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Jim Harbaugh was asked about the sign stealing scandal in Ann Arbor currently being investigated by the NCAA. He dismissed any wrongdoing, taking no responsibility for any part of the scheme.
In doing so, he threw his old Michigan staff under the bus while leaving it to clean up the mess left from his reign.
The scandal, in some ways, overshadowed Michigan’s undefeated national championship winning season. Assistant Connor Stalions was at the head of that drama, said to have led an intricate program focused on swiping signals from opposing sidelines.
His strategy involved attending games of future foes in person, videotaping the opposing team’s bench, then using that information to give Michigan insights into those opponents’ game plans when facing off head-to-head.
Stalions was fired midseason for his role in the scandal. New head coach Sherrone Moore has been implicated, too.
Jim Harbaugh, meanwhile, has continuously denied the cheating allegations. He’s claimed ignorance to the situation while also bolting for the NFL and leaving his old co-workers to pick up the pieces.
The new Chargers head coach continued to do so from Los Angeles on Monday.
When asked about his involvement, Jim Harbaugh provided an emphatic denial.
“Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson. I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams I’ve coached. No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So, for me, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
-Jim Harbaugh
The coach continues to claim his innocence, even as the case turns up evidence of shadiness. Was Harