J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback for Michigan, had an uneventful Rose Bowl game versus Alabama. Fortunately for the Wolverines, his original attempt was intercepted and then called back when it was determined that Caleb Downs was initially out of bounds before intercepting a throw that McCarthy was actually trying to throw away. Instead of punting the ball away, McCarthy made a few mistakes by throwing a couple passes behind his intended receivers that would have resulted in first downs. However, the thing about Junior is that he consistently pushes on to the next play and never quits up.
In the closing minutes of the football game, McCarthy drove the Wolverines 75 yards down the field to level the score, but the Michigan defence forced a stop to send the game into overtime. In addition to throwing three touchdowns, he also passed for 221 yards with no interceptions.
Compared to the TCU playoff game the previous season, this evening was significantly better. In the end, McCarthy’s two pick-sixes contributed to Michigan’s defeat by the Horned Frogs. McCarthy announced to reporters on stage following the game the previous season that Michigan would return. According to Harbaugh, “the team was just not going to be denied.” “J.J. stated as much when he left the semifinal game on this very podium the previous year. We’re going to be back, he declared. Not only will we return, he assured me, but “we’re going to win.” And he did just that.
“And in overtime against Alabama, I think the last quarterback to win in overtime against Alabama was none other than Tom Brady.”
McCarthy’s track record at Michigan is unquestionable. In his two seasons as the starting quarterback, he has only lost one game and consistently finds ways to lead his team to victory. McCarthy is one of the best teammates and leaders the Wolverines have ever seen. He can use his legs when necessary and has the arm talent to put the team on his back. These are some of the main arguments put out by Harbaugh to support his claim that McCarthy is the best quarterback to have ever played at Michigan.
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