WATCH: Michigan's JJ McCarthy Discusses Rose Bowl Prep, NFL Decision
The College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup between No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl is just 14 days away, and the Wolverines are eager for the opportunity. Meeting with the media on Monday, junior quarterback JJ McCarthy discussed a wide range of topics - including the team's preparation for Alabama, and his upcoming decision on whether or not to return for another year at Michigan.
Photo: Christopher Breiler
On the practice schedule for the Rose Bowl
Coach Harbaugh had a little different schedule than previous years. For me personally, just feel fresh mentally, physically, and spiritually. So it's been really good so far.
On Playing Alabama in the Rose Bowl
Excitement. What a great opportunity, especially on the stage we're going to play on. And it's a tremendous football team, so it's going to be a great challenge for us...and we love challenges.
We always prepare, whether we're playing ECU or UNLV, or whoever it is, we're preparing like we're playing the best team in the country. So nothing's really changed, it's just been more urgent and making sure we don't miss any little details, and leave no stone unturned.
On his health, and previous injuries during the season
If you know any athletes, you know it's a little bit worse than leading on. But I'm completely fine now, feel 100 percent healthy. I'm ready to go out there because these are the games you save your body for, so I'm excited to be all-out for this one.
On winning Bo Schembechler team MVP Award
It was a tremendous honor. That was one of my goals when I stepped on campus, to get that award. But there's 10 or 15 guys I can name off right now that deserve that award as well. Like Blake mentioned a bunch of times yesterday, we're not about personal awards, it's all about team awards. Just extremely grateful for my teammates thinking of me in that light.
On what he's learned from previous trips to the CFP
I think that the last couple of years, we fell victim to paralysis by over-analysis, and just kind of getting over-detailed in too many things. Overthinking things. I feel like these first couple of weeks, we've really just took things kind of light, easing into things, and it's been kind of fresh every single day.
At the end of the day, it's just not throwing it to the other team. That's one of the worst things you can do as a quarterback. Just staying poised, calm and collected no matter what happens, whether it's a tipped ball or anything like that. Just going out there and being great every single play.
I feel like experience is one of the biggest edges you have as a competitor. Just having the roller coaster of a game last year, then the experience that I had standing on the sidelines for most of it against Georgia. Playing against a defense like that is going to be huge going into this game, because we've had that experience of an elite defense with elite athletes.
On the NFL Draft
He actually brought it up (Harbaugh) and asked if I wanted to talk about it on the week off. I told him, "I'm only focused on Bama, coach." And he loved it, he was fired up.
