Michigan Wolverines

Jim Harbaugh gushed about Woody Hayes at Big Ten Media Days

Published Aug. 6, 2015 11:23 a.m. ET

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Michigan Wolverines football coach Jim Harbaugh did not open up about much during his time in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days, but he made an exception when Woody Hayes was brought up.

Saying he has a "deep, abiding respect and admiration" for him, Harbaugh gushed about the Hall of Fame Ohio State head coach.

"He was one of the greatest coaches that ever coached the game," Harbaugh told reporters via Cleveland.com. "I was well-read on Coach Hayes, but also I had the advantage of hearing a lot of stories growing up about Woody Hayes."

For a young Harbaugh growing up in Ann Arbor in the 1970s during "The 10-Year War" between Hayes and Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, it comes as little surprise there would have been many opportunities to talk to people who knew the Ohio State coach.

Schembechler played for Hayes at Miami (Ohio) and later coached under him at Ohio State. Though intense rivals on the field, they remained close friends for the rest of their lives.

Given Harbaugh's well-known connection and respect for Schembechler -- who employed his father, Jack, as an assistant coach before recruiting Jim to be his quarterback in the mid-80s -- his affection for Hayes is not too surprising, either.

"I view him as one of the all-time greats," Harbaugh said.

He went on to describe Hayes as a "tremendous football coach. Great presence. Great presence, a gift of personality. I watched a lot of the old clips, especially the one on the BBC, I loved that documentary. I loved the way he dressed. I loved his hat, the whistle around the neck -- just a football coach. And principled. When it came to principles there was a right and a wrong, and he was committed and stood for things. Never wavered."

As for current Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, Harbaugh said, "I think he's a heck of a coach and a real gentleman."

Naturally, Meyer was asked about Harbaugh the day before.

“I know his brother very well, John," Meyer said. "We’re friends. I actually know his dad a little bit. I actually coached against his father when I was at Illinois State and he was the head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan. Football family and a very good coach.”