The entire Michigan sign-stealing scandal is taking on a new meaning with a report that head football coach Jim Harbaugh is facing yet another multi-game suspension.
According to Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports, the NCAA revealed the findings of its investigation into the scandal to the Big Ten. Meanwhile, the conference is now considering a multi-game suspension of the embattled head coach.
“The NCAA has revealed its findings in the Michigan sign-stealing investigation to the Big Ten, and the conference continues to consider a multi-game suspension of head coach Jim Harbaugh as the school gears up for legal action,” report on potential Jim Harbaugh suspension.
As Dellenger and Wetzel note, the University of Michigan is now preparing for legal action in case Harbaugh is in fact suspended.
The other interesting aspect of this report is a conclusion from NCAA invesigators do not yet connect the sign-stealing scandal directly to Harbaugh.
Over the weekend, the university was given several days to mount a response to the investigation before any potential penalty is handed down by the Big Ten Conference.
This is a rare situation in which a conference could take direct action directed at one of its programs and top head coaches. Typically, the NCAA handles discipline of this manner. Hence, why Michigan could very well mount a legal defense in regards to any potential punishment.
Current Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel is actually skipping out in his role as a member of the College Football Playoff Committe this week to focus on the Wolverines’ response to the investigation.
Telling week coming for Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines
First reported back in October, the Michigan sign-stealing scandal has now taken on new life following the firing of staffer Connor Stalions for his central role in the sign-stealing allegations.
Several outlets have reported that the now-former staffer purchased game tickets for Big Ten opponents as well as several potential opponents in the College Football Playoff. That includes Georgia, Alabama and Clemson.
More recently, officials at Central Michigan were reviewing a video that seemingly depicted Stalions on its sidelines during a game against Michigan State. For his part, Harbaugh has denied his role in the scandal multiple times.
“Nobody wants criticism. That’s why I work so hard to do everything right – both on and off the field. Because it’s been that way for a long time, since I was 22 years old,” Jim Harbaugh said recently. “
It was also previously noted that the most likely outcome here is Harbaugh being suspended for the second time this season. Remember, he was supended three games to open the campaign for recruiting violations.
On the field, Harbaugh has Michigan at No. 3 in the nation and boasting a 9-0 record with a huge game coming up against Penn State this coming weekend. Whether he’s on the sideline for that matchup remains to be seen.
But things are about to go down on this front over the next several days. We’ll have updates as soon as they become available.