FOX 2 (WJBK) – Jim Harbaugh, the football coach at the University of Michigan, was suspended for the remainder of the season, and the school filed a temporary restraining order against the Big 10 Conference.
The accusations of sign-stealing and the program’s inquiry led to the disciplinary penalty, which included keeping him off the sidelines.
The injunction, which was submitted on Friday night in Washtenaw County’s 22nd Circuit Court, aims to stop the Big 10 from implementing the suspension until the court gives its approval.
The conference’s evidence is outlined in a brief email from Big 10 Vice President Chad Hawley to U-M Athletic Director Warde Manuel, headed “Sportsmanship Issue.”
It claims that one of the staff members who isn’t a coach, Connor Stalions, organized a plan that encouraged people to go to games against their opponents in the future.
According to Hawley, participants were told to record opponents’ signals on camera, which is against both the Conference’s Football Game Management Manual and NCAA football playing rules, which forbid recording signals from coaches, players, and other team members and prohibit filming games in which the team is not playing.
“These were not random or isolated events. The infractions were widespread, systematic, and happened over a number of years, according to Hawley. “Specifically, dating back to at least the 2021 season and continuing through the current season, the staff member purchased strategically located tickets for games involving future opponents.”
Michigan retorted that it was intentional for the conference’s activities to fall on Veterans Day, a court holiday.
“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,” the reply stated. Furthermore, trying to prevent the University from requesting urgent legal relief on Veterans Day, a court holiday, is hardly a model of fairness. Together with Coach Harbaugh, we plan to get a court order to stop this disciplinary action from happening in order to guarantee justice in the proceedings.”
The suspension elicited a similar reaction from Michigan fans.
“I’m surprised they did it so last second, it feels almost like a cheap shot. …although I think that’s my Michigan fandom showing through more than an unbiased take,” David McDermott, a student at the University of Michigan
This is Harbaugh’s second suspension of the year. He had already been suspended by the university for recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period both on and off campus.
The Big 10 coach asserts that he was unaware of the sign theft.
“Out of everything that I’ve read, it seems like Jim didn’t really know anything about it and, given the reputation as a team all together and how the team reacted to the news, I don’t think they knew anything about it all,” Emma Hans, a student at the University of Michigan.
“The Big Ten Conference announced today that the University of Michigan has been found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition. “Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 states in part that “The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”
The Wolverines, ranked No. 2 overall and No. 3 in the College Football Playoff Rankings, have three remaining games in the regular season. Michigan plays at No. 9 Penn State on Saturday, then plays at Maryland on Nov. 18 and hosts No. 3 Ohio State at noon on Nov. 25.
The university’s full response is below:
“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.”
The NCAA inquiry was triggered by an outside firm’s investigation, which turned up videos of and documented plans and budgets for impermissible scouting of opponents. The Washington Post reported the firm obtained computer drives maintained and accessed by multiple Michigan coaches.
The firm presented evidence to the NCAA and suggested Stalions, a low-level staffer who has been suspended by Michigan, was not the only person on staff aware of the scheme, according to the report. A second person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the AP that a firm provided the NCAA with evidence, including photographs, videos and documents, that initiated the association’s investigation.
