Full statement:
"Like all members of the Big Ten Conference, we are entitled to a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to determine the full set of facts before a judgement is rendered. Today’s action by Commissioner Tony Petitti disregards the Conference’s own handbook, violates basic tenets of due process, and sets an untenable precedent of assessing penalties before an investigation has been completed. We are dismayed at the Commissioner’s rush to judgment when there is an ongoing NCAA investigation – one in which we are fully cooperating.
“Commissioner Petitti’s hasty action today suggests that this is more about reacting to pressure from other Conference members than a desire to apply the rules fairly and impartially. By taking this action at this hour, the Commissioner is personally inserting himself onto the sidelines and altering the level playing field that he is claiming to preserve. And, doing so on Veteran’s Day – a court holiday – to try to thwart the University from seeking immediate judicial relief is hardly a profile in impartiality. To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to seek a court order, together with Coach Harbaugh, preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect.”
Please take legal action, I’m here for it! Because when it all comes out, Harbaugh won’t ever coach again at any level. He is, was, and shall always be a clown.
He’s a huge goofball, sure. Maybe you think he’s guilty in this matter, that’s totally fine.
But it’s wild to claim he won’t coach “at any level.” Even if it’s not in college (whether that’s his choice or the NCAA’s), he will definitely be able to land a gig in the NFL, a la Pete Carroll fleeing sanctions at USC.
Hell, Art Briles (barf) still has a coaching job…
I doubt he gets a job in the NFL, he’s practically begged the last couple years and had no takers. His college record is dreadful in big games. His best seasons are now also in question with cheating scandals.
I said this in another comment, but basically Jim needs a level of control over a franchise that most NFL teams are unwilling to provide. But I do think there are a few that would give him the reins. Now, whether those teams have openings if/when he is looking to ditch, that remains to be seen.
I also would not be surprised to see him back at Michigan again next year. I’m sure they’re tired of his NFL-flirting antics and the cheeseburger and sign-stealing scandals are a massive swan around his neck, but the amount of support we’ve seen from Michigan president Ono is unusually strong. Basically, the league or NCAA could smack him with sanctions till doomsday or he could rack up other scandals and I still don’t think he’s getting fired unless he does something criminal.
Edit to add: this sideshow is all well and good, but there’s literally football being played right now. Can’t we all just watch the games and shit talk about that?
He may not get fired, but the NCAA is going to drop at least a season long suspension on him that will make any renewal unappealing to both sides.
at least a season long suspension
Do you have a precedent for that? When will that be levied and how long will it take for the appeals process to end? What about how it took them 6 years to investigate Bill Self?
Supposing that does happen, Harbaugh’s contract is good through 2027, so renewal is a moot point. Even if he has to sit out all the games for a season, I doubt the school restructures it. But I do think it would piss Harbaugh off enough he might leave. He might be the weirdest and most stubborn creature known to man
From what’s out there now it does appear that he’s guilty, if for no other reason because coaches on his staff were committing blatant violations, and ultimately the buck should stop with Harbaugh.
I guess it was a little hyperbolic to say he won’t coach again. I will say that he’ll struggle to coach in the pros (which is where he would likely go) as opposed to college. His coaching style works well in the short term, but his schtick tends to get old over time. There’s a much higher turnover of players in college than the pros, so in college the players don’t stay long enough for his style to turn them off. Also, he can beat up on weak teams a lot of weeks in college, but in the pros, it’s like playing Ohio State every week.
Who knows, he may get another job because he’s a hell of a coach. Speaking of hell… Art Briles.
he’ll struggle to coach in the pros
Jim’s record as an NFL head coach: 44-19-1 (includes an NFC championship)
Yeah, but he’s only awesome in the short run. Look how long his brother has been with the Ravens, but the 49ers couldn’t wait to shove him out. You’d think pro teams would be beating down the door of someone with that record, but they’re just not. He showed in his stint with the 9ers that his style is good in the beginning, but longer term it’s not viable and he wears out his welcome.
Heck, there’s been a lot of speculation about how many of his wins over the last 2 years would still be wins if he wasn’t “cheating” (in parentheses because it hasn’t been proven yet, although he’s been suspend, so there must be something there).
I’m not an NFL guy so take this with a grain of salt, but I do think that had more to do with the Niners’ front office than with Jim’s coaching acumen. And I agree many teams will not want him because of the personality clash he would pose, but he will definitely be sought after by some.
