Litigation Dropped, Michigan Suspends Harbaugh
It isn't justice, but the justice system, at least for the moment, is out of the process. Michigan agreed to suspend Harbaugh for three game days, which means he will not be on the sideline against Ohio State.
A Statement from the University of Michigan
"This morning, the University, Coach Harbaugh, and the Big Ten resolved their pending litigation. The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension. Coach Harbaugh, with the University's support, decided to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their performance on the field. The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations. The University continues to cooperate fully with the NCAA’s investigation."
The Big Ten also issued a statement:
The Big Ten Conference’s commitment to student-athletes, sportsmanship and the Commissioner’s duty to protect the integrity of competition will never waver. Today’s decision by the University of Michigan to withdraw its legal challenge against the Conference’s November 10th Notice of Disciplinary Action is indicative of the high standards and values that the Conference and the University seek to uphold. The University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big Ten Conference and the Conference will continue to work cooperatively with the University and the NCAA during this process.
There are a lot of questions unanswered: Did Michigan roll over, learn more, or get something in return? Did the Big 10 threaten something else and what? How will this affect the NCAA investigation? How does this affect Harbaugh's contract negotiation? Most of all, will the conference continue to gin up penny-ante violations then gang up on Michigan every time the football team is good, and what does this mean for the conference's future and Michigan's commitment to it? How much will Harbaugh's absence affect them in what was already the most important football game ever?
There is no content after the jump because I have no answers.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^
Cowards.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
let the endless speculation of “Harbaugh knew” commence.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^
I guess that amicus brief didn't help so much?
November 16th, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^
Michigan caved before the hearing, so we'll never know what the court would have decided. The amicus brief could only have helped, but settling removes the possibility of it helping with the law. It can still help with the media narrative.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:16 PM ^
Appreciate the effort. Helped in other ways, if not the courtroom.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:10 PM ^
There is a long and nearly unbroken tradition of amicus briefs that did not impact the outcome. Other than signifying interest in the outcome of the case, most briefs are rarely cited, even in the Supreme Court.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
That's true that amicus briefs shouldn't be expected to change the outcome one way or the other. They can help on the margins and help with the media narrative. I believe judges usually read them, so they can be influential, but they are rarely cited in opinions.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:03 PM ^
This feels like an inexplicably conservative risk-management decision by the university. Coach Harbaugh was in the right and prepared to defend himself. The Big Ten's suspension violated the conference's own rules under pressure from Michigan's self-interested rivals, who insisted that the Big Ten interfere with this season rather than awaiting the outcome of the NCAA investigation. 1,700 alumni signed our amicus brief this week making their views clear: Harbaugh should be on the sidelines for these crucial games.
I'll be making the rounds on media expressing these views. Any reporters looking for a critical take should call my firm.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:04 PM ^
Why cave so easily?
Could it be Michigan has dirt on OSU, Rutgers, Purdue, et al. - dirt that's dirtier than the dirt Stalions has soiled us with - and is saying OK, 3 games for the head coach sets the bar.
When you get a full read on what these other cats have been doing, their punishments must be commensurate.
James Franklin aside, there is some logic.
November 17th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
How many times are we going to let Lucy pull away the "Michigan is going to burn everyone to the ground!" football before we stop trying to kick it?
November 16th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^
Michigan needs to leave this fucking conference tomorrow.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^
Maybe Harbs just really enjoyed watching the game on TV?
November 16th, 2023 at 6:35 PM ^
John finally extended the formal invite for Saturday.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^
Well from my perspective, I'm feeling pretty jerked around on this. Just 3 days ago it was "Michigan vs Everybody", "America's Team", and "#Bet"....
Now this? This doesn't end the "distraction" for the team. This doesn't put anything "behind us" and allow everyone to "move forward".
This creates more questions as Seth points out.
Also:
Is this Harbaugh taking a suspension so that the NFL's threat of not allowing him to be hired to avoid punishment is now off the table?
Does this make him more or less likely to be roaming the sidelines at Soldier Field next year?
