Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is in hot water with the NCAA over alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCAA claims that Harbaugh and his staff engaged in impermissible on and off-campus recruiting activities, such as contacting prospects, hosting visits, and conducting workouts, during a period when such activities were banned due to health and safety concerns.
Harbaugh is also accused of not being truthful with the NCAA investigators when questioned about the violations, which is considered a Level I violation, the most serious category. The NCAA alleges that Harbaugh tried to cover up the misconduct and obstruct the investigation.
Harbaugh and his attorney, Tom Mars, had reached a negotiated resolution with the NCAA enforcement staff, which would have resulted in a four-game suspension for Harbaugh to start the 2023 season. However, the deal was rejected by a three-person panel from the NCAA Committee on Infractions (COI), who did not agree with the proposed penalties.
NCAA issues controversial statement
The breakdown of the settlement deal was reported by Yahoo Sports on Saturday, and it sparked a lot of reactions from the media and fans. Some criticized the NCAA for being too harsh on Harbaugh, while others defended the NCAA for upholding its rules and standards.
The NCAA added fuel to the fire by issuing a public statement on Saturday night, which was unusual for an ongoing case. The statement, attributed to Derrick Crawford, the NCAA vice president of hearing operations, said:
“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. It is not uncommon for the COI to seek clarification on key facts prior to accepting [a negotiated resolution]. The COI may also reject [a 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.”
The “cheeseburger” reference was apparently a jab at some media outlets who had downplayed the severity of Harbaugh’s violations. However, many people found the statement to be inappropriate and unprofessional, especially since it revealed some details of the case that had not been officially announced.
Harbaugh’s attorney slams NCAA’s double standard
Harbaugh’s attorney, Tom Mars, was outraged by the NCAA’s statement and called it “unreal”. He pointed out that Michigan, Harbaugh, and their lawyers were prohibited from commenting on the case under threat of penalties, while the NCAA could issue a public statement putting its spin on the case.
Mars also questioned why the COI rejected the settlement deal that had been agreed upon by both parties. He said that Harbaugh had cooperated fully with the investigation and had accepted responsibility for his mistakes. He also said that Harbaugh had nothing to be ashamed of and that he was confident that he would prevail in a hearing.
Mars said that he would continue to fight for Harbaugh’s rights and reputation, and that he would not let the NCAA bully him into accepting an unfair punishment. He also hinted that Harbaugh might consider leaving Michigan for the NFL if he felt that he was being treated unfairly by the NCAA.
