Jim Harbaugh, Media Love Affair Begins with Phenomenal Spring Practice Comments

Move over, Steve Spurrier and Art Briles. You'll have to share the "Most Quotable Coach" title for 2015. 

(Before going any further, apologies are in order to Briles: That joke was made too soon. But alas, it was too tempting to pass up.) 

New Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's return to college football is fantastic for the sport for two reasons. First, it's generally believed Harbaugh will restore Michigan to the powerhouse it once was. As it turns out, though, Harbaugh also provides local and national media scribes alike with amazing sound bites. 

Harbaugh's unique social media presence has been well-documented. Now, college football media members are catching on to the fact that Harbaugh is good for a solid quote or two—or 10. 

With Michigan's spring practice starting on Wednesday, Harbaugh answered some questions from Steve Kornacki on MGoBlue.com: 

"

Q. Tomorrow’s the first day of practice. You’re going to have a whistle around your neck and a team to coach here for the first time at the place where you played. What are your thoughts and emotions?

A. It’s like Thanksgiving. It’s like New Year’s Day. It’s like a family reunion. And having it all rolled into one. Most people think of January 1st as the start of a new year. To people who espouse to Catholicism and Christianity, they might correlate that with the birth of Christ. Us in football, the start of spring practice and the first day of summer training camp are what you look at as the New Year with fireworks going off, it’s your birthday. It’s being born back into football, it’s a happening.

Q. So it’s the birth of a new team?

A. Yeah, it’s like coming out of the mother’s womb. You’re in a nice, warm, cozy environment — safe. And now you are out into the chaos and bright lights. It’s a happening. It’s all those things rolled into one.

"

Okay. Right on. 

This isn't the first time Harbaugh has said something that raised an eyebrow or two. On national signing day, Harbaugh essentially summed up his first class by saying "That's kind of the way the pickle squirted this year," per Fox Sports. 

Whether Harbaugh's analogies are, shall we say, off the wall doesn't matter. He's anti-coachspeak, and that's all media members really want. So naturally, they're eating up everything Harbaugh says. 

All of this attention is great for Harbaugh and Michigan, who have been on fire ever since getting free publicity from former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.  

Here's where things get interesting, though. Expressing one's personality and opinions as a sports figure can be a dangerous wire to tightrope. Guys like Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch get crushed in flaming-hot takes for not saying anything.

Yet there are a lot of fans and media alike who want athletes to express themselves—as long as it's what they want to hear. 

It's a Catch-22. 

Of course, Harbaugh's quotes aren't in the same category as political or social stances, but he has shown a willingness to open up and be himself. That's awesome, and the love affair from media members is in full swing because of it. 

But it also means there could be times when he rubs someone the wrong way. It may even be a warranted criticism. The bottom line, though, is that Harbaugh is one of the most interesting people in college football—and he talks. 

So just listen. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football.