Jim Harbaugh serving as honorary captain is the perfect energy for Michigan football

Just two days after the NCAA levied a four-year show-cause penalty and a one-year suspension on former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh, should he ever try to return to college football, the University of Michigan has invited the greatest head coach in program history back.

Harbaugh was offered the invitation to serve as the honoray captain for the Michigan football season opener against Fresno State on August 31. It will be the first game for the Wolverines since winning the 2023 national championship and it's a perfect time to welcome back Harbaugh to celebrate.

Of course, this generated a huge reaction online. Michigan football fans love it. Others, who call it Michigan thumbing its nose at the NCAA, well, they are 100 percent correct. They might not like it, but that's exactly the kind of energy Michigan football needs to have regarding the NCAA.

Permanent middle finger.

NCAA can't be fair when it comes to Michigan football

The NCAA has proven with its leaks and its ridiculous "punishment" of Harbaugh that it's not a fair organization. The man already served a three-game suspension which is a lot for the crime. He was basically caught speeding and said he didn't remember.

Surely, that doesn't deserve a prison sentence?

But that's exactly what the NCAA is trying to do. It's trying to go after Sherrone Moore for deleting messages that were still turned over to the NCAA and were, by all accounts, not incriminating.

Tom Mars, Harbaugh's attorney, said the former Michigan football coach shouldn't worry himself with the findings of a "Kangaroo court."

Michigan shouldn't either. It should lawyer up and give the NCAA the middle finger, which it did by inviting Harbaugh back to campus to celebrate a national championship the NCAA's own President said was won "fair and square."

The fact that Warde Manuel put out a statement saying Michigan was "looked forward" to Harbaugh's return makes me feel like the University is in alignment. They are sick of the NCAA's crap and this is a sign that this isn't going to be the same old Michigan -- the one that won't fight.

And that's a really good thing, because not fighting the NCAA, is the only way to lose because they -- meaning the NCAA -- are wrong and they know it.