An old comment from Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pertaining to cheating has resurfaced amid the program’s sign-stealing scandal.
The Wolverines, who have found themselves in hot water with the NCAA for multiple violations this year, are the subject of yet another investigation as they’re accused of scouting opponents and recording their play-call signals in order to help them win games.
Harbaugh has already served a school-imposed three-game suspension this season as punishment for a separate matter and has so far denied any knowledge of sign stealing. Meanwhile, analyst Connor Stalions has been suspended.
A video from Harbaugh’s time as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2013 has surfaced on the back of the many reports involving Michigan. Back then, the 59-year-old condemned cheating and quoted the late Bo Schembechler, whom he even compared to God.
“You always want to be above reproach, especially when you’re good, because you don’t want people to come back and say, ‘They’re winning because they’re cheating.’ That’s always going to be a knee-jerk reaction in my experience, ever since I was a little kid. We want to be above reproach in everything and do everything by the rules,” he said.
“Because if you don’t, if you cheat to win, then you’ve already lost, according to Bo Schembechler. And Bo Schembechler is about next to the word of God as you can get in my mind. It’s not the word of God, but it’s close.”
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It’s going to be interesting to see how he comes out of this one. The NCAA is making a big deal over it and, should he face any punishment, he could consider returning to the NFL, with a certain team already linked.
