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While Michigan players paid tribute to their suspended head coach in the season opener against ECU, Jim Harbaugh’s daughter, Grace, was throwing haymakers. The former UM water polo player posted a TikTok video referencing her father’s absence in the Big House on Saturday, and it’s quickly gone viral.
Harbaugh landed a three-game suspension this offseason which is linked to prior recruiting violations in Ann Arbor, along with the accusation that the head coach provided false statements during an investigation.
Initially, that sideline absence was set at four games, meaning Harbaugh would miss the Wolverines’ first Big Ten contest against Rutgers. That deal fell through before season’s start, leading many to believe his punishment would be pushed to the 2024 season.
Michigan acted quickly, though, self-imposing the three-game suspension just two weeks before the team kicked off its ’23 campaign, That left Harbaugh to miss matchups against ECU, UNLV, and Bowling Green.
Without its head coach, the UM football team decided to honor Harbaugh in the season opener by lining up in a straight formation and holding up four fingers, Harbaugh’s former jersey number.
Look at this @UMichFootball formation. 👀
💻: Peacock pic.twitter.com/U0BjITrcG0
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 2, 2023
But while the team was paying tribute, Jim Harbaugh’s daughter, Grace, was taking shots.
She posted a video to TikTok referencing the suspension alongside a caption that read, “Free Jim,” hilariously accompanied by a #hamburglar hashtag.
Grace Harbaugh lip synced a tune from the popular children’s movie Finding Nemo, singing the words, “Where’s my dad? I’m all alone.”
POV: Dad can’t coach for the first three games
@graceharbaugh free jim🫶🏻 #umich#football#hamburgler ♬ My Nephew in Finding Nemo – Karen Gaylord
Michigan fans will be without their fearless leader for two more games, both of which will be played at home. Jim Harbaugh will return from his suspension on September 23rd when the Wolverines host Rutgers.