Barack Obama supports Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh’s fight for change
By John Buhler
Barack Obama feels Jim Harbaugh is “on the right side” of a major issue.
Jim Harbaugh participating in an Ann Arbor march to protest racial inequality didn’t go unnoticed.
Harbaugh marched in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, along with Michigan football staffers and some former players. While Harbaugh has always been a lightning rod for attention during his coaching career, he didn’t do this to draw attention to himself, but rather the cause he is in support of. It caught the attention of former U.S. President Barack Obama.
On Wednesday during a virtual town hall meeting, Obama mentioned Harbaugh directly.
“You got Jim Harbaugh, the coach of Michigan football, marching today,” Obama said. “That’s not something that was happening five to six years ago. Although Jim I know, and he’s been on the right side of this issue for quite some time.”
Prior to the events surrounding George Floyd’s murder by the Minneapolis Police, Harbaugh had been quite on social media for months. He then tweeted out how proud he was of his family for fighting for what they believe in at the tail-end of May. Days later, Harbaugh would march in peaceful protest of police brutality in America and in favor of ending racism in the United States.
Barack Obama recognizes Jim Harbaugh’s contributions to Black Lives Matter.
Harbaugh had made noise in recent weeks this offseason for some of the quotes he had about his alma mater’s inability to beat Ohio State, how close Michigan is to winning a national title and reform he’d like to see in college football.
Harbaugh has a reputation as one of the most intense coaches in college football and one of the most passionate people you’ll ever come across about anything. It’s part of his charm, but also has a tendency to wear people out over long periods of time. Sure, Harbaugh could have kept his mouth shut this whole time and focused on how to beat Ohio State, but he couldn’t stay silent.
To have one of the most influential people in the history of the world respect the job you’re doing as a man of high character has to feel fantastic.
Harbaugh is a man of passion and his commitment to Black Lives Matter speaks volumes.
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