Why not right after MSU and before Purdue? Was this just really a bluff?
Is there another shoe to drop? I'm guessing if there is then that shoe will drop after Maryland and before OSU. More distractions.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:10 PM ^
This university will never see another dime from me. Folded like a cheap lawn chair. Good luck to all of you, I'm out.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
If something dramatic doesn't come out in the next 2 weeks, I'm right behind you.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:47 PM ^
Except that this settlement probably just reduced the chance of anything drastic coming out.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:12 PM ^
This whole thing still stinks to high heaven.
I will reserve judgement but atm, sure seems like Michigan fights with open fists
November 16th, 2023 at 5:13 PM ^
Is there discovery before a TRO hearing?
That's the only way I can make sense of this. All the posturing pre and since the B1G announcement was a full guns blazing approach, which has now been traded for going out with a whimper. There must be something going on that the public doesn't know about.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:15 PM ^
I have NO idea why I am surprised by this result, Michigan bent over and took it dry yet again. This is what they ALWAYS do. This is most likely exactly why Pettiti went after them, other conference programs told them that when it really came down to it, Michigan would fold. All the Warde coming at and scathing the Bigten, Santa standing tall, hiring a big law firm, Regents standing by the program…all of that to end it like this???
November 16th, 2023 at 5:15 PM ^
“The University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big Ten Conference…”
sure doesn’t seem like it
This is clearly a “please don’t leave” statement, but what did we get for backing off that threat? Nothing verifiable seems certain, at least.
I just don’t understand what could be the missing info here.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
I know Harbaugh can be polarizing to some, but this whole charade is a fucking joke. If this was a directional school nobody would be talking about it anymore. I hope Harbaugh signs a lifelong contract and abuses Ohio and the rest of the soft B1G for decades. Fuck em.
November 16th, 2023 at 6:24 PM ^
I do not see how Harbaugh can possibly continue coaching at Michigan with how the Big Ten is designed currently. He is going to miss HALF OF MICHIGAN'S MOST IMPORTANT SEASON IN DECADES OVER HAMBURGERS AND IPHONE FOOTAGE.
Do we really think this is the end of it? That now Michigan will be on the straight and narrow and there won't be so much as a sneeze or cough to report on?? For Christ's sake, Matt Weiss is being investigated by the FBI and our entire university was too stupid or chickenshit to tell Harbaugh "no, you can't hire Bo's racist son right now." We can't even go three months without some ridiculous scandal popping up due to blatant negligence or drummed-up charges by our biggest rivals. The second we get caught not counting stretching as practice time once again, this whole university will voluntarily shut down.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:19 PM ^
fuck this shit
November 16th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Santa and Warde wrote those strongly worded letters and then found out something damning so they backed off..not necessarily linking JH to the plot, but maybe someone else on staff? That's the only way this makes sense.
November 16th, 2023 at 9:49 PM ^
I'm concerned about the possibility of Jay Harbaugh . . .
November 16th, 2023 at 5:33 PM ^
If Michigan was "America's team", it shouldn't have taken this deal lying down.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^
Well, this is all so confusing. I keep hearing/seeing rumors that more was found out via player interviews?
I guess that could be real, and while Jim still had no freakin idea about all this, someone else did and this was a compromise??
Who freakin knows, we will never know, I will no longer trust any freakin "insider" ever again.
Hope we win, hope Jim coaches in the championship and playoffs...thats all I get in my head right now, which is keeping me from losing my GD shit in front of my family
November 16th, 2023 at 5:44 PM ^
"The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations."
Makes sense that you suspend someone that you have confirmed that you are not aware that the they did anything wrong. As much sense as driving a car with steel boxes for wheels.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:44 PM ^
I'm so fucking tired of vindictive, narcissistic assholes getting their way.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^
My fear—other than the impact on the team over the next two weeks—is that this signals that Harbaugh has decided to leave after the season. Why drag the team and the program through legal hell if he's not going to be here in 2024, right?
