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Harbaugh addresses the media after the Michigan Wolverines lost to No. 2 Penn State, 42-13.

Two months ago, the speed and skill in Ann Arbor looked tantalizing. Saturday night, it looked overmatched.

“We had our difficulties,” said Harbaugh.

And will continue to have them until offensive line gets tougher and the receivers get craftier and the next quarterback gets a chance to plant some roots. The U-M coach has a lot of work left. Under an increasingly unforgiving spotlight.

As he told his team after the game: “We know the fake love is gone. There’s no bandwagon. It’s us.”

Actually, coach, it’s not fake love. It’s unrequited love. And it’s never just about “us.”

It’s also Alabama and Ohio State and Clemson and Oklahoma, and any other program that pays its coaches millions and millions of dollars to win.

And then win some more.

Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @shawnwindsor.

A previous version of the story listed an incorrect 2017 salary for Jim Harbaugh.

 

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