By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Michigan Wolverines were dealt a gut punch just hours from their biggest game of the season thus far. The Big Ten Conference has suspended Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh.
This announcement came less than 24 hours before the Wolverines take on No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at Beaver Stadium at University Park, Pennsylvania. Harbaugh has been suspended by the conference for in-person scouting and an alleged ongoing sign-stealing scheme.
According to the conference, Harbaugh will be allowed to coach his team during the week. However, he will miss the road games against the Nittany Lions and the Maryland Terrapins before a home contest with No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes during Thanksgiving weekend.
“The University of Michigan has been found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition,” the Big Ten Conference alleged in a statement. “Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 states in part that ‘The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”
At this time, the Wolverines have not been found guilty of any wrongdoing. The NCAA is investigating the matter. Yet, they have not made a ruling and may not make a ruling against the school.
Yet, the Big Ten Conference with a first-year Commissioner in Tony Petitti decided to do something. Or they’re trying to do so.
The Wolverines will attempt to get this blocked in the court. They are hoping to have Harbaugh on the sidelines for the big game against the Nittany Lions and the rest of the season.
Will it work? We will have to wait and see.
Former Michigan staffer Connor Stallions was the alleged mastermind behind a sign-stealing scheme. While he has stepped down — initial reports suggested that he was fired — he has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing. Right now, it’s all speculation.
Earlier this week, the Wolverines, according to On3, sent documents to the Big Ten Conference of the Buckeyes, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Purdue Boilermakers communicating Michigan’s signals last season.
College teams have been stealing signs for years. But due to the Wolverines being a top-ranked team, it is getting more light on the matter than normal.
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