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Things in the Big Ten are getting interesting following Friday’s developments.
On Friday afternoon, the Big Ten suspended Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh for the rest of the college football season due to a sign-stealing scandal involving a low-level staffer who illegally attended opponent’s games for scouting purposes.
Not long after the suspension was announced, Michigan went to court to get a temporary restraining order to block Harbaugh’s suspension.
Michigan is arguing that the Big Ten’s punishment without a thorough investigation would irreparably harm the University.
“The University itself, and particularly its athletics program, will endure significant and lasting reputational injury if the Conference is permitted to impose a sanction in advance of a full and fair investigation.”
“It is impossible to quantify the entirety of the significant harm that will befall the University absent injunctive relief, but there can be no doubt that the University, its students, and the community will suffer greatly
According to Sports Illustrated’s Michael Rosenberg, Michigan has already discussed potentially leaving the Big Ten due to the punishment from the conference.
Tony Petitti has no idea how badly he just botched his job, but here is a hint: In a meeting last week, Michigan’s regents discussed possibly leaving the Big Ten if Petitti suspended coach Jim Harbaugh without what the school considered due process, a person familiar with those discussions told Sports Illustrated.
That may sound like an empty threat, but the fact it was even discussed should tell you how angry Michigan is right now about how Petitti has handled this. The process that led to Harbaugh’s three-game suspension was a clumsy execution of mob justice, and it is by no means over. Michigan is expected to take the Big Ten to court Friday night to try to allow Harbaugh to coach Saturday. (A Michigan spokesperson declined to comment publicly Friday night.)
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