There’s a storm brewing in Ann Arbor, and for once, it’s not because of the unpredictable Michigan weather. It’s because of the laughably inconsistent NCAA and the recent indication that there will be a four-game suspension for Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh. As a lifelong Michigan fan and supporter, I’m not just upset—I’m downright incensed.
The infractions? Meeting recruits during a COVID-19 dead period at the iconic Michigan establishment, The Brown Jug; texting a recruit out of the allowable time period; and having coaches watch players over Zoom workouts.
And the beef? Well, it seems the beef is over actual… beef. Yes, you read that right. Harbaugh bought the recruits burgers. For the NCAA, this meaty exchange is apparently grounds for a suspension. The outdated joke of an organization claims that Coach Harbaugh lied to investigators, an accusation that Harbaugh vehemently denies.
Yet the NCAA seems to be turning a blind eye to other significant infractions around college football. It’s almost as if they’re saying, “Bags of cash? Direct payments to prospects and their families? No problem. But God forbid you buy a burger for a recruit!”
Hell has frozen over. Paul Finebaum defends Jim Harbaugh 〽️ #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/asMrbYEmDQ
— Michigan Football on UMGoBlue (@UMGoBlog) July 27, 2023
Even the notoriously harsh ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, who often takes shots at Harbaugh, has called out the NCAA’s preposterous actions. If that’s not a clear sign that the NCAA is out of line, I don’t know what is.
As we head into the 2023 football season with our highest expectations in years, this suspension feels like a low blow. Michigan doesn’t need this distraction. They don’t deserve it. The NCAA’s actions are not just inconsistent—they’re petty and vindictive.
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cry me a river