Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters Monday for the first time since the Big Ten suspended him from game-day coaching duties for the rest of the regular season, and he came out swinging after his team beat Penn State without him Saturday.
Harbaugh raised eyebrows by suggesting his team should be hailed as “America’s team” as it navigates the obstacles of a sign-stealing scandal.
“It’s gotta be America’s team. It’s gotta be America’s team,” Harbaugh said of the Wolverines. “America loves a team that beats the odds, beats the adversity, overcomes what the naysayers, critics, so-called experts think. That’s my favorite kind of team.”
Michigan was “found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition,” according to a Friday press release from the Big Ten.
Michigan Football: “Gotta be America’s team.” — Jim Harbaugh pic.twitter.com/7MN4IPFJ3N
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) November 13, 2023
The release states that Harbaugh’s suspension isn’t a punishment against him, but rather the program. Michigan made a legal filing later Friday in hopes of receiving a temporary restraining order against the punishment.
A hearing to address Michigan’s request for a temporary restraining order will be held this Friday in Washtenaw (Mich.) County court, per Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde.
The Wolverines (10–0, 7–0 Big Ten) play at Maryland (6–4, 3–4) on Saturday at noon ET.
