News broke yesterday afternoon that Jimmy is looking at a negotiated 4 game suspension by the NCAA for refusing to acknowledge he lied about buying a committed recruit a hamburger.
Here's how we got here. Michigan Football was accused of some level 2 violations, including hosting recruits during the COVID no visit time. Those violations are basically a slap on the wrist and a "don't do it again" type of thing. During the investigation, the crack investigative team (that I assume comes from any Netflix Documentary for putting the wrong guy in jail) finds an expense report for Harbaugh buying a hamburger for a recruit. The NCAA Blue's Clues Investigative team goes back to Harbaugh and says, "liar liar maize and blue pants on fire!" and Harbaugh responds something to the effect, "I don't recall buying that lunch and not remembering a lunch from years ago, is not the same thing as lying". Blue's Clues disagrees and says, "you now have a Level 1 violation Big Boy!"
What do we know now:
- Harbaugh, his attorney Tom Mars, and Warde seem to be negotiating a settlement and suspension with the NCAA. Reports are that it's at 4 games right now.
- Harbaugh is not the only person that is going to get a penalty, current Ravens DC Mike MacDonald (how many hamburger references can 1 story have?) could get a 1-year show penalty which doesn't matter as he is in the NFL, OC Sherrone Moore, and Grant Newsome could get something as well.
What do I think?
This is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen and a huge waste of time and resources. Both parties should be ashamed and people at the NCAA should get fired. Tennesse just got hit with over 200 infractions and a $8M penality but no suspensions. They were putting money in Happy Meal bags and giving it to recruits (✅ for hamburger reference). So basically, Harbaugh should have just put $40 in a bag and given it to the recruits to have lunch. I'm sure Harbaugh meets hundreds of new people a day: recruits, families, high school coaches, UM employees, fans, etc. Harbaugh not remembering a lunch from years prior seems realistic to me.
I'm so glad Tom Mars is in the room during these negotiations, as we know Warde couldn't negotiate a sweater return to TJ Maxx.
To me that seems like too strong a penality. 4 games? Now on the other hand, these games are not going to be the toughest of the season and Jimmy would only miss 1 Big Ten game against Rutgers at home. Still, way too high. How could this even be held up in court? If Michigan challenges this and takes it to court, does the NCAA even have a leg to stand on? What could the NCAA do? Vacate wins?
I learned today on ESPN; Jimmy will be able to coach practice during the week and just can't coach on Saturday's. Which then becomes a 1-day a week suspension or 4 hours a week?
I assume the NCAA is willing to negotiate a penality because they don't want this to go to court. I'm sure Jimmy would love to take this to his friend Judge Judy for a final decision. If Jimmy and Tom Mars continue to negotiate as this leaked 4-games has not played well for the NCAA and continues to make them look like a clown show. (✅).
If the NCAA wants to save face, they should fine Harbaugh $25,000 for his forgotten lunch and save millions in bad press and legal resources.
Who would coach the 4 games?
There are really 3 candidates:
1. OC Sherrone Moore
2. DC Jeese Minter
3. Mike Hart
If Sherrone gets a penality as well, maybe then Mike would be the choice who I believe has an assistant head coach title.
3 comments:
There might be more to it than just hamburgers ateast that's one report.. But who knows
Ron, In the age of 6 and 7 figure NIL deals, for the NCAA to make a big deal about this is ludicrous. yeah, a hamburger lunch is going to sway elite HS athletes........right. Now Jim's not without sin. Level IIs are slaps on the wrist and all he had to do is say my bad or really, I couldn't do that, know I know and it be all water under the bridge.
as the saying goes, when someone is looking to hang you don't give them the noose to do it. These schmucks at the NCAA don't like Jimmy, plain and simple. Would Saban get the same punishment? Heeeeelllll no. In fact, the NCAA would ask Nick if they could take him out for burgers for even wasting his time. Same NCAA that looked the other way for several Suckeye infractions.
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