Urban Meyer: Michigan coordinators are doing 'a great job' without Jim Harbaugh vs. Penn State
After the Big Ten announced it was suspending Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for the rest of the regular season under the league’s sportsmanship policy, the university filed an injunction to try and get him back on the sidelines. A ruling didn’t come in time for kickoff, according to a Saturday morning announcement, which meant Sherrone Moore would assume the head coach duties in Harbaugh’s place.
Through one half, FOX analyst Urban Meyer thought Moore and the other coordinators handled things just fine as Michigan took a 14-9 lead into halftime.
The Wolverines totaled 170 yards against Penn State, which entered Saturday leading the Big Ten with 234.4 yards of offense allowed per game. That helped them take the lead into the break, and while it’s clear the players want their coach on the sidelines, Meyer said the assistants are doing well without him.
“Of course they miss their coach,” Meyer said during FOX’s halftime show. “But the coordinators are taking over the game. As you watch this game unfold, again, the head coach’s job is a game manager. Brady, the real game management is fourth down, maybe some trick plays. They’re going a great job. They don’t really miss him right now.”
Michigan filed for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten and commissioner Tony Petitti after news broke of Harbaugh’s suspension on Friday. However, Judge Timothy Connors didn’t make a decision prior to kickoff, which meant Harbaugh would stay at the hotel and Moore would assume head coach duties. A hearing is set for Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. ET between all parties involved.
After news came out that Harbaugh would miss Saturday’s game, Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel released a lengthy statement blasting the Big Ten for its decision and vowing to fight to get Harbaugh back on the sidelines this season. If things stay status quo, he’d also miss next week’s game against Maryland and the highly anticipated rivalry matchup against Ohio State to end the year.
“You may have removed him from our sidelines today, but Jim Harbaugh is our head football coach,” Manuel’s statement said, in part. “We look forward to defending Jim’s right to coach our football team at the hearing on Friday. He has instilled his pride, passion, and the team’s belief in themselves to achieve greatness.
“I will continue to support Jim throughout this process, my coaches and staff, and especially our student-athletes as we continue to play this game and fight to win for Michigan and all who love us.”