Harbaugh Signed Off On Suspension

As per usual, we come here to freak out and make up our own narratives. So I'll share mine, based off things I know/have heard. 

I think (hopefully), by now, I've proved that while I have no inside info when it comes to the football team...with athletic department stuff, I know a little bit. If you disagree, click away.

Anyway, as I said, Harbaugh signed off on this suspension. Anyone who thinks Warde Manuel is sitting around making this decision on his own...is an idiot. Plain and simple. 

Harbaugh was given the option to "fight it," as many of you like to put it. However, this is something everyone came up with together after considering everything they know. Especially after they reconvened when the NCAA COI rejected the 4 game agreement. Michigan thought this was done, then that happened, they circled back, and this is what they came up with. Harbaugh was included in the entire process.

A "few" more things to consider:

• Harbaugh has said he didn't lie to the NCAA...but no one knows what he's admitted to as far as rules violations. Remember, Michigan was ready to agree to a 4 game suspension, that was well-known...but Harbaugh is never going to admit to lying, nor will he admit to it now. Michigan knows this and supports him on this, it's a non-starter. This is not an admission of guilt in Harbaugh's eyes.

 

• Michigan fans have made up the narrative of Harbaugh leaving (and he's given them reason to)...but Harbaugh is still thinking about next year.  Now take a look at Michigan's schedule next year, look at Game #2.  Harbaugh, should he return, has no intention of missing that game versus Texas.  A big reason why this is 3 games instead of 1 or 2 is because if the NCAA wants to go back to the 4 game suspension again, Michigan gets credit for these 3.  Harbaugh would miss Fresno St.  Warde and Michigan plan to fight hard for this to be the end of it...but just in case, Harbaugh doesn't miss the Texas game.  There is a reason this a 3 games.

 

• You can't bitch all year about Warde having no power and then claim that he's got the sole power to suspend Jim freaking Harbaugh without any official NCAA penalty.  Jim Harbaugh is the most powerful man at Michigan!  Think about how stupid that sounds...Warde suspended him without any actual violation as of today?  And why would Harbaugh (or ANYONE) accept a penalty from a "spineless" "figurehead" of an AD without any actual NCAA penalties behind it?  Would you allow yourself to be suspended at work when neither HR nor law enforcement have found you guilty of anything?  Jim agreed to this...and this is strategy on his part just as much as it is on Michigan's part.

 

• I said, "few."  Do this now and there is far less of a risk of the NCAA vacating wins, which could impact a potential national championship.  Jim Harbaugh would be CRUSIFIED if *HE*, the head coach, is the reason his national championship football team isn't recognized as national champions in the history books.  Not a star player, but the coach?  If *HE* robs them of that distinction, what does that say about him?  Why risk this playing into next year and the NCAA saying you have to vacate wins?  We have a national championship caliber team, you would have to be the most selfish head coach on earth to put yourself ahead of that.  And players aside, it's his legacy, too.  He can be a national championship head football coach at Michigan.

 

I haven't heard this, but I wouldn't be surprised if Moore, Minter and Hart (or Jay Harbaugh) each get a game as HC.  Spin it as an opportunity for these guys to get HC experience, something Jim has dedicated himself to...he LOVES his staff.

Last comment, this decision was made while the NCAA investigation is still happening. Meaning Michigan still can't comment.  The media knows this, so it's more likely to go away.  So Jim will keep denying (as he should), he can play the "didn't want to be a distraction" card, he can tell recruits he'll be back next year and this will be over, he can also (privately) tell them *HIS* side of the story and the NCAA can't refute it.

He can downplay this and make it all about the stupid NCAA and Zoom workouts and the B1G's on again/off again football season during the craziest 2 years of most of our lives. He can make it about cheeseburgers for guys who were already committed. How will recruits know otherwise?

Actually...no, this is "last."  Warde's job on this matter starts now.  In order for this to work, this just has to play out this year...there should be no future games missed...and Michigan should be a 2 paragraph statement by the NCAA next spring/summer about how they accept Michigan's penalties and this matter is considered resolved.  Media picks it up for a day and it disappears after a few tweets and some OSU/MSU trolling. 

If that happens, this went as well as they could've hoped. Time will tell.