A top college football analyst claims that while Michigan football and Jim Harbaugh did go a bit too far with scouting future opponents, their tactics are fairly common in the sport and they are really the victims of “selective prosecution” by the NCAA.
Heading into their Week 9 bye, the Michigan Wolverines football team is one of the best in the nation and ranked fourth in our latest college football rankings. However, the program has been hounded by scandals over the last year.
Related: Michigan football under investigation for stealing signs, Jim Harbaugh responds
First, came the NCAA investigation over improper recruiting that led to a suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh, then it didn’t and then it did again. Yet, despite those preseason headlines, the Michigan football program has still gotten off to a strong start in 2023, and the 8-0 squad is in the thick of the national championship hunt.
Unfortunately, an all-new scandal has emerged for the embattled head coach and his university. Last week the NCAA opened a new inquiry into an apparent rules violation for how teams are allowed to scout upcoming opponents. It has led to denials by Harbaugh and a suspension of one member of the staff.
Paul Finebaum suggests latest Michigan football scandal will force Jim Harbaugh back to NFL
However, on a Sunday morning edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter,” popular college football analyst Paul Finebaum claimed that while what Michigan did wasn’t right, the NCAA is really just trying to make an example of the program in what seems to be an apparent witch hunt against Jim Harbaugh.
“I don’t know what the NCAA knows, and quite frankly, I’m not sure if they know what they know. But what I do know, is that this is fairly widespread [in college football]. Maybe not to the degree that Michigan is accused of. They’ve already made a suspension for the time being. You can’t send a scout out in advance [to watch opposing teams].
“You can steal signals in whatever way you want and many schools do. It happens every week. It seems to me this is selective prosecution by the NCAA. They are after Jim Harbaugh. They don’t like the way he acted in the previous investigation and it just seems like piling on. Ultimately, even if Jim Harbaugh wins the national championship this year, he’s going to say, ‘I’ve had enough of this tomfoolery. I’m getting out of here and back to the NFL.'”
– Paul Finebaum
While his run in the college ranks has been dogged by scandals recently if this does force Harbaugh to finally go back to the NFL there will be many franchises salivating at the chance to sign him for 2024.