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News that Michigan senior Mazi Smith is facing a felony weapons charge from an incident in early October has many college football fans furious with Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The defensive lineman, who has played in all 12 games this year for Michigan, was charged on Wednesday. The Detroit Free Press reports, “Details of the incident or why it took nearly two months to file charges were not immediately available.”
The incident in question occurred on Oct. 7 in Ann Arbor.
The Free-Press also notes that Eastern Michigan basketball star Emoni Bates was pulled arrested on two gun charges on Sept. 18th. Bates was arraigned the next day.
Numerous fans are questioning why the district attorney waited two months to charge Smith until after Ohio State game while he charged Michigan State players in only a week.
Many of those same college football fans are also calling Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh a hypocrite for much the same reason.
After Michigan State players appeared to beat down at least two Michigan players in the tunnel after their Oct. 29 game, Harbaugh said, “What happened in the tunnel was egregious. Sickening to watch the videos.”
He went on to add, “There needs to be accountability. There needs to be a full, thorough, timely investigation. I can’t imagine this will not result in criminal charges. The videos are bad. It’s clear what transpired. This is very open and shut. As they say, watch the tape.
“I’m coming from this from a perspective of being a parent. These young men are entrusted to me by their families and to our program, and we have the responsibility to each player to treat them like our own, and I take that responsibility very seriously. An apology will not get the job done in this instance. There should be serious consequences for the many individuals that are culpable.”
That’s pretty self-righteous considering he surely knew about the Oct. 7 in Ann Arbor incident that led to Mazi Smith being charged this week – something that is not going unnoticed by fans.
Fans are having a field day, calling Jim Harbaugh a hypocrite after all he’s said recently
Why is it Harbough wanted jail time for MSU players but it’s ok for a felony gun charge to keep playing?
— Danny Z (@5432Bogeyman) December 1, 2022
“Not the integrity filled moral high ground Michigan team!!!” another fan tweeted sarcastically. “No way st Harbaugh would allow this to happen!!!! I’m shaken by this news!!!! It must be fake!!!!”
https://twitter.com/msu_spartan1/status/1598345722872709122Harbaugh will issue a “no comment while charges are pending” statement no doubt. Which is fine,” another fan commented. “But he had plenty to say about criminal charges immediately following the tunnel incident. Hypocrisy at its finest.”
UM fans awfully quiet after playing the high moral ground card on us for weeks here. Harbaugh is a MASSIVE hypocrite
— RMundt (@Sparty2410) December 1, 2022
“Where’s the Harbaugh call for jail time?” someone else asked.
The rumors have been floating around for several weeks. This isn’t a surprise. Harbaugh and the university knew about this and have done nothing, maybe just another glitch
— Charles Foster Kane 👽 (@captmidnight11) December 1, 2022