Recently, there has been lots of controversy over Michigan football’s head coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh is being accused of a sign stealing scheme, where he sent Michigan football staff to games to learn the signs that other teams use on the field for various things such as playing calling and messages.
Harbaugh has coached at many places before Michigan, notably, he was the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014 before leaving to coach the Michigan Wolverines.
Many different fans have different opinions on whether Harbaugh is guilty. “Coach Harbaugh is not only not guilty, but he is not even at fault for any allegations,” lifelong Wolverine fan, senior Kolton Elick said. “He wasn’t the one in charge of stealing signs and he didn’t know about it.”
Some fans, especially Michigan fans, believe that Harbaugh is not at fault for this. They believe he was put into a bad situation and because he is the head coach, he has to take the fall for it.
On the other hand, there are fans that believe Harbaugh is at fault for this. They believe he orchestrated the entire thing. The question asked is how could something this significant happen and the head coach not know about it.
“I think there should definitely be a punishment,” Ohio State Buckeye fan Ryan Forshey says. “This is not a fair game anymore.”
All fans will have different opinions, and this can be based on many different things. Some fans, especially Buckeye fans, believe that Harbaugh is guilty.
On Friday, Nov. 10, the big ten announced that they had suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season. This came right after a meeting with the big ten and Harbaugh himself.
Even with the suspension, Michigan fans believe that their season is far from over. “Michigan is still the best program in college football,” Elick said. “Easy National Championship favorites.
The Wolverines defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the big ten championship 26-0 on Saturday Dec 2. That win solidified the Wolverines as the No. 1 seed in the college football playoffs.
With the accusations surrounding Harbaugh, should the wolverines be allowed in the playoffs. “I think their wins should be exempt,” Forshey said. If wins are taken away from the Wolverines, they will no longer be allowed into the college football playoffs.
In 2010, Ohio State players, notably Terrel Pryor, were suspended five games for selling memorabilia and receiving improper benefits. They were suspended for something that is now legal. Harbaugh was suspended three games for a cheating scandal. The NCAA values punishing players for small violations rather than game changing cheating scandals.
With the NCAA having a history of exempting records that teams set when they violate rules, such as Reggie Bush’s Heisman award in 2005, there is no saying whether the NCAA will decide to let Michigan keep this playoff run on their record. But what we do know is that Michigan is going to play their hearts out for the opportunity to be awarded national Champions.
