Desmond Howard critical of Big Ten's decision to suspend Jim Harbaugh, questions timing

Desmond Howard is no longer a Wolverine, but he still stands by Michigan. The ESPN analyst didn’t mince words when discussing the Big Ten’s decision to suspend Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh from the sidelines for the remainder of the regular season.

“It’s kind of anticlimactic. We knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when, not if,” Howard said. “You look at the commissioner and his statement and what he’s put out there, the hypocrisy is what grabs me.

“If it’s Michigan, it’s sign-stealing. If it’s someone else, it’s sign decoding. If it’s Michigan, it’s in-person scouting. If it’s someone else, it’s coaches sharing information from the goodness of their hearts. The whole thing, man, in reality, it’s a distinction without difference to me.”

If the Big Ten’s suspension stands, Harbaugh will miss games against Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State. While he can’t coach during the games, he will be allowed to participate during the week at practices and attend other team activities.

In his letter, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said Michigan’s impermissible scouting “scheme” was proven to exist, and immediate action was appropriate.

“As described below, the existence of the impermissible scheme is proven,” Petitti wrote. “While other investigatory bodies continue to develop additional evidence of the scope, extent and individual knowledge of the scheme that may advise additional or enhanced penalties in the future, taking immediate action is appropriate and necessary under the Conference’s Sportsmanship Policy.”

The league also cited a portion of “Conference Agreement 10.01,” which is the sportsmanship policy.

“The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”

Desmond Howard defends Michigan’s players

Although Michigan will only lose Harbaugh on game days, Howard believes his absence will be obvious.

“Coaches make their money on Saturday. That’s when they add the most value to a team,” Howard said. “To pull him off the sidelines for the Penn State game, for the Maryland game and for the Ohio State game — this is a shot at the players. It really is. I feel for the players. These kids worked. They worked their butt off… They don’t deserve this.”

It won’t be the first time Michigan will be without Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines this season. Before the season, the university imposed a three-game suspension on Harbaugh for impermissible on and off-campus recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period.

With or without its leader, Michigan will face off against Penn State on Saturday at noon ET. The game will be broadcast on FOX.