Michigan football: NCAA releases statement on Harbaugh situation, attorney fires back

Yesterday, after months of talks of suspension and more surrounding 9th-year Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh, the NCAA decided to void talks of suspension for the time being. Now, the decision will go to the NCAA’s committee of infractions, which will be some time next year, which gets Harbaugh and his Wolverines off the hook… for now. Following this report, the NCAA released an official statement on the matter — soon after, Jim Harbaugh’s attorney, Tom Mars, fired back at it.

NCAA issues statement on investigation into Michigan football

Here is what the NCAA said about the situation with Michigan football and Jim Harbaugh (via Ross Dellenger):

“The Michigan infractions case is related to impermissible on and off-campus recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period and impermissible coaching activities — not a cheeseburger,” Derrick Crawford, the NCAA vice president of hearing operations, said. “It is not uncommon for the COI [committee on infractions] to seek clarification on key facts prior to accepting.

“The COI may also reject an NR [negotiated resolution] if it determines that the agreement is not in the best interests of the Association, or the penalties are not reasonable. If the involved parties cannot resolve a case through the negotiated resolution process, it may proceed to a hearing, but the committee believes cooperation is the best avenue to quickly resolve issues.”

Jim Harbaugh attorney Tom Mars fires back

Not long after this statement was posted, Tom Mars, the attorney representing Jim Harbaugh (and is known for other works with the Michigan football program), fired back at it in a tweet of his own.

“Pursuant to the NCAA’s internal operating procedures, and under threat of penalties, Michigan, the involved coaches, and their lawyers are prohibited from uttering a word about this ongoing case,” Mars said yesterday evening. “Yet the NCAA can issue a public statement putting its spin on the case? Unreal.”

There is a lot of buzz about what all of this could mean about the future of Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football program. For now, with just 20 days until the 2023 season kicks off, Harbaugh and his Wolverines are completely locked in on the coming season and what it may bring for the Maize and Blue.