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The Big Ten has apparently no information Jim Harbaugh knew about his staffer was illegally scouting games before suspending him.
On Friday afternoon, the Big Ten announced that Harbaugh would be suspended for the rest of the college football season for the team’s sign-stealing scandal involving low-level staffer Connor Stalions.
Via ESPN
The Big Ten has suspended Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season as the league disciplines the program under its sportsmanship policy amid the ongoing NCAA investigation into the school’s alleged in-person sign-stealing ring.
The decision was announced Friday afternoon as the third-ranked Wolverines (9-0) head to No. 10 Penn State (8-1) for a critical road game on Saturday.
The suspension for Harbaugh only bans him from the sideline on gameday, as he’s allowed to coach the team the remainder of the week.
In a statement released to the media, the Big Ten admitted they have no information Harbaugh knew about the Stalions’ sign-stealing scheme but suspended him anyways because he “embodies” the program.
The Big Ten says it has not received any information indicating that Jim Harbaugh knew about Connor Stalions’ illegal advanced scouting scheme.
But he’s being penalized in order to allow team to continue playing while punishing someone who “embodies” the football program: pic.twitter.com/6STOj29234
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 10, 2023
“We impose this disciplinary action even though the conference has not yet received any information indicating the head football coach Harbaugh was aware of the impermissible nature of the sign-stealing scheme. This is not a sanction of Coach Harbaugh. It is a sanction against the University that,under the extraordinary circumstances presented by this offensive conduct, best fits the violation because: (1) it preseves the ability of the Univesity’s football student-athletes to continue competing and (2) it recognizes that the head coach embodies the University for purposes of its football program.”
Michigan fans were not happy with the Big Ten’s decision to suspend Harbaugh.
OK, this makes no logical sense. Wait until evidence is put out there then punish him. I'm not saying Harbaugh and Michigan are innocent… but let's see the evidence of such wrongdoing https://t.co/8rbvsXIg3O
— JoeBePuzzlin (@JoeNiklas) November 10, 2023