No. 2 Michigan Dominates East Carolina, Despite Coach Harbaugh’s Absence
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – In a resounding victory, No. 2 Michigan showcased its strength as J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdown passes to Roman Wilson, leading the Wolverines to a 30-3 win over East Carolina on Saturday.
Michigan’s head coach Jim Harbaugh was absent from the game due to a school-imposed, three-game suspension for violating NCAA rules. However, McCarthy proved to be an exceptional leader on the field, completing 26 of 30 passes for 280 yards and throwing a touchdown pass to Wilson in each of the first three quarters.
Before the game, McCarthy showed his support for Coach Harbaugh by wearing a blue shirt backwards. He wrote the word “FREE” in black on white athletic tape and placed it on his chest above Harbaugh’s name.
All-America running back Blake Corum, who recently recovered from knee surgery, had an impressive performance, rushing for 73 yards on 10 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run that gave Michigan a comfortable 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Facing a powerhouse team with national championship aspirations, the East Carolina Pirates were overmatched. The Pirates’ quarterbacks, Mason Garcia and Alex Flinn, both struggled throughout the game. Garcia completed 11 of 18 passes for 80 yards and had a pass deflected and intercepted by Mike Sainristil.
Despite their dominance, the Wolverines had to play without their offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore, who was suspended for one game due to violating unspecified NCAA rules. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter filled in as the interim head coach for Harbaugh during the game.
Michigan’s strong performance in this game solidified their position as one of the top teams in the country. With their highest preseason ranking since 1991, the Wolverines are expected to maintain their spot in the AP Top 25 rankings.
Looking ahead, East Carolina will host Marshall next week, and Michigan will face UNLV at home.
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)