Big Ten prohibits Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, from the sideline.
Big Ten prohibits Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, from the sideline.
Big Ten has imposed a suspension on Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season due to violations of the league’s sportsmanship policy. This decision comes amidst an ongoing NCAA investigation into the university’s in-person sign-stealing activities.
In response, Harbaugh and the university have filed a temporary restraining order request in Washtenaw County Trial Court. They have submitted an emergency ex parte motion, which, if granted, would enable the judge to halt Harbaugh’s suspension before hearing arguments from the defendants, namely the Big Ten Conference and commissioner Tony Petitti.
The judge may deliver a ruling on the restraining order ahead of the No. 3 Wolverines’ crucial away game against No. 10 Penn State on Saturday at noon. ESPN reports that in the event Harbaugh’s restraining order is not approved, Mike Hart, the team’s running backs coach, is a potential candidate to serve as the acting head coach in Happy Valley.
The conference stated that Michigan violated the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy by engaging in an impermissible in-person scouting operation over several years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage and compromising the integrity of competition, as stated in a 13-page letter from Petitti to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel.
Petitti, in an effort to penalize the university, made the decision to suspend Harbaugh, allowing the team to complete the rest of the season while still facing significant consequences for violating the Big Ten’s policies.
Harbaugh’s suspension prohibits him from being present at the “game venue” on game days, but he is permitted to continue coaching the team throughout the week.
Michigan president Santa Ono expressed dissatisfaction with the Big Ten’s allegedly rushed process, highlighting the importance of a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful investigative process before reaching a judgment. Ono stated that the Commissioner’s actions disregard the Conference’s own handbook, violate due process principles, and set a concerning precedent by imposing penalties before the completion of an ongoing NCAA investigation, to which Michigan is fully cooperating.
Manuel and Harbaugh’s attorney also raised concerns regarding the speed at which the league was proceeding in their letters sent to the conference on Wednesday. They argued that a punishment from the Big Ten would overlook both due process and the conference’s bylaws.
In his letter, Petitti countered the notion that he lacked the authority to discipline Michigan, asserting that the league’s rules afford him wide discretion to impose penalties for sportsmanship violations. While a section of the Big Ten’s handbook suggests that the league should defer to NCAA investigations before imposing additional punishment for NCAA violations, Petitti argued that he is not exempt from taking separate action against sportsmanship violations.
The NCAA issued a statement affirming its commitment to upholding competition integrity following the announcement of the suspension. The statement emphasized that when the Association has concerns about time-sensitive matters related to competitive integrity, it will address them with schools and conferences. The NCAA also mentioned that it received consent from the university before sharing the information mentioned in the document and that the investigative and infractions processes will proceed in this matter.
Michigan’s motion for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten claims that the league breached a contract, caved under external pressure, and disregarded proper procedures in its pursuit of swift punishment through the suspension of Harbaugh. The university asserts that the Big Ten did not follow its own protocols and misused the sportsmanship policy as a basis for the penalty.
The motion argues that suspending Harbaugh would lead to irreparable harm to Michigan’s team.