INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan football stars J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum and Mike Sainristil recapped the Wolverines’ 26-0 victory over Iowa to claim the program’s third straight Big Ten title:
BLAKE CORUM: It feels great. I didn’t know we were the first three and out. But to have three back-to-back-to-back Big Ten championships, it’s a wonderful feeling. We’ve kind of changed the narrative how people look at Michigan.
So back-to-back-to-back feels great, but like I always say, like Kobe Bryant said, the job is not finished. We set these goals at the beginning of the season, and we hold ourselves to such a high standard, we must accomplish those goals.
Today was a great stepping stone, but like Coach said, we’re going to enjoy this one. We’re going to enjoy this one, and then we’ll get back to the drawing page. But it means a lot to go back-to-back-to-back.
MIKE SAINRISTIL: It just feels great. Guys like me and Blake, this is what we came back for, to have the success with this team, like the brotherhood that this team has is one that I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world, and this team is going down in history.
The way we go about our goals is you put everything into the next goal, and there’s work — there’s more work to put in and more ways to get better.
Coach is probably going to say it. I’m going to say it first before he says it. The worm has turned around here.
JIM HARBAUGH: I was just about to say that.
MIKE SAINRISTIL: Blake just said it as well. The narrative has changed. For some odd reason, people look at Michigan and they’ll say we don’t play whoever, you know, we don’t deserve to be wherever we are, but as we say, the only people — the only things that matter is what happens inside Schembechler Hall.
J.J. McCARTHY: It feels great. Obviously to be back and do it again, just like Blake, Mikey, and Coach hit on, this was one of our goals, and it feels great to accomplish it.
What I’m feeling personally is I need to get better, and we need to get better as an offense and focus on the little things. It’s going to be a great month of preparation.
BLAKE CORUM: I haven’t heard from any former running backs. Coach Hart obviously. That’s my guy.
In terms of Anthony Thomas or anyone, no, I haven’t. I haven’t even checked my phone. I definitely might, but it feels great just being up there with the greats. You know, the greats, that’s something I wanted to do when I came here.
Obviously I wanted to be a great football player, but I just wanted to honestly just leave an impact on and off the field, just be a great person. I feel like I’ve done that. There’s obviously more to do, but I haven’t heard from anyone.
J.J. McCARTHY: In my eyes I look at it as act like you’ve been there before. Coach Harbaugh always hits on that, just like scoring your first touchdown like you’ve scored your hundredth.
And I feel like we scored our hundredth today, just being able to go out there and win for a third time. It’s just like we’ve been here before, and we’re ready to move on and get better.
MIKE SAINRISTIL: Zak is a big piece of this team. And he’s not a “woe is me” guy, even though he is hurt right now, but he is still going to lead. It felt great to have him out there. It felt great to see him.
I know you know me as a captain, the other guys will probably say it as well, that’s somebody that guys on this team turn to. His words mean a lot, and his actions speak for themselves.
J.J. McCARTHY: Just like Mikey said, just his presence in general of being a leader on our team. He does so much for us because he enlivens all of us to play our best for him. When Coach made this game for him, we were doing it for him, it just brought another level of urgency and motivation to go out there and do it for him.
BLAKE CORUM: Seeing my guy Zak out there meant a lot. Because he didn’t have to. He just you got out of surgery last week. I bet you he was still in pain, but he did it for the team.
Therefore, we did it for him. Just seeing him go out there on the coin toss on crutches, on the sideline, just his presence, just everything he brings to the team, he doesn’t have to say much. Just him being there means a lot.
And I definitely miss my guy on the field. Like I told him, it’s just a minor setback, man. You’re going to come back better than ever, and I truly believe that.
Zak is one of the guys that came back, just like Mikey, just like myself, for what we call unfinished business. He is still here. He is still here. He is with the team, and he still brings a lot to the team even though he might not be able to be on the field pulling and blocking and protecting J.J. and myself.