University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh spoke Thursday for the first time since media reports revealed he’s likely to face a four-game suspension this fall for violating NCAA rules.
“[I’m] not allowed to talk about any aspect of that ongoing situation. And I’m with you. I’d love to lay it all out there. Nothing to be ashamed of, but now is not that time. And that’s about all there is to say about that,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh appeared at the Big Ten media days in Indianapolis, shown on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan Radio sports commentator John U. Bacon joined Morning Edition host Doug Tribou to talk about announcement and possible repercussions.
John U. Bacon: I do. And stay tuned. In a nutshell, it boils down to this: The NCAA has accused Michigan of four Level 2 violations.
Things like buying two recruits, who are already going to Michigan, cheeseburgers at the Brown Jug [restaurant in Ann Arbor].
But the Level 1 violation would be lying about that to the NCAA investigators, which is what the NCAA is accusing Harbaugh of. This is getting hashed out as we speak.
JUB: My old joke, Doug, is that the NCAA is very good at misdemeanors and they’re not good at all at felonies. In this case, the felony is accusing Harbaugh of lying about a misdemeanor. So we’re full circle now. How about that?
JUB: There’s no question, because the crimes here are misdemeanors except for potentially lying to the NCAA. Harbaugh has so far denied that, for what it’s worth.
It’s in some ways, by the way, almost sticking it to the NCAA on this one. That’s my impression of Harbaugh. The response, in this case, he was fed up with the NCAA.
I think a lot of people are — and it doesn’t justify any of [the alleged violations], of course — but I think that’s part of his response.
JUB: Well, in that sense, it is a pretty serious penalty, if that’s what they come down with. Right now, they’re talking about removing Harbaugh from four of the games, the first four games.
The games in question, by the way, are the Eastern Carolina, Bowling Green, teams like this. Rutgers. Doug, you and I can coach those games and still win them.
JUB: [Laughs] Is laughter a quote? Does that count? All right. A little history here for you. [In 1896,] they formed the Big Ten.
And one of the reasons is they believed that college football would provide a needed distraction from the rampant drinking on campuses. It worked.
