Sam Webb Clarifies the Current Situation
Sam Webb ($) has a Webblog up in which he describes Signgate as "at a crossroads." Details as always in the full article, but the core issue is that B1G commisar Tony Pettiti is new at his job, and therefore doesn't have the political standing (or interest) to push back agains the "majority" of other B1G schools that want Harbaugh's head on a platter. Ono, the Regents, and Warde Manuel are on Harbaugh's side, but the other schools don't buy the "rogue staffer" line and want Harbaugh fired.
The problem, from our standpoint, is that Pettiti and the other schools do have the power to unilaterally punish Harbaugh and Michigan over Michigan's opposition. So what happens next? (These are my deductions based on Webb's article, Balas' article, and others.)
- The Stalions statement exonerating Harbaugh is a welcome development in that it buttresses the rogue staffer argument. I wouldn't be surprised if this was something that Ono/M leadership persuaded Stalions' lawyer to put out.
- Michigan may agree to suspend Harbaugh for 2 games in order to appease the mob. But they would only do so, I suspect, if it would actually appease the mob. If the mob will only be satiated by Harbaugh being canned, then Michigan will fight that. But Michigan may not win the fight, because the other B1G schools, if united, could force an outcome upon Michigan.
- Michigan's passive PR strategy ("we can't comment on an ongoing investigation") has been a mistake. Michigan needed to use KGB-like tactics to leak countervailing information to support the rogue staffer argument. It has clearly taken hold among the opposition media and B1G opponents that the entire program was involved in illegal scouting, not just Stalions, and this narrative needs to be rebutted vigorously.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
Love Sam but I’m not sure this clarified much. Opposing coaches are gonna whine when they need an excuse for getting their asses kicked by Michigan. But I don’t see the University Presidents escalating this. It would be unprecedented. Violating another school’s autonomy at this level is just not a box anyone is going to want to open. The NFL is a much more cohesive organization and even they didn’t suspend Belichick for Spygate, which was a blatant breach of the rules.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
This is probably the case. University presidents have bigger responsibilities than athletics (even in the SEC) and are much more likely to use a colder calculus in taking a position with respect to something that is largely being driven by the mob. On the other hand, most academic institutions these days are run by spineless tools who often bend to mob rule, so who knows?
November 4th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
JFC now there is a chance Harbs gets fired? Are we serious right now?
November 4th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
Yep, that is where we are at right now.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
I just don't get the other schools obsession with this issue. They know the benefit of in person scouting is marginal and sign stealing is legal. Let the NCAA actually do a investigation and handle it. There's something else their - institutional jealousy, pettiness, dislike of Harbaugh personally, something. When Michigan is good, they always play the "gentleman." They get up ig, pull starters, and run the ball. If you can't stop it, there's not much more they can do. On the other hand, OSU always goes for style points. Run the score up at every opportunity. Up 3 or 4 TDs - leave the starting QB in and let him sling it. Get style points for the poll voters. And to top it off, they've handed out bags of cash for years. How do you side with coaches like that if you are Purdue, NW, Illinois, etc?
November 4th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
I think some people just hate Harbaugh and want him gone.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
Leaving the conference has to be on the table. I think if we defend ourselves, watch how many penalties we get in the remaining games. Conference will do whatever it can to avoid having us win the title.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
If the B1G tries to do this, they have made a declaration of war. I can't imagine this cost cutting rule would lead to this nuclear option.
Michigan should sue, and undermine the conference and it's member at every turn. If they decide to stay, they should hire a PI to investigate other schools and then demand the firing of coaches and admins at those schools if they find anything.
Before it even gets to that point, they should warn the B1G that they will do this.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
The conference has been scheming this since Harbaugh stepped to the podium in 2015. The little bitches have all been terrified of him and now that he is fulfilling his championship promises at Michigan, they’re all peeing their pants in fear and anxiety, especially the little rosy cheeked bitch in the toilet bowl!
November 4th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
Regarding the poor PR strategy, fire Warde. Dude is an empty suit.
November 4th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
Ryan day trying to save his job. He can't beat Harbaugh on the field, so this is the only way forward for him.
November 4th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
It’s crazy that this is actually becoming Braveheart - a small force led by a righteous leader fighting against an overwhelming evil. FREEDOOOOOOMMMMM
November 4th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
Search this guy up on Twitter/ X: @thebigtenhuddle. Claims to have a “source” saying he’s only 60% confident Harbaugh coaches tonight, the Stalion news is not over just because he resigned, and there’s more that he’s not at liberty to say. His last comment is “be on the lookout for more info today.”
November 4th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
Ryan Day is scared to shake Jim’s hand after the game hence him wanting him suspended! Chicken shit!