Jim Harbaugh is suspended. He is not dead!
The 59-year-old head football coach at the University of Michigan is somewhere in State College, Pennsylvania watching his team play Penn State on television. It creates a hilarious mental image.
Harbaugh was banned from the sideline for the final three games of the Wolverines’ regular season as a result of the ongoing investigation into a nationwide sign-stealing scandal. Punishment was handed down by the Big Ten at the most awkward time on Friday night.
In response, Michigan tried to get a temporary restraining order that would allow Harbaugh to coach. A push to rush the hearing for Saturday morning was unsuccessful.
As a result, the Wolverines are being led by offensive line coach Sherrone Moore. Harbaugh is not allowed at the stadium.
Even though he is not there, his team chose not to honor him as if he had died this time!
Michigan is also involved in a separate NCAA investigation. It stems from recruiting violations during the dead period in 2020. Harbaugh supposedly lied about what happened, which made it worse.
The NCAA was going to issue a punishment for Jim Harbaugh before the season. That was not the case.
To try and get ahead of a future suspension, Harbaugh and the Wolverines decided to implement a self-imposed suspension to get it over with. He was not on the sidelines during their first three games.
When Michigan lined up on its first offensive possession of Week 1, the players paid tribute. They held up the number four (Harbaugh’s number as a player) on the fourth offensive play of the game.
It was hilariously over-the-top and so unnecessary.
Now, more than two months later, Harbaugh is suspended again. Players did not choose to act like he is dead this time. They did not hold up four fingers on the fourth play of the game!