Dinich: B1G response "coming early this afternoon"

Submitted by Communist Football on November 10th, 2023 at 7:46 AM

Via Twitter.

sources indicate a Big Ten response is coming early this afternoon. Michigan leaves at 1 and flies midafternoon out of Detroit after getting through security checks, per usual routine.

— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) November 10, 2023

Communist Football

November 10th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^

On "Get Up" this morning, Dinich apparently said that "Now, we're hearing this morning, it could be a three-game suspension, which would be significant and it coulud start this weekend...My understanding is that the Big Ten isn't concerned about Michigan's travel plans. They'll release news when they deem fit and when they are ready."

MGoBlue96

November 10th, 2023 at 7:49 AM ^

That clown really is going to do what people said he might isn't he. Wait until Friday so that Michigan can't file an injunction for tommorow. Fuck the Big Ten and this clown commissioner.

M Ascending

November 10th, 2023 at 8:16 AM ^

If we were smart  we would have filed a declaratory judgment action yesterday,  based on the threats by Petitti, and sought a preemptive TRO.  That is permissible under these  circumstances, where the other side had threatened action you believe to be illegal.  The court them determines the rights of the parties before any action is taken, and can maintain the status quo while the case plays out.

I'm Batman

November 10th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^

I'd fight a fine as well until the investigation is complete unless the fine is considered time served and matter completely closed. 

If you recall there was talk that they would suspend Harbaugh indefinitely then tack on the additional correct punishment later. 

Fuck that. It's either fine paid time served or litigate every last ounce of this process at this point. We should even consider suing for damages at this point for the outright swear campaign of the brand. 

KSmooth

November 10th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^

Is there a deadline, either practical or league rules, for when Petitti must announce a suspension?  What would stop him from announcing that Harbaugh is suspended on Saturday morning?

I'm hoping Petitti has more integrity than that, but having waded through some of the bile that's out there, I can't put that completely past anyone right now.

mjw

November 10th, 2023 at 8:25 AM ^

I floated this as a possibility in one of the lengthy legal threads earlier this week. Obviously preemptively filing makes the imminent harm prong of the TRO standard more difficult to demonstrate. But I agree with you and my guess is PR/political (not legal) considerations are the reason they didn’t go that route - the University doesn’t want to be seen as the party escalating this unnecessarily, still have to account for interested parties who are more accustomed to capitulating; recognition that litigation could just be a disaster for the conference, etc. 

Niels

November 10th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^

One of the things that makes me grateful for being a UM alum is that I have found my fellow graduates to be relatively un-moved by the base tribal loyalties (especially around sports) that I've seen in grads with ties to other institutions. I have a lot of faith that any members of the judiciary with UM ties will dispassionately assess the relative strength of Michigan's argument and make the right decision in accordance with the law

Of course, if UM presents a particularly coherent argument, it might appear that parochial concerns were guiding a ruling that is in line with tribal tendencies, but that's not UM's fault, or that of the judges. It's the fault of the clowns who appear to compose the bulk of the rest of the B1G presidents and AD's 

M Squared

November 10th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^

Niels, I am not stating that you're concocting a straw man here (maybe I'm reading too much into your post), but in case you are, no one is stating that a federal judge is going to risk lifetime appointment with some fly-by-night judicial order in complete disregard of the facts and the law.  But life isn't always two extremes, and when we traffic in the area of life that is grey, as we all often do, it doesn't hurt that the arbiter will at minimum give us a fair shake, and a fair shake is not something that anyone who has lived long enough takes for granted.

Blinkin

November 10th, 2023 at 7:54 AM ^

I don't know why that rumor persists. You can get a judge on a holiday or weekend or at night. All that will do is piss off the judge who will be probably not be happy that the conference didn't take action on Thursday.

Also there was rumor that the conference was going to act yesterday, and how'd that work out? I'll believe it when I see it.

LB

November 10th, 2023 at 8:26 AM ^

I fired a person once, that person sued the company so I got to make a couple of trips to Louisville with our attorney. We met in the judges chamber. He would sit with us, put on his robe and go to one of his courtrooms, return, take off the robe and sit with us to see where we were. He handled a few matters on the phone or with one of his people, no details of course, be we could figure out the gist of the conversation. Watching him juggle things including a near assault in one of the courtrooms left me with a greater respect for judges, but mostly reminded me to not piss off the judge.

The Oracle 2

November 10th, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^

There are always exceptions, of course, but being a judge is one of the easiest jobs there is. Most come in late, leave early, and even while they’re at work, there are extended periods of inactivity. They spend their limited work day getting their ass kissed by court staff and the attorneys who appear before them. Like in just about any job, many are very competent, but more than a few are completely inept. Not a bad gig at all.

The Oracle 2

November 10th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^

Not a doctor. I’m no longer an attorney, but I’ve tried cases in state and federal courts, and argued cases in a state Supreme Court and before the Federal 9th Circuit. Since I gave it up to do what I really loved, my job has still involved appearing in court, fairly regularly, for the last thirty years. I do have some basis for my opinion.

Perkis-Size Me

November 10th, 2023 at 7:55 AM ^

I have to believe that Michigan has been game planning for this exact scenario. Both from the team’s perspective as well as a legal perspective.

Harbaugh has probably been prepping his coordinators and the team as a whole to plan as if he will not be on the sideline this weekend. If he ends up being there, all the better, but I have to believe Moore and Minter have been preparing as if he won’t be, so no one will be blindsided if it does come to pass.

From a legal perspective, I have to believe the legal team has the TRO ready to go, and a list that includes at least one judge who is available today. Now, whether an injunction is actually granted, who knows, but all parties will be ready to go, when and if that judgment drops.


 

superstringer

November 10th, 2023 at 8:01 AM ^

The plaintiff picks the court, not the judge.  The court assigns the judge.  Most courts have an “emergency judge” each week, meaning a regular judge who is assigned to get any emergency motions.  And that judge can choose to hear a motion anytime he or she wants. Midnight, whatever. But… doesn’t have to 

SagNasty

November 10th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^

I agree that Harbaugh has probably been preparing the staff in case he is not there. But, that is why this situation sucks and is bullshit. That they had to spend any amount of time on that process sucks. Thank god this team has a ton of veteran leadership because all these distractions could be a problem to a younger team. 

jmblue

November 10th, 2023 at 8:11 AM ^

It's just absurd that we're even considering the possibility of our head coach being suspended, over an alleged rule violation that is 1) unproven 2) was not committed by him (and the NCAA has said there is no evidence he knew of it) and 3) in the very words of the NCAA, offers only "minimal competitive advantage."

Romeo50

November 10th, 2023 at 8:46 AM ^

That would be called leadership and enough has, and is, coming out to wither the outrage from all but the instigators and complicit. Sometimes even the foolish notice it and never forget ...Harbaugh's remember. Efforts redoubled and highly motivated.

As a bonus, trust, with all teams that don't show contrition in this matter is irreparably gone so you know where you, as a member, stand. Clarity.