Mystery solved — I wrote the MGoBlog diary used in Harbaugh's Big Ten letter

Submitted by rym on November 10th, 2023 at 4:44 PM

Harbaugh's attorney's use of my anonymous MGoBlog diary took on a life of its own and was covered this morning in Sports Illustrated. OK, fine, I'll take credit and solve the mystery for everyone about who wrote the post. Neither SI nor any other outlet has contacted me at this point, so kudos to Brian and Seth for protecting my anonymity while letting me know that the attorney's use of my post had become a bit of its own story — at first on Reddit and X, now in SI.

The Big Ten's boneheaded decision today to suspend Harbaugh effective immediately — which, I note, they waited until late Friday to announce, presumably to thwart Michigan's plan to seek a preliminary injunction in time for tomorrow's Penn State game — doesn't mean that the analysis is wrong. As I noted the other day:

Petitti will do whatever he thinks is best for the conference, taking whatever the B10’s lawyers advise into consideration. Law is one arena and politics/PR are others. People violate laws and breach contracts all the time, even unintentionally. So a legal analysis is not a prediction about how people will actually behave.

Any journalists who want to hear my take should reach out to my law firm, Rushing McCarl LLP. Lord knows that there will be many bad legal takes afoot in the coming days, so I'd be happy to do what I can to help explain why Michigan is right.

Football
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wexgoblue

November 10th, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^

Thank you for your analysis through this whole ordeal and particularly earlier this week! I'd love to hear your take on your estimation of how successful M will be in getting and TRO/PI tonight (or at least in time for the game tomorrow)?

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 152

Dennis

November 10th, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^

Haven't been paying attention for mental health reasons - didn't realize the B1G decided to suspend Harbaugh. 

Fuck em. Time to leave the conference and serve the B1G with a nice fat lawsuit. 

Joined: 10/08/2017

MGoPoints: -9988620

Red is Blue

November 10th, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^

Good work.  Not sure if this was in your diary or elsewhere,  but someone said if the B1G violates their bylaws it is essentially breaking the contract with Michigan which could allow Michigan to walk away from performance of the contract on their end.  Ie, Michigan might be able to use this to get out of the B1G 

Joined: 05/13/2010

MGoPoints: 23889

MGlobules

November 10th, 2023 at 4:58 PM ^

You don't always win legal cases when right is on your side. The system is usually stacked against the little guy, often against justice; those who rule write the rules. As the counselor must know.

The establishment is fastidious and vindictive about breaches of the little rules, never happier than when it has trapped some real threat in legal niceties. It is NEVER interested in changing the rules of the game; the first job of institutions, almost always, is to strengthen their own power. Change has got to be Michigan's job going forward, and it's important to accept that that's an uphill fight.

They hate Michigan because we were on the cusp of becoming a true juggernaut AND because Harbaugh wants to change the rules. He's got a cadre of brilliant Black coaches who are empowered in one of the most white-dominated and top-down institutions in the country, one where--to this day--young Black men do the performing for free and millionaire white men tell them what to do; he questions political orthodoxy at every turn.

What is going to have to be just as strong as the legal representation is the case made in the media. It's that part of this I'm looking forward to learning about now. Because America loves its lynch mobs. Millions of the less fortunate, historically, can attest to that. Do not expect the public, now or maybe ever, to suddenly land on Michigan's side. Even after it becomes clear to all of us how much worse other crimes may be.

Gird your loins, everyone, for a protracted battle, in which the winners and losers may never be very clear. If Jim isn't on the sidelines tomorrow, though, this is a straight up blow.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47702

4th phase

November 10th, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^

I love how rival fan bases are acting like “post on mgoblog is used in defense” automatically means it’s nonsense written by some crack pot. The same people who have never read the bylaws and became the worlds leading internet lawyers the past two weeks. It’s hilarious.

thanks for your contributions to the blog

Joined: 12/12/2017

MGoPoints: 14031

carolina blue

November 10th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^

Why wouldn’t demoting Harbaugh be a work around?  The language seems clear that it’s not a sanction against Harbaugh himself. So demote him, promote some random GA to Head Coach and claim compliance. 

Joined: 02/12/2014

MGoPoints: 30259

Jonesy

November 10th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^

I wonder how many people have found mgoblog over this scandal. And I hope you get additional business out of this as well. People who are good at their job deserve all the positive attention they can get.

Joined: 03/14/2012

MGoPoints: 10568

Blue in St Lou

November 10th, 2023 at 6:41 PM ^

Ryan (I assume you are okay with using your real name, now), what is your take on the Commissioner's analysis of the issue you addressed. It seems to me that he begged the question in the traditional sense of assuming the truth of his conclusion. Or maybe it's an ipse dixit. Anyway, i'd be interested in some free legal analysis from you on the issue.

Joined: 09/21/2013

MGoPoints: 6718