The Michigan Wolverines have released a scathing statement on the Big Ten following the conference’s announcement of Jim Harbaugh’s suspension.
On Friday afternoon, the Big Ten announced that Harbaugh will be banned from the sidelines for the Wolverines’ final three regular season games. The punishment stems from in-person scouting violations and the ongoing investigation into the allege sign-stealing scandal.
Though he won’t be allowed to coach on gameday, Harbaugh will be allowed to coach the Wolverines during the week.
Per Charlie Pappalardo of The Michigan Daily, the Wolverines released a statement voicing strong displeasure about Harbaugh’s suspension. The school said they were “dismayed” and accused the commissioner of a “rush to judgment” on the investigation:
“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 judgment 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.”
Harbaugh served a three-game suspension to begin the season for recruiting violations. The sign-stealing scandal allegedly dates back to 2011, with former school analyst Connor Stalions apparently being the centerpiece of the scandal.
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Stalions resigned from the university last week.
The Wolverines are off to a perfect 10-0 start and enter this week as the No. 3 ranked team in the nation. They’ll visit the No. 10 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday before traveling to Maryland for a Nov. 18 showdown with the Terrapins.
Michigan will then wrap up the regular season with a home contest against the archrival and No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Nov. 25.
