

However, Michigan still has plenty to gain from playing three Division I football teams. It can work out early-season hiccups in on-field communication between both players and coaches. It can figure out how position groups and their respective coaches handle in-game adjustments. And it can even smooth-over the usual complexities of managing lots of personnel — some of whom will be making their Wolverine debuts — all while shoring up what a chain of command looks like with so many moving parts. 

To read more, click the link in our bio or pick up a print edition of this week's paper on newsstands around campus tomorrow.

✍️: Paul Nasr
📸: Julia Schachinger and Ali Chami
🎨: Lys Goldman

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sportsmonday

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