Head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines were given an allegations notice from the NCAA that will investigate potential recruiting violations that occurred during the COVID recruiting dead period, two university officials told ESPN.
On top of the initial allegations notice, it is also alleged that Harbaugh did not properly cooperate with and/or misled NCAA investigators, according to an article from ABC News. In the same article, NCAA vice president of hearing operations Derrick Crawford addressed the downplay of these allegations.
After receiving a draft of the future notice in January, self-imposed punishments were used to attempt to soften the blow of the proverbial NCAA hammer. A three-game suspension and a one-game suspension were given by Michigan to Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Sherron Moore, respectively. The suspensions were served at the beginning of the season.
Michigan agreed to some of the Level II allegations that included things like texting during the dead period, and allowing someone in an analyst position to help with on-field coaching. Despite agreeing to some of the weaker allegations, the school is adamant that Harbaugh did not lie or mislead investigators.
After receiving a draft of the future notice in January, self-imposed punishments were used to attempt to soften the blow of the proverbial NCAA hammer. A three-game suspension and a one-game suspension were given by Michigan to Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Sherron Moore, respectively. The suspensions were served at the beginning of the season.
Michigan agreed to some of the Level II allegations that included things like texting during the dead period, and allowing someone in an analyst position to help with on-field coaching. Despite agreeing to some of the weaker allegations, the school is adamant that Harbaugh did not lie or mislead investigators.
In another ongoing investigation that involves an analyst on the Michigan football team, the Wolverines are being investigated for stealing signs with former analyst Connor Stalions at the forefront of the investigation.
For these allegations, Harbaugh served another three-game suspension. This time, the suspension was imposed by the Big Ten rather than Michigan itself. The NCAA punishment for said investigation is yet to come to fruition.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was sidelined for the team’s biggest victory against their rival, the Ohio State Buckeyes. This win is thought to have silenced the idea that sign-stealing was the only reason Michigan was able to win big games in the past, but Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was still asked if he considered changing things up in an On3 article.