Newsstand: Jim Harbaugh's lawyer releases statement on Michigan negotiated resolution with NCAA

Tweets Of The Day

Announced Tuesday, Michigan football and the NCAA agreed to a negotiated resolution regarding violations the program allegedly committed in 2021, including impermissible in-person recruiting in the COVID-19 recruiting dead period in 2021, texting one recruit outside the allowable time period, having an analyst conduct on-field coaching duties, and coaches watching players work out via Zoom.

Former head coach Jim Harbaugh is facing a level I (most serious) violation for — at least the way the NCAA sees it — allegedly failing to cooperate with the investigation. In the resolution, Michigan agreed that Harbaugh didn’t properly cooperate, which elicited the following statement from his attorney, Tom Mars:

“Coach Harbaugh filed a lengthy response to the NOA, which unfortunately has not been made public. I see that Michigan changed its position to get this resolved, which is not surprising. I can almost hear the wheels of the bus going ‘whomp, whomp.’”

Here’s the NCAA’s full release on the matter:

Michigan and five individuals who currently or previously worked for its football program have reached an agreement with NCAA enforcement staff on recruiting violations and coaching activities by noncoaching staff members that occurred within the football program, and the appropriate penalties for those violations. A Committee on Infractions panel has approved the agreement. One former coach did not participate in the agreement, and that portion of the case will be considered separately by the Committee on Infractions, after which the committee will release its full decision. 

The agreed-upon violations involve impermissible in-person recruiting contacts during a COVID-19 dead period, impermissible tryouts, and the program exceeding the number of allowed countable coaches when noncoaching staff members engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities (including providing technical and tactical skills instruction to student-athletes).  The negotiated resolution also involved the school’s agreement that the underlying violations demonstrated a head coach responsibility violation and the former football head coach failed to meet his responsibility to cooperate with the investigation. The school also agreed that it failed to deter and detect the impermissible recruiting contacts and did not ensure that the football program adhered to rules for noncoaching staff members.

The committee will not discuss further details in the case to protect the integrity of the ongoing process, as the committee’s final decision — including potential violations and penalties for the former coach — is pending.

Michigan continues to garner predictions for head coach Dusty May and Co. to land former Florida Atlantic center Vladislav Goldin, who’s in the NCAA transfer portal. On3’s Jamie Shaw also has a pick in for the Wolverines to earn Goldin’s commitment.

Radio host Colin Cowherd shared some hesitation on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy as an NFL Draft prospect ahead of next week’s event.

“In the last 10 drafts — and we can argue — but there were 12 quarterback ‘hits,’ in the last 10 drafts” Cowherd said. “… Franchise guys. The school clearly doesn’t matter, because Josh Allen went to Wyoming, Jared Goff went to Cal, Jordan Love went to Utah State. Lamar Jackson went to Louisville — that’s an OK program — so the school doesn’t matter.

“Size is mostly overrated. Kyler Murray is small; Josh Allen’s a giant. You’d rather be bigger than smaller, but Lamar Jackson came in really [skinny] and Josh Allen didn’t, and Patrick Mahomes is maybe the greatest of all time and average height, 6-2.

“The franchise history can matter, but it doesn’t matter that much…”

Quote Of The Day

“I love Coach Tress as much as I love Coach Herbert, and I really like Coach Herbert, so that says something. He’s amazing. He’s a very impressive guy, and I think he gets the most out of his players or tries to get the most. His knowledge in the weight room is second to none.”

— Four-star Birmingham (Mich.) Groves offensive lineman Avery Gach to The Wolverine on Michigan strength coach Justin Tress

Headlines Of The Day

• Zach Libby, The Wolverine: Michigan recruits share impressions on new S&C coach Justin Tress this spring: ‘He’s top of the line’
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Michigan spring ball quick-hitters: Transfer portal, injuries, defensive tackle duo and a new ‘starter-level’ tight end
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: ‘Men that are going to pour into the players’: Michigan coach Dusty May discusses strategy with staff hires
• Anthony Broome, The Wolverine: LIVE BLOG: Transfer portal tracker – Michigan activity in and out, potential targets and more