The suspension for Michigan Football’s Jim Harbaugh is hypocrisy
Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh will reportedly face a four-game suspension this season stemming from NCAA violations.
As first reported by Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is likely going to be suspended for the first four games of the 2023 season.
This is, as Dellenger reported, a result of a negotiation between Harbaugh and the NCAA. The reason Harbaugh is being suspended is for supposedly being dishonest with the NCAA.
However, he hasn’t admitted that he was dishonest. Lying to NCAA investigators is a Level I offense that carries a six-game suspension. He will serve four games and according to Austin Meek of The Athletic, who cites sources, Sherrone Moore and Grant Newsome will be suspended one game each as well.
Source confirms: Michigan is working toward a four-game suspension for Jim Harbaugh and one-game suspensions for Sherrone Moore and Grant Newsome as part of a negotiated resolution to its NCAA infractions case. First reported by @RossDellenger
— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) July 25, 2023
These allegations all stem from Michigan football coaches contacting recruits via text message outside of an allowed period, watching players work out over Zoom, and Harbaugh allegedly taking recruits out for a lunch of hamburgers.
Meanwhile, as EJ Holland of The Wolverine pointed out, Tennessee was caught paying players in addition to hundreds of infractions and got a slap on the wrist.
Tennessee had 200 infractions and paid recruits. Slap on the wrist.
— "EJ Holland" (@EJHollandOn3) July 25, 2023
Michigan got a couple of guys burgers and watched Zoom workouts during COVID. Suspensions!!!!
Absurd...
The NCAA just sent out a memo about NIL and how schools were breaking the rules. Well, USC has been open about tampering and using NIL to entice players into the transfer portal, which the Trojans did (openly) with Jordan Addison last offseason.
Apparantly, that’s OK. But say you don’t recall buying some kids hamburgers a couple of years ago, and you get suspended for 1/3 of a season. Bill Self was embroiled in an FBI investigation and was suspended four games, which is like one game of a football season.
The hypocrisy is insane and is just another reminder why the NCAA needs to be disbanded altogether. It refuses to punish the real cheaters and has turned a blind eye to the pay-for-play recruiting that has been commonplace in the SEC for decades.
Who will coach while Harbaugh is out?
My first thought would have been Sherrone Moore, but since he’s also expected to be serving a one-game suspension, my guess is that Mike Hart will be the interim head coach.
Jesse Minter is another viable option as is Jay Harbaugh. The Wolverines will need a new playcaller for the season opener. Kirk Campbell seems like a logical choice.
Yes, the schedule for the first four games isn’t overly daunting. Still, I don’t love the fact that Michigan football will be without Jim Harbaugh for four games, as well as Sherrone Moore for one.
Next. Michigan football is undefeated against these teams. dark
Yet, it will add intrigue to Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, as well as the first month of the Michigan football season as ridiculous as it is.