I think the speculation is way overblown. Any advantage “advanced scouting” offers is likely marginally greater than advantages gained by sign stealing via legal means (from A22 film, which all teams do). Maybe worth a few points in an average game? Some coaches claim it could be as much as a 10 point advantage, some say worthless (and most are in between). Just look at the talent on those teams, they needed no help, which is why this saga is so stupid.
As for the suspension, I think it’s noteworthy Harbaugh himself was not sanctioned because that is not within the purview of the B1G unsportsmanlike rule. The program was sanctioned. Nothing has proven that Harbaugh was aware of the sign stealing, and the NCAA has said as much. Now, did other people on the staff know? I would hazard that some probably did, and I want those guys suspended. But the buck always stops with the HC, which is why he was sitting in the hotel this afternoon. Splitting hairs, but I think it’s important to get the facts (the few that we know) right and reserve judgment for when the dust settles.
I’m not an NFL guy so take this with a grain of salt, but I do think that had more to do with the Niners’ front office than with Jim’s coaching acumen. And I agree many teams will not want him because of the personality clash he would pose, but he will definitely be sought after by some.
Actually, and I may be remembering wrong, but I thought it also had to do with him losing the locker room, with it becoming a toxic environment.
I think the speculation is way overblown. Any advantage “advanced scouting” offers is likely marginally greater than advantages gained by sign stealing via legal means (from A22 film, which all teams do). Maybe worth a few points in an average game? Some coaches claim it could be as much as a 10 point advantage, some say worthless (and most are in between). Just look at the talent on those teams, they needed no help, which is why this saga is so stupid.
While I agree that he may have had enough talent not to need this advantage, it is definitely still an advantage. When the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs is razor thin, any advantage helps. Making the playoffs is not only about your record, but also how you win games. Just look at UGA - they are the defending 2 time back-to-back national champions and are undefeated this year, but were #2 in the poll going into yesterday. The committee didn’t feel like they had won their games convincing enough to be #1. Michigan needs every win/point it can get, and this advantage might have been the difference. If not, we’ll never know, because, well, they cheated.
As for the suspension, I think it’s noteworthy Harbaugh himself was not sanctioned because that is not within the purview of the B1G unsportsmanlike rule. The program was sanctioned. Nothing has proven that Harbaugh was aware of the sign stealing, and the NCAA has said as much. Now, did other people on the staff know? I would hazard that some probably did, and I want those guys suspended. But the buck always stops with the HC, which is why he was sitting in the hotel this afternoon. Splitting hairs, but I think it’s important to get the facts (the few that we know) right and reserve judgment for when the dust settles.
And honestly, I think the B1G was going easy on Harbaugh/Michigan to make this go away, but Michigan didn’t get the memo. If this goes as deep as some (including me) think it does, this was a pretty light punishment. Let’s be honest, Michigan is still #2, which would put them in the playoffs if they win out. They won convincingly yesterday without Harbaugh on the sidelines, they’ll win against Maryland, so the only challenge will be Ohio State. And based on how the players responded to his 4 game (self-imposed) “suspension” at the beginning the season, they might rally for their coach and play harder. Either way, I think keeping him off the sidelines for 3 games is barely a slap on the wrist if this turns out to be as bad as I think it is. Have you seen the pictures of Connor Stalions on the sidelines impersonating a Central Michigan coach? He looked like a secret agent in a comedy film. This isn’t just sign stealing, this is waaaaaaay worse - Stalions was standing on the actual sidelines. Also, according to ESPN, he had “purchased tickets to more than 35 games at 17 stadiums around the country involving Michigan opponents in the Big Ten and potential College Football Playoff opponents.” And that’s just one guy, what if there are more and he’s just the one caught so far?
Whether Harbaugh knew or not is irrelevant, he is the head coach, so he SHOULD have known. This is his program.
The cheating is basically proven, Harbaugh knowing hasn’t though. According to the rules though it’s irrelevant if he knew.
“I didn’t know” isn’t an excuse, otherwise every coach would just say it when their program was caught doing illegal things. If he didn’t, he should have, the buck stops with him.
The way the big ten worded their punishment basically implied that if they fight its only going to get worse. Either way things are getting worse when the NCAA is done.
