Doug Baldwin played for Jim Harbaugh during Harbaugh’s tenure at Stanford, so you would think that Baldwin would be rooting for his former coach to do well in his new position at Michigan. However, Baldwin and Harbaugh didn’t exactly see eye to eye during the Stanford years. Baldwin was asked how he felt about Harbaugh’s new Michigan gig, and his answer really reflects the pair’s relationship.
“I wish him the best of luck,” Baldwin said, per Terry Blount of ESPN.com. “He’s anxious to get that program turned around and do some great things at Michigan. I wish him the best.
“And go Buckeyes.”
Before last year’s NFC title game, Baldwin admitted that things got so bad between him and Harbaugh at Stanford that he was ready to make a transfer to Vanderbilt. However, his mom intervened and made him stick it out under Harbaugh.
“Jim and I did not have the best relationship while I was at Stanford,” Baldwin said back in January. “I was immature, a young athlete who thought I knew everything. We clashed at times. I was dealing with injuries and that also prevented me from performing the way I wanted to on the field. So a lot of things went into it.
“But I actually thank him now for the adversity he helped me through, so to speak. He made me who I am today, a better person and a better football player. It’s nothing against him personally.”
At least Baldwin has matured enough to realize that he may not have made having a good relationship with Harbaugh very difficult.
[h/t Larry Brown Sports]