CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: WASHINGTON VS MICHIGAN

January 6, 2024

JJ McCarthy

NRG Stadium

Michigan Wolverines

Press Conference

Q. Has the magnitude of that game set in yet?

JJ MCCARTHY: I can only speak for myself personally. I feel like it really hasn't. Everything we've done to get here, we're continuing to do the same things. I think we keep the same approach and treat it as -- obviously it's the National Championship, but it's a football game at the end of the day and we got to go out there and execute each play, and that's how we're treating it right now.

Q. (Indiscernible.) Is that your purpose?

JJ MCCARTHY: My purpose is to ultimately strive every day to be the best version of myself and inspire others to do the same. This great game provides so many life lessons and so opportunities to grow individually and help others grow. I feel like just being able to inspire others to be their best selves is my purpose.

Q. Jim Harbaugh talked about you as a player. Does that get uncomfortable?

JJ MCCARTHY: That's a great question. It doesn't -- I take that back. I get a little uncomfortable with every compliment I get. That's just the personality I have. I'm just tremendously grateful for him to be my head coach. Obviously all the great words he says about me means a lot and it's a blessing to play for him.

Q. Describe that relationship.

JJ MCCARTHY: You know, it's a mixture of father/son, teammate to teammate. Just a great friend to great friend. All of the above. He provides every aspect of a great leader that I want to follow and that relationship is a big part of it.

Q. Michigan program over the decades hasn't won any championships. (Indiscernible.)

JJ MCCARTHY: Yeah.

Q. People are surprised by that.

JJ MCCARTHY: Yeah, does take me by surprise because the tradition of Michigan football and just the strive for excellence that we have that we try to achieve on a day-to-day basis, you expect it not to be this long.

But that's just the way it turned out. We're extremely grateful to be here and hopefully go win it so we don't continue that drought.

Q. (Regarding Michael Penix, Jr.)

JJ MCCARTHY: You know, he had my Heisman vote. Not going to lie. Michael Penix, everything he's been through, all the adversity, all the injuries, just continuing to stick to the process and keep pressing on, that's something that Coach Herb always talks about, a future favors those who press on.

He's the epitome of that. The player he is, the touch he puts on the ball, the accuracy, the ball placement, just a tremendous quarterback and I have so much respect for him.

Q. Give me a sense from a year ago what the difference is preparation and mindset, routine for this team to get ready for this game, one step closer to your goal than you were last year?

JJ MCCARTHY: I think the difference in preparation, different from last two years, was more about ourselves, how are we going to go out there and be the best version of ourselves.

At the end of the day, the last two playoff games we were beating ourselves. So just staying focused and keep thing simple, stay in the present moment, and attack every day.

You never get those days back, never get that meeting back, that practice back. I feel like we've done a really good job trying to maximize every single day and get the best out of it.

Q. In a day and age when NIL and the transfer portal and so many things (indiscernible.) How special is it that this group has been together, stuck together, and you guys are here to fulfill this goal?

JJ MCCARTHY: It's extremely special. I feel like that's the reason we are here is because how much we love each other and play for each other, outside of all the NIL, the transfer portal.

We're an old-school football team at the end of the day. We go out there leaving it all on the line every single play and we play for each other ultimately. I think that's our secret sauce to our success this year.

Q. When was the first time you think you dreamt of a National Championship as a kid?

JJ MCCARTHY: Fifth grade. Fifth grade is when I started dreaming of winning championships at the collegiate and NFL level. Just being able to be here now, I'm just trying to really relish every moment and appreciate God so much for putting me in this position and putting my teammates and my coaches in this position.

We're not going to pass it up. Going to take full advantage of it.

Q. JJ, Coach Harbaugh obviously brings up Tom Brady when he talks about you. How does that make you feel?

JJ MCCARTHY: Yeah, it's a tremendous honor. Everything about Tom, like every aspect of his life, every aspect of his game, you want to aspire to be like it. Me personally, I don't like comparisons because we're unique and have different traits and aspects that makes us special.

Just hearing that just gives you that reassurance that you're on the right path and doing the right things.

It means a lot, but at the end of the day I don't like to compare myself to anyone. I just like to go out there and be the best version of myself.

Q. How much of a relationship do you have with Tom?

JJ MCCARTHY: A pretty good one. We text here and there. I haven't got the opportunity to meet him in person. He's always been great responding to me with detailed answers and been supportive since got here.

So much love and respect for Tom. Going to continue to keep bugging him.

Q. It doesn't feel like few much pressure when someone says, hey, you might be the greatest quarterback... (indiscernible.)

JJ MCCARTHY: No, because if I took that as too much pressure I would have to take someone saying that I'm the worst quarterback to ever come through here as pressure. If you're going to take the good, you have to take the bad naturally.

I just try to keep everything as noise and opinions everyone is entitled to and focus on what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis.

Q. A big point of your season was that Penn State game. Second half you didn't throw a pass. For you, a lot of people would say that speaks for itself. Do you look at that game... (indiscernible.)

JJ MCCARTHY: For sure. I would say we played a lot of great teams before that, but that was a tremendous defense and tremendous offense, tremendous on special teams.

So I feel like getting that win, especially in the fashion we did, just proved to us that whatever it takes we're going to be able to get it done. Whether it's running the ball 32 times or passing the ball 32 times in a row, we're going to find a way to get the victory. That unselfishness speaks to the team, not just myself.

I wouldn't have the zero hesitation I do unless I was on a team like this. Just being able to go out there and get the victory, that's all that matters.

Q. Coach Harbaugh, obviously he talked to us the other day about (regarding in-game on the sideline.) (Indiscernible.) Is it just the presence have having that former quarterback?

JJ MCCARTHY: Yeah, you're exactly right. It's the presence, him being in similar situations that I would be in in the game and talking through each of those situations. You know, you could trust a guy when he's been there and done it. It's just really special to have. I would say it's presence on the sideline.

Q. 26 and 1, second highest winning percentage as a starter, second behind Chuck Healy. (Indiscernible.) Curious, what do you think of going 35-0?

JJ MCCARTHY: I have heard of Chuck Healy. 35-0 is a tremendous accomplishment, one I can't see being broke very soon. Yeah, it all takes the team. It all takes everyone, coaches, strength staff, nutrition staff, everyone goes into that 26 wins. It's not just myself. Yeah, Chuck Healy is a dog for sure.

Q. (Regarding this past week - Ryan Mallett.)

JJ MCCARTHY: I mean, tremendously. Like going back to last year and being able to see him, able to have him around the team, it was just that infectious energy he had that inspired us and put this jolt of appreciation into us for what we have and the ability to walk, play this great game, and really puts things in perspective when you have guys like that motivating our team.

Just rest in peace to him. Love his family and I know that he's doing great things beyond his lifetime here on earth. He was an inspiring figure that continues to inspire us to this day.

Q. You put a crown on your teammates head. I noticed that caught on.

JJ MCCARTHY: Yeah.

Q. Do you remember why you started doing that and how that's caught on?

JJ MCCARTHY: I just saw it as a celebration that mostly people like crown themselves. I feel like this is the ultimate team game, and there is nothing that can be done on a single play without all 11. Just the reputation of it takes all of us and we are going to reward each guy we can on each and every play, especially if it's successful.

Q. Last week I asked you what your favorite quotes was. You said Coach Harbaugh. Any quotes that stick out in your head?

JJ MCCARTHY: Nothing this week, but he's really into this team kind of replicating a pack of wolves. He's got this little board that he created where it's like the wolves going into the fight, the wolves, celebrating the hunt and their food, and then the wolves walking away.

He's going to find any creative way to relate the outside world to football. He does it in a beautiful and very wise way. Yeah, I'd just say his message is we're a pack of wolves and we are going to eat our last meal.

Q. After last year's semifinal lost you said, we'll be back. I promise that.

JJ MCCARTHY: Uh-huh.

Q. How did the heartbreaks in years past lead you to this point?

JJ MCCARTHY: You said it right there. Just everything that we went through, it forged us, motivated us in the off-season to be better, do the extra rep, do more. I feel like it is ultimately the pain and failure that pushes you over the hump, pushes you to limits you've never been.

I am extremely grateful for those failures and everything it did for us. We're here now, so obviously it worked.

Q. How did those failures change you and make you...

JJ MCCARTHY: When you lose a game like that, especially in the fashion that we lost, that feeling just doesn't go away after you lose that game. It still sticks with me to this day.

Being able to use that as an anchor when I'm sore, tired, it ultimately one of the best things that ever happened to me and I'm extremely grateful for it. Changed my ultimate mindset and drive ultimately.

Q. What about Washington's defense? What have you seen from the Huskies?

JJ MCCARTHY: I think the biggest challenge is going to be receivers getting open. They do a tremendous job of disguising coverage and they're ultimately fast, physical, and a veteran team.

A lot of the guys are seniors, six years, and they communicate very well. Just being able to not hurt ourselves and play on the same page is going to be huge for us.

Q. With all the pressure on this game with the amount preparation you guys spent the last month on really two games, how have you guys been able to prioritize your mental health?

JJ MCCARTHY: I think Coach Harbaugh does a tremendous job of making sure we're having fun when we're working. That does a lot for our mental health. A lot of the guys do things on the side for individual sake, but I feel like Coach Harbaugh made the schedule very easy for us. Ut not overbearing. We are still getting the work done, but he's made it very effortless.

Guys are having so much fun, the time of our life and enjoying every single moment.

Q. Speaking of mental health... (indiscernible) would you be into that, and what's your routine?

JJ MCCARTHY: I got into it because my senior year at IMG Academy I was going through depression. I was in a deep rut for myself, studying all the athletes, their mindsets, trying to adopt them in every way to forge the ultimate mindset as a competitor.

I just kept going further from myself and my true nature. I feel like it just -- I was in a deep rut for about a month or two and I was like, something has to change.

This isn't who I am. I started looking up different practices to help improve mental health and meditation was the first one that kept popping up. I gave it a try and the rest was history.

It's a beautiful practice. It's really hard at first, but I recommend that people continue to press on with it and stay disciplined because the effects are tremendous.

Q. What do you think of where Blake was from a year ago to this moment?

JJ MCCARTHY: He is the epitome of a Michigan man. Being in a dark place, he got out of it and pressed on. Obviously we knew that Blake was going to do that, but in the fashion he did, he became better from it, and nobody really thought he could get better because he was already that good.

It just speaks to who he is as a person, his character. No matter what adversity he's going to face he'll push through and be better coming out of it. It just means everything to me, to the team and to me and especially Coach Harbaugh.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

JJ MCCARTHY: Yeah, I'm not even saying on the field. How he is as a leader, how he motivates people, how he conducts his business. He does things as at a more efficient rate now in his work ethic. He is not overdoing things and doing things just right for him.

I just feel like his presence, it's a different feel when you're around him now. It's that comforting older leader that's going to help guide you to your highest purpose and self.

I feel like that's somebody that's the epitome of a Michigan man and represents it on a day-to-day basis.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

JJ MCCARTHY: I haven't really thought that far ahead. I feel like one of the biggest reasons we're here is because of our ability to stay in the present moment and just enjoying every moment we're here together, because we know it's not going to be the same team, it never is, and we love this people team.

I feel like not being able to think that far ahead, the future and everything that could happen will make us better on Monday.

Q. What would winning this championship mean?

JJ MCCARTHY: It would mean everything, just because it means everything to win the National Championship as it is with all the adversity we overcame and been through the last two years and the drought that the Michigan fan base has been going through over the last 26 years.

So being able to do it for them as well as us would mean the world. Really would.

Q. Quarterbacks, as you know, have an expectation placed on them by so many other teams. Of course that's happened to you.

JJ MCCARTHY: 100%.

Q. How do you manage that and what advice would you give to other quarterbacks to many other people's expectations?

JJ MCCARTHY: This might sound crazy, but don't have any expectation about yourself, any situation, no matter what game it is. I feel like expectations just distort the image of the future.

Why not go in there and see what it's all about, really experience it, be in the moment each and every moment. I feel like the more you can limit expectations the better you'll be when the time comes to play and go out there and have fun.