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Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jim Harbaugh returned to Michigan on Saturday. To collect his championship rings and to make good on his promise to add some championship ink.
Before Michigan’s spring game, Harbaugh got a “15-0” tattoo under a block M on his right arm, commemorating the Wolverines’ undefeated record on the way to the school’s national title.
Former Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil, whose 81-yard interception return in the fourth quarter sealed the Wolverines’ championship victory over Washington, posted videos of the Harbaugh tattoo on social media.
“I’m impervious to pain,” Harbaugh said while receiving the tattoo, then he joked afterward that he could “see why once you get one [tattoo] you might want to start adding to it.”
“I loved it,” added running back Donovan Edwards. “Coach Harbaugh, he’s a man of his word.”
Team 144
National Champions#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/r94teQWrS8
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 20, 2024
This offseason, Harbaugh left Michigan to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. The Wolverines replaced him with offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore.
During Michigan’s run through the College Football Playoff, Harbaugh told his players that he would get his first tattoo if they won the national title.
“I’m going to put it on my shoulder,” he said then. “I’ll probably get it on my right. And then an M too, an M that’s maize and blue.”
Before Saturday’s spring game, Michigan held a banquet to distribute the team’s championship rings. a boxed set of four custom rings awarded to players and staff.
After handing out its championship hardware, Michigan let the spring game take center stage as the program turns its attention toward defending its Big Ten and national titles.
The Wolverines have yet to name a starting quarterback to replace J.J. McCarthy, who could be a top-five pick in the NFL draft next week.
Jack Tuttle, who in February was approved for a seventh college season; senior Davis Warren; juniors Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal; and true freshman Jadyn Davis are all vying for the job.
Orji had an 18-yard touchdown scamper on the opening drive to give the Blue an early 7-0 lead. But Warren threw 42- and 48-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead the Maize to the 17-7 comeback win. Tuttle did not dress in the spring game with an undisclosed injury.
“We’re all working together because we want to win games,” Warren said of the competition. “The goal is to do the same thing we did last year. The quarterback is a really important part of that.”
Michigan opens its season Aug. 31 against Fresno State in Ann Arbor.