November 16th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
Only thing that makes sense to me. He knows he can't stay at Michigan anymore and so all the more reason to go back to the NFL. The only thing this does is (MAYBE) protect other staffers, like the ones who are all going to be promoted next year.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:47 PM ^
Even if you accept that M “broke the rules” this isn’t a settlement and it doesn’t resolve anything. The B1G can do whatever they want to us, whenever they want to, including keeping us out of the B1G title game (or suspending Harbaugh for it) if we beat OSU.
Agreeing to this makes no sense. M got played…if there is new horrible evidence, we got played a week ago.
Really hope I’m wrong but I see nothing positive here.
November 16th, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^
If there is horrible new evidence, it will come out regardless and we will receive the same punishment (or worse) as we would have denying everything. Glad to see we learned absolutely nothing from Tennessee, Kansas, UNC, etc. DENY FUCKING EVERYTHING, STUPID.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:48 PM ^
eventually someone is going to write a book on what happened this week. i think that the University should still consider options of leaving the conference when time comes.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:50 PM ^
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage.
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:53 PM ^
Why "Michigan suspends Harbaugh?" We agreed not to fight the Big Ten suspension any longer, which is not the same thing.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:53 PM ^
Oh, you mean the AD didn’t have some magical file of “dirt” on every other program and Warde Manuel isn’t some kind of fucking Sun Tzu genius?? Ohno isn’t a “wartime consigliere“? What a crock of faux insider horseshit.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:55 PM ^
Very confusing. What changed in the last couple of days? As vindictive as the B1G has been, it seems highly unlikely that they've got even worse stuff that they will no sit on. Besides, if there were worse stuff, I'd expect Michigan to do something. Further, capitulating now doesn't get them out NCAA jail.
In short, B1G gets to declare victory. What does M get, besides saving some money.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:57 PM ^
This is total garbage. There are a lot of questions, but this looks bad. Accepting the penalty at this point sure looks like an admission of guilt. To give in the day before the hearing? Maybe Santa Ono really is Mary Sue Coleman after all.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:57 PM ^
The Conference agreed to close its investigation
I say we take off, nuke Pettiti from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
November 16th, 2023 at 5:59 PM ^
The utter contempt and chorus of boos from of the crowd in Indianapolis when Petitti has to hand Jim Harbaugh the B1G Championship trophy will be a small consolation.
And, for the love of God, please do not fly the pennants of the conference rivals around the perimeter of the stadium vs OSU.
November 16th, 2023 at 6:00 PM ^
It seems like to me that Harbaugh is looking to see if the reigns of the program is in good hands with Sherrone and then looking back to the NFL. I'd get very upset to the point of leaving if i were him. It's a lot of negative publicity and attacks that may not be worth to fight against anymore. At some point, even if you feel the attacks are unwarranted, it's deflating.
November 16th, 2023 at 6:00 PM ^
Like most folks here, I am stupefied by this news. I'm not an attorney, but I thought there was a good case to be made on the grounds of lack of due process. My first reaction is that there are two possible explanations, one that is very good, one that is very bad:
1. There is some "behind the scenes" agreement to settle everything, and this was the punishment imposed under that agreement.
2. Another very large shoe of negative news is about to drop.
I fear that the news about Coach Clinkscale's Xwitter account has me worried that it is Door #2.
JFE
November 16th, 2023 at 7:43 PM ^
Attorneys (though not Michigan's) are stupified by this as well.
November 16th, 2023 at 6:01 PM ^
Michigan fans:
Michigan administration (again):
Pettiti:
November 16th, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^
Fuck the B1G
November 16th, 2023 at 6:05 PM ^
JJ and the Team: “Bet”
Santa and Warde: “Fold.”
November 16th, 2023 at 6:31 PM ^
Santa and Warde were in the unambiguous "Bet" mode recently. But not now. Something has come to their attention. Something that has made them stand down despite what they wanted to do previously. I don't think they are stupid nor spineless. They are doing what they need to do.
Sometimes “Fold” and live to fight another day is the right move.
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