Former Michigan coach tells program's detractors to 'get a better team'

The Big Ten suspended Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season amid allegations that the program engaged in a years-long sign-stealing scheme. While most of the college football world was in favor of the punishment handed down, the news prompted others to come out and defend the program and Harbaugh. 

Shortly after the conference's announcement, former Michigan associate head coach and current Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi broke his silence on the situation in Ann Arbor, taking a shot at the program's detractors. 

"Stop whining and get a better team," Poggi said via X, formerly Twitter. 

Poggi denied being privy to sign-stealing and went to bat hard for Harbaugh. He claimed to be "closer" to the Michigan head coach over the last three years than anyone outside his family. 

"If Jim knew I would have known," Poggi said. "I didn't know and neither did he. I stake my reputation on it."

Following an investigation, the Big Ten ruled that Michigan had violated the conference's Sportsmanship Policy by "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's ruling is not the end of the saga. Unsurprisingly, Michigan responded swiftly, announcing its intention to take legal action. 

The university criticized the conference and commissioner Tony Petitti not only for its decision but also for the timing, Friday afternoon on a court holiday, Veteran's Day. 

"By taking this action at this hour, the Commissioner is personally inserting himself onto the sidelines and altering the level playing field that he is claiming to preserve," Michigan's statement read. "And, doing so on Veteran's Day - a court holiday - to try to thwart the University from seeking immediate judicial relief is hardly a profile in impartiality. To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to seek a court order, together with Coach Harbaugh, preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect."