Earlier this week, the NCAA handed down a pretty strong punishment against former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh for recruiting violations committed during the COVID-19 dead period. But in a pretty shocking twist, it seems that Michigan is moving forward with plans to honor him at an upcoming game anyway.
Just two days after the NCAA announced a four-year show-cause penalty for Jim Harbaugh that would give him some pretty harsh punishment if he attempted to come back to college football in the next four years, Michigan announced plans to give Harbaugh a pretty significant honor at an upcoming home game.
During a recent appearance on the “1 Star Recruits” podcast, Warde Manuel announced that Jim Harbaugh will serve as honorary captain for the Wolverines’ Aug. 31 game against Fresno State, even despite the recent NCAA punishment and the ongoing investigation into the program’s alleged illegal sign-stealing scheme for which Harbaugh served a three-game suspension last season.
Needless to say, this is a pretty shocking announcement from Michigan considering the recent punishment from the NCAA, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media as a result.
Inject this into my veins https://t.co/SKSTPSLmtm
— D 〽️12x💍 (@dkreis3) August 9, 2024
Love it https://t.co/ZpBEcFf6NY
— 〽️att Garvey (@Mattgg1984) August 9, 2024
Jim Harbaugh coming back for the season opener as an honorary captain after being suspended for a million games by the NCAA is nasty work by Sherrone Moore pic.twitter.com/7aCbVJ84ys
— 〽️att Hartwell (@MaizeCrusader) August 9, 2024
Michigan bringing Harbaugh back for the first game as an honorary captain is the biggest middle finger to the NCAA and I absolutely love it
— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) August 9, 2024
There is presumably nothing in the fine print of Jim Harbaugh’s four-year show cause that prevents him from being an honorary captain.
Michigan should just keep sticking it to everyone and have Connor Stallions be the honorary captain for the second home game. https://t.co/L0ONbQLxVA
— Walker Carey (@walkerRcarey) August 9, 2024
The NCAA is a complete joke if they don’t take away Michigan’s national title and wins… just an absolute joke at this point. https://t.co/2asSEKKqYj
— Benny (@BennySportsTalk) August 9, 2024
Clearly, Michigan does not seem too bothered by the findings against Harbaugh.
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