Jim Harbaugh, head coach of Michigan, has been suspended for the Big Ten season. The league’s sportsmanship code and the NCAA’s in-person sign-stealing inquiry prompted this disciplinary action.
The announcement of the decision came on Friday afternoon, as the third-ranked Wolverines (9-0) prepare to travel to No. 10 Penn State (8-1) on Saturday for a crucial road contest.
For “conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition,” Michigan violated the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy.
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The Big Ten reported that Harbaugh’s service to the Big Ten sanction was justified on the grounds of maintaining the team’s season-long functionality and his status as the public face of the program, despite the fact that the sanction was levied against Michigan.
“This does not constitute a sanction imposed on Coach Harbaugh,” the conference’s report stated. “It is a sanction against the university that, under the extraordinary circumstances presented by this offensive conduct, best fits the violation.”
Harbaugh can coach all week, but his punishment limits him to the sidelines on game day.
He might play in Michigan’s game against Penn State if the court rules. President Santa Ono said Michigan wants a court order “preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect.”
Ono criticized the Big Ten pace Jim Harbaugh:
“Like all members of the Big Ten Conference, we are entitled to a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to determine the full set of facts before a judgment is rendered,” Ono said. Fining before an investigation breaches Conference rules, due process, and precedent, as Commissioner Tony Petitti did today. The Commissioner’s quick decision in our NCAA investigation is regrettable.”
On Oct. 19, three weeks after the Big Ten unveiled the NCAA’s sign-stealing inquiry, Harbaugh was suspended.
The league’s timing is partly due to Michigan’s Wednesday afternoon request for an extra day to reply to a potential discipline notice. The Big Ten evaluated the institution and Harbaugh’s lengthy remarks.
Big Ten sources said they requested NCAA papers seeking Michigan’s authorization on Thursday, delaying the decision.
Following Saturday’s Penn State game in Happy Valley, Michigan faces Maryland and Ohio State at home to finish the season.
Before Harbaugh’s three-game suspension on Friday, most sportsbooks had Michigan -4.5 against Penn State on Saturday. BET dropped Michigan -4 (-115) after the article, while most bookies remained -4.5. ESPN BET PENN Entertainment odds.
NCAA Investigtion of Jim Harbaugh:
The NCAA’s investigation into former Michigan employee Connor Stalions’ off-campus scouting and signal stealing continues following Big Ten sanctions.
The NCAA banned off-campus, in-person opponent scouting in 1994. In November 2016, then-Baylor assistant Jeff Lebby was suspended for the first half of a game against Oklahoma after being on the sidelines the week before when Oklahoma played Tulsa.
Before joining Michigan’s faculty in 2022, Stalions was a Naval Academy graduate and Marine Corps commander. He resigned Friday after being suspended with pay during the probe. The Stalions declined to meet with Michigan officials or participate in the NCAA probe, possibly on counsel’s advice, ESPN sources said. The Athletic reported that Stalions attorney Brad Beckworth disputed Harbaugh or other Michigan administrators authorized off-campus scouting infractions.
“I do not want to distract from what I hope to be a championship run for the team, and I will continue to cheer them on,” she added.
On Oct. 18, the NCAA alerted Michigan and the Big Ten of its Wolverines off-campus signal-stealing investigation.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel:
Athletic director Warde Manuel said the department was “committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity for all members of our community.” She’ll help the NCAA. Harbaugh claimed his team would cooperate and “not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment.”
The Stallion reportedly bought tickets to 12 of the 13 other Big Ten venues and Michigan’s possible CFP opponents. With Petitti’s “exclusive authority” to judge offenses and punishments, the Big Ten believes the sportsmanship policy will encourage participation. On Oct. ESPN wants “a picture of what the facts actually are, if we were to act.” The Big Ten may intervene before the NCAA’s extensive inquiry and violations.
Central Michigan was investigating a man who resembled Stalions and sat on the bench in CMU gear for the Sept. 1 opener at Michigan State, ESPN reported on Oct. 30.A week ago, Petitti was exhorted to take action. One of fifty non-roster reserve qualifiers
Big Ten coaches:
Petitti called Big Ten coaches and athletic directors who denounced Michigan (Harbaugh and Manuel ignored them) and urged the commissioner to punish Michigan. Petitti disrupted campus signals Friday. Ono advised Petitti and other Big Ten presidents and chancellors to let due process determine Michigan’s punishment the night before their meeting.
Another NCAA investigation into Michigan is the off-campus signal-stealing issue. Michigan knew of recruitment problems during COVID-19 in January. Michigan suspended Harbaugh, Moore, and Newsome for three games to begin the 2023 season in August. In 2024, the first NCAA Michigan inquiry should end.
Harbaugh may face Level I head coach responsibility charges for failing to cooperate with NCAA investigators.
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