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Newsstand: Bret Bielema weighs in on Jim Harbaugh call-out

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome06/21/25anthonytbroome
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Former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh was always a lightning rod for criticism in Ann Arbor, never more so than the fallout of the alleged sign-stealing scandal over the last few seasons.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema took the low-hanging fruit earlier this year, responding to a video that went viral from Harbaugh’s days in San Francisco in which he said, “If you cheat to win, then you’ve already lost.”

“Really…. Why did you leave,” Bielema wrote on X in January. “Was looking forward to playing but understand why you ran to the NFL. See you in the future and can’t wait.”

Bielema was on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take and was asked about his comments, where he backed off and played it off.

“I have not talked to Jim,” Bielema said. “I never really had a problem with him, but it was just that moment, that scenario. Actually his strength coach, Ben Herbert … When I got let go to Arkansas, Jim hired four of my strength coaches to Michigan and that’s kind of when they made their turn. I got respect, I love his family, love his dad, they’re good people.”

Michigan and Illinois played just once with Harbaugh and Bielema on the sidelines, a 19-17 last-second win for the Wolverines.

Tweets of the day

Michigan quote of the day

“Once I finally got to meet him and got to see how he moved, especially just around in a place that he’s never really been, he’s just such a people person, so right then I was like, ‘Yeah, man.’ The fact that he was coming out there all the way to Idaho means he’s obviously very interested and sees something in me. It was very motivating, and also just a blessing to have him be there and see how he moves and Gooding, Idaho.”

– Former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland on being recruited out of Idaho by Jim Harbaugh’s staff

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