- Jim Harbaugh will not coach his Michigan Wolverines team against Penn State
- Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore will lead the team in Harbaugh’s absence
- provides the latest international sports news
Jim Harbaugh will not be present when his Michigan Wolverines team takes on Penn State today after his attempt to seek an injunction against the Big Ten and its commissioner Tony Petitti was delayed.
The Big Ten Conference banned Harbaugh from practicing at Michigan’s three remaining regular-season games on Friday as punishment for a sign-stealing incident.
A few hours later, the school made good on its promise to fight back in court, asking a Michigan judge for an injunction that would allow Harbaugh to coach the Wolverines in their biggest game of the season so far.
Her attorneys asked for a quick decision that would allow Harbaugh to practice against the Nittany Lions in the Top 10 matchup, which is scheduled to begin shortly after noon Eastern.
But ESPN reporter Pete Thamel reported that there will be no verdict in the case today – meaning Harbaugh cannot remain on the sidelines in Pennsylvania.
Jim Harbaugh will not be on the sidelines for the Michigan Wolverines’ game against Penn State
Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore will lead the team in Harbaugh’s absence
Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins arrives at the game amid off-field controversy
This means offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore will serve as Michigan’s interim head coach.
A statement from Michigan said: “We look forward to presenting our case next week to show that the Big Ten acted neither lawfully nor fairly.”
The conference on Friday condemned the school for an elaborate, in-person scouting program that is also under investigation by the NCAA.
Conference rivals were angered and frustrated as evidence mounted that a former low-level employee was buying tickets to Michigan’s opponents’ games and sending people to record sideline video.
Harbaugh has denied any knowledge of an improper scouting plan within his program.
The rare punishment by its own conference of a national championship contender in the final stretch of his season and one of college football’s winningest coaches has become one of the biggest stories in sports.
Harbaugh and his lawyers tried to get a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten and its commissioner, Tony Petitti
“Like all members of the Big Ten Conference, we are entitled to a fair, conscious and thoughtful process to establish all the facts before a judgment is made,” Michigan President Santa Ono said in a statement.
“Commissioner Tony Petitti’s actions today disregard the Conference Handbook, violate basic principles of due process, and set an untenable precedent for imposing sentences before an investigation is complete.”
On the field, Michigan was the most dominant team in the country, outscoring its opponents by an average of 36 points per game and not allowing more than one touchdown in any game.
The Wolverines’ competition has been the only argument against their excellence so far. Penn State will be the first-place team Michigan faces.
Harbaugh’s team is fighting for its third straight Big Ten championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Former Michigan player Tom Brady tweeted the same phrase on social media Friday as current Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy and many other Michigan players
The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh on Friday for the remainder of the regular season in connection with a personal sign-stealing scandal. The University of Michigan filed an injunction in the local district court to reinstate Harbaugh and bypass the conference’s ruling.
After Penn State, the Wolverines are at Maryland before the traditional regular-season finale against heated rival Ohio State. The third-ranked Buckeyes visit Ann Arbor, Michigan, on November 25th.
The Big Ten’s penalty would allow Harbaugh to return to the Big Ten championship game and playoffs if Michigan makes it.
Tom Brady weighed in on the controversy surrounding his former college as current and former players tweeted one-word responses to Harbaugh’s suspension.
After the suspension was announced, several Michigan football players tweeted the word “Bet” – in the modern slang context defined by Urban Dictionary as “something.” [a person] says when someone doubts him.
These players included current Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, as well as former Michigan quarterback and future Hall-of-Famer Brady.