UPDATE: March 4.
Further details have emerged concerning Jim Harbaugh and Jim Minick’s encounter with wrecked motorists Tuesday afternoon.
MLive.com’s Ben Freed reports that the SUV’s driver, Christine Mowrer, says she didn’t know who Harbaugh was when he came to her aid on the side of Interstate 94 near Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Mowrer told Freeman in a phone interview she and her 73-year-old mother, Katherine Brinkley, were driving along when she lost control due to poor road conditions and flipped over the median.
We were going westbound when we lost control and then hit the median...we went up and over it...we rolled over on the eastbound side I don’t know how many times. Probably three or four times...I was upside down out the window [when the car stopped rolling]...I had blood dripping out of my nose and [Harbaugh] helped me out and got me onto the ground...He got coats and blankets on us and put up an umbrella to block the wind. He probably kept me from going into shock. He was very, very nice...I didn’t even know who he was until the state police told me later.
Freed reports that Mowrer suffered a ruptured disk in the incident, but will not require surgery. Brinkley sustained a broken nose, but is otherwise expected to be fine. Both were wearing seat belts.
Mowrer says she’s not sure how to best get in contact with Harbaugh, but would like to say thanks.
“I would like to tell them thank you but I really don’t know how to get a hold of them,” Mowrer said. “I really appreciate what they did for me and my mother.”
Just head to the Big House, Christine. At any given hour, odds are better than even you’ll find Harbaugh there practicing his headphone toss or sponging up the wisdom of Judge Judy in his office.
---End of Update---
Judging by a recent flurry of Harb news, Jim Harbaugh appears to be having one of the most prolific Tuesdays since ILoveMakkonen entered the public consciousness.
In the span of 10 minutes, I became aware of two occurrences involving the Michigan Wolverines head coach—the first being his childlike joy over the contract extension of his favorite TV judge, and the second being his encounter with a wrecked Michigan motorist on Tuesday afternoon.
We'll start with the motorist, whom Harbaugh reportedly helped extricate from her vehicle on Interstate 94 near Ann Arbor, Michigan.
WDIV-TV's Halston Herrera tweeted details of the incident. Harbaugh was reportedly driving with a member of his staff when he saw a wrecked SUV and pulled over to assist.
Harbaugh aided the vehicle's passenger—a 73-year-old woman, according to ClickOnDetroit.com—and kept her warm with coats as they tried to help the driver and waited for emergency responders. The passenger and driver were taken to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to ClickOnDetroit.com.
The Detroit Free Press' Mark Snyder tweeted that the University of Michigan has confirmed Harbaugh stopping at the scene of the accident.
Incredibly, this was just the first of two huge wins for Harbaugh, who later tweeted his excitement over Judge Judy extending her contract for three years through 2020.
Note the time stamp of Harbaugh's tweet. It was sent shortly after the drama on the highway.
So we're clear: An hour after helping prevent a distressed older woman from succumbing to exposure, Harbaugh took to Twitter to blast out his congratulations to Judge Judith Sheindlin.
No social media self-congratulating. No pictures from the scene. Not even a humblebrag that he's #blessed to have been able to help. That part of the day was over, and Harbaugh's attention had turned to Judge Judy—his raison d'etre—and this landmark moment in cable programming history.
And why not? It was a huge deal!
According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, Sheindlin's six-year deal with CBS is potentially worth at least $280 million. Michael Jordan had it all wrong, guys. Forget sneakers and championships—daytime television is the real honeypot.
In any case, today is Harbaugh's day, and in honor of his work as a good Samaritan and his favorite show being renewed, here's video of Jim and his father, Jack, sitting front row and soaking in the wisdom at a taping of Judge Judy.
I'd say, "Never change, Jim," but I'm not convinced that's even possible.
Dan is on Twitter. He would pay thousands for a guided tour of Jim Harbaugh's mind.
Read more Big Ten Football news on BleacherReport.com