Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was not happy with the way the officials called the epic double-overtime matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan this past weekend.
The game was in Columbus and it was a contest that Ohio State won, 30-27.
Michigan was called for seven penalties for negative 59 yards while Ohio State was called for only two for negative six yards. Harbaugh was so frustrated during the game that he actually broke his headset during a tantrum on the sideline.
He was flagged for throwing his clipboard on the sideline, and he also spoke poorly about the officiating after the game — frustration that was egged on by the fourth-down review of an OSU run that was mighty close in the second overtime. Had that call gone Michigan’s way, the Wolverines would have won the game and ended up in the Big Ten championship.
The refs felt it was an OSU first down though, even after review, which led to an Ohio State touchdown run on the very next play for the win.
It also led to these comments in the post game from Harbaugh:
Here is Jim Harbaugh ripping the officials… pic.twitter.com/dLo4xFO7RE
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) November 27, 2016
In response to Harbaugh’s comments, the Big Ten released a public reprimand of Michigan’s head coach on Monday afternoon. Michigan was also fined $10,000 as a result.
“The Big Ten determined that Harbaugh’s postgame comments regarding officials were in violation of Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01, which 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,” the press release read. “Such fundamental elements include integrity of competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.
“Coaches are teachers as well, and there is an expectation that they set the example for students and others in the area of sportsmanship.”
There is still a chance that somehow, someway, Michigan can make the College Football Playoffs, but the odds are against the Wolverines. It’s very likely that in a season that many thought it would be a contender, Michigan will miss both the Big Ten conference championship as well as the CFP.
In no world is that not a disappointment for the Wolverines.