The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 Committee on Infractions (COI) for a result that sources said would lead to him missing the first four games (East Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green and the Big Ten opener with Rutgers). Surpris- ingly, the COI rejected the deal. Not only that, in what Yahoo.com's Dan Wetzel said seemed to be a violation of its own bylaws about not disclosing de- tails of an ongoing investigation, Der- rick Crawford, the NCAA vice president of hearing operations, issued a state- ment on Aug. 12. "The Michigan infractions case is related to impermissible on- and off- campus recruiting during the CO- VID-19 dead period and impermissible coaching activities — not a cheese- burger," Crawford said. "It is not un- common for the COI to seek clarifica- tion on key facts prior to accepting. "The COI may also reject an NR [ne- gotiated resolution] if it determines that the agreement is not in the best inter- ests of the Association, or the penalties are not reasonable. If the involved par- ties cannot resolve a case through the negotiated resolution process, it may proceed to a hearing, but the committee believes cooperation is the best avenue to quickly resolve issues." The insinuation being that perhaps Harbaugh wasn't cooperating. And since Harbaugh wasn't at liberty to speak under threat of further potential penalty, he couldn't comment. From what we've gathered, though, the resolution probably came with a condition on his part — that he wouldn't admit to "lying" about not remember- ing the date of the visit. That reportedly turned a potential Level II violation into a Level I, and the NCAA — despite the rampant pay for play happening on its watch and count- less, significant violations around the country that have gone unpunished — apparently decided to make an example of Michigan. And that clearly didn't sit well with Harbaugh … nor should it have. "Compare us to perfect, and we're going to come up short in the major ar- eas," Harbaugh said this spring. "Com- pare us to any other program, and you'll see it doesn't get any better." On Aug. 21, however, less than two weeks prior to the season opener with East Carolina, Michigan announced a school-imposed three-game suspen- sion for Harbaugh. "I will continue to do what I always do and what I always tell our players and my kids at home — 'Don't get bitter, get better,'" Harbaugh said. MICHIGAN PICKED FOR A THREE-PEAT And what a team he's got returning. In the annual Cleveland.com poll pre- ceding Big Ten Media Days, conference beat reporters chose the Wolverines to capture a third straight Big Ten title. Michigan received first-place votes from 27 of the 37 reporters involved, while eight picked Ohio State and two chose Penn State. All the voters picked the Big Ten East winner as the Big Ten champion. Unlike 2019, the last time U-M was picked first, Harbaugh didn't back them up with an "I agree." But it was clear he was pleased with where things stood with the program heading into the sea- son. The progress was evident in the offseason conditioning numbers. "We do this thing called KPIs, key performance indicators. It's about 47, 48 categories, strength and power, speed and agility, flexibility, mobil- ity, and every guy is always trying to up their grade," Harbaugh said. "By far, I look at this offseason and the work that's been put in [as the best] … just seeing those key performance indicators rise weekly and monthly. I'm excited — very excited — to turn that loose and start training camp. "I think our team is as healthy as you could ask for. It's very talented with an extremely hard work ethic, and not one of them wants to hear about what they did last year or the last two years. It's always, 'Coach, we're doing it again, doing it now, and now is the time that matters.' That's the kind of attitude and effort and talent we're taking into the start of this training camp." Harbaugh called that his evidence of Michigan's "cultural momentum," a phrase he's often used this offseason. Last season, he admitted he thought the vibe was as good as it could be with U-M coming off its first Big Ten championship in 17 years. Then, a 13-1 season ensued — the most games won in program history — and he surmised he could have up to 20 players drafted in 2024. "It's truly amazing; we don't have any bad guys," Harbaugh said this summer. "There are good guys. There are elite, great guys — there are good guys learn- ing from the other guys. You've got the Heisman habit guys. "There's momentum here. There's a real cultural momentum taking place." One that could take yet another step forward with a feat never accomplished in program history — a third straight outright Big Ten title. They've got a great shot, with their quest starting Sept. 2 against East Carolina. ❑ Harbaugh's Attorney Frustrated With NCAA's Approach; U-M Takes Action When the NCAA came after Jim Harbaugh and Michigan with Level II violations, one of them became a Level I when the organization reportedly accused Harbaugh of being untruthful about an "improper contact" charge. Harbaugh has apparently denied it, one of the reasons the program and NCAA re- mained at an impasse heading into the second week of August. "We are continuing to work cooperatively with the NCAA staff on an enforcement matter," Har- baugh's attorney, Tom Mars, said in a statement to ESPN in late July. "At this time, we are not allowed to comment on possible penalties or other aspects of the matter." His stance changed, however, when the NCAA released a statement saying the case was "not [about] a cheeseburger" and tried to defend itself in what most national pundits characterized as a frivolous pursuit. According to its own bylaws, the NCAA should not have been commenting on an open case. "Pursuant to the NCAA's internal operating procedures, and under threat of penalties, Michigan, the involved coaches, and their lawyers are prohibited from uttering a word about this ongoing case," Mars said Aug. 12. "Yet the NCAA can issue a public statement putting its spin on the case? Unreal." He later tweeted the rule that stated the NCAA shouldn't be commenting on any such case. On Aug. 21, U-M decided not to wait on the NCAA any further, and announced its own three-game suspension for Harbaugh. Athletics director Warde Manuel said it's "our way of addressing mistakes," and "we will continue to support coach Harbaugh, his staff and our outstanding student-athletes." — Chris Balas