John U Bacon: potential NCAA reprimand for football, adding to Harbaugh's frustrations

Submitted by AndrelAnthonyCarter on January 5th, 2023 at 11:01 AM

Published on his blog this morning, copying some here since a hungry fanbase crashed his website:

Sources have told me Harbaugh is fed up with the NCAA, and all the hassles that go with coaching college football vs. the NFL – something just about every coach would understand. The NCAA is famous for punishing misdemeanors while ignoring felonies. As Jerry Tarkanian famously said, “The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky that they’re going to give Cleveland State another year of probation.”

Another unknown factor: Harbaugh and/or his staff will likely receive some form of reprimand from the NCAA, for what I’ve heard is a relatively minor recruiting infraction from two years ago. What exactly the infraction is, what the NCAA’s response might be – with the NCAA, it is impossible to predict — and how Harbaugh and Manuel will react to the NCAA’s conclusions aren’t yet known. U-M insiders believe the NCAA will be announcing what the infraction is and what the penalty will be, if any, within the next few weeks.

Romeo50

January 5th, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^

So rigged outcomes and buying teams three deep in 5 stars is acceptable and 20 minutes a week extra stretching/training camps in talent rich regions are a concern? Got it.

How could you not show reverence to such lofty standards?

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HollywoodHokeHogan

January 5th, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^

Blah, blah, blah.  Harbaugh wanted to leave after last season and if he leaves now it will be because, despite what he said, nothing changed since then and he still wants to coach in the NFL.  Go ahead and blame the NCAA or Warde or admissions or NIL, whatever.  Pretend that the NFL is some awful place where no one wants to coach, like Brian sometimes does.  But if Harbaugh leaves it’s just because he wants to be an NFL coach.   

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FrankMurphy

January 5th, 2023 at 4:20 PM ^

If the NCAA and the general bullshit associated with managing a major collegiate athletics program is what's keeping his eye on the NFL, then I certainly get that. Can't really fault him if that's the source of his frustration (on the other hand, the NFL has its own frustrations that college coaches don't have to deal with).

It's amazing how an organization that has been bench-slapped by SCOTUS not once, but twice over its nonsensical business model can continue to be so tone-deaf.

A year ago, Gene Smith suggested that the Power 5 schools ought to secede from the NCAA and form their own organization. That might be the one thing I would support the Buckeyes on. Hell, maybe Warde should reach out to Gene Smith and offer to team up with him and have bitter rivals Michigan and OSU take the lead together on this idea in order to maximize credibility in selling it to the rest of the B1G and the Power 5.

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