Jim Harbaugh celebrates with Blake Corum amid 'Free Jim Harbaugh' chants at Wolverines hockey game
Michigan fans are continuing to stick by football coach Jim Harbaugh as he serves a suspension amid an ongoing NCAA investigation. The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season, beginning Saturday when the Wolverines faced No. 10 Penn State.
Michigan earned a hard-fought 24-15 victory against the Nittany Lions and Harbaugh was later seen with running back Blake Corum and other members of the team at the Wolverines’ hockey game that evening. Corum was coming off of a 145-yard performance in the win in which he scored two touchdowns, and Harbaugh gave him props in front of the home crowd.
The coach made a gesture as if he were putting a crown on the running back’s head as “free Jim Harbaugh” chants erupted from those in attendance. You can view the moment below.
Michigan is currently No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and a contender to win the Big Ten Championship. However, the NCAA investigation into allegations that former Wolverines staff Connor Stalions operated a system to send scouts to future opponents’ games has cast a black eye on an otherwise successful season.
Now Harbaugh is paying the price with the suspension, which is his second so far this season. The Wolverines have still continued to find success on the field, however, and the story will be one to follow closely as they aim to win a national championship.
If Michigan does make the conference title game or College Football Playoff, it’ll be interesting to see whether Jim Harbaugh is allowed to return to the field.
Big Ten releases statement on suspended Jim Harbaugh
After news broke that the Big Ten had suspended Harbaugh, the conference released a statement on the decision.
“The Big Ten Conference announced today that the University of Michigan has been 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,” the Big Ten said.
“Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 states in part that ‘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.’
“As a penalty imposed on the institution, the University football team must compete without its Head Football Coach for the games remaining in the 2023 regular season, effective immediately. This disciplinary action shall not preclude the University or its football team from having its Head Football Coach attend practices or other football team activities other than the game activities to which it applies. For clarity, the Head Football Coach shall not be present at the game venue on the dates of the games to which this disciplinary action applies.
“The Big Ten Conference will have no additional comment at this time.”