Harbaugh parents brace for ‘thrill of victory’ and ‘agony of defeat’

The Catholic Review ^ | Jan. 24, 2013 | George P. Matysek Jr.

[MDJohnPaul]

When the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night in 2011 – and John Harbaugh beat younger brother, Jim, in the first-ever NFL matchup of coaching brothers – Jack Harbaugh peeked into the Ravens’ locker room after the game.

Jack Harbaugh, John and Jim’s father, was impressed by how ecstatic everyone was. There was nothing but celebration and smiling faces.

“I thought to myself, we really aren’t needed here,” Jack Harbaugh recalled, speaking to local and national media during a Jan. 24 conference call. He walked across the hallway at the Baltimore football stadium. The mood in the San Francisco locker room was quiet and somber, he said.

“I found Jim all by himself,” Jack Harbaugh said. “No one was around him. That’s where we were needed.”

For Jack Harbaugh and his wife, Jackie, the upcoming rematch between their coaching sons at the Feb. 3 Super Bowl in New Orleans is likely to be another excruciating study in contrasts. Someone will win and someone will lose.

“It was the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory (a year ago),” Jack said. “I’m not looking forward to that next Sunday.”

Jackie Harbaugh, John and Jim’s mother, remembered how John ran to find his brother after the Thanksgiving game – hugging him and giving him words of encouragement.

“It was just the epitome of how everyone in our family feels about each other,” she said. “We always try to raise everyone up.”

[Michael.SF.]

John won the first game, when they met earlier this year, so Jim should win this one to be fair. It's only the last game of the season.........WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE???

(speaking as a Niner's fan, of course)

[nickcarraway]

As long as Harbaugh remembers to keep running the ball.

[henkster]

It should be a very hard hitting game. Both teams are physical.

I seriously doubt brother in law Tom Crean will be in attendance. Indiana University hosts Michigan at 9:00 p.m. the night before and it’s the middle of a brutal Big 10 season.

[Coldwater Creek]

Pau and Marc Gasol’s parents, the Dr.’s Gasol were at the Grizzlies/Laker game last night. Great people, she is a Doctor at St. Jude, and he is a research scientist.