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Jim Harbaugh Checks in From Ohio

It’s been about 48 hours since the 49ers lost their first game of the 2012 season and the sting still lingers. Coach Jim Harbaugh joined Brian Murphy for an interview on KNBR Tuesday morning from Youngstown, Ohio, about an hour before meeting his team to get ready for Sunday’s contest against the New York Jets.

“You have a loss, you get that bad taste in your mouth, there’s only one mouthwash that can really get that taste out,” Harbaugh said. “That’s coming back and preparing and coming out and being victorious this week. That’s the challenge for us, that’s where we’ll put our mindset.”

Just like his players after the game, Harbaugh was making no excuses about the 24-13 loss to the Vikings last week.

“They were able to move the ball, pick up first downs and score points,” Harbaugh said. “It was a close competitive game, pretty much the entire game and we came up short.”

And while the rest of the football world still discussing of the controversial ending to Monday night’s Packers vs. Seahawks game, Harbaugh said he had just caught wind of the situation early Tuesday morning. That will happen when you’re working late into the night with your coaching staff.

“Wasn’t glued to the television set last night,” Harbaugh said. “We were game-planning early morning hours and woke up and heard about it.”

Game-planning wasn’t the only thing Harbaugh did on Monday. He and his players also visited Akron Children’s Hospital and met some inspiring youngsters. The 49ers made ice cream sundaes, spent time with children on the playground, colored books and rocked babies while visiting other patients and their families throughout the afternoon.

For the second straight year, it was clear Harbaugh and his players were touched by the experience.

“We had one youngster that had leukemia last year and this year he’s in remission and doesn’t have to have a checkup for another year,” Harbaugh said. “What a victory that is and what a source of joy that was for him and his family. To be a small part of that, to at least witness it and learn from it, that’s pretty powerful.”

But for now the focus is on the Jets (2-1) who are tied atop the AFC East with Buffalo. New York claimed a 23-20 overtime win at Miami in Week 3 but lost All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Following his long night with the 49ers coaching staff and reviewing this week’s game film, Harbaugh sounded eager to keep working on Tuesday.

“We’re professionals,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve got to come back each and every week and prepare and play our best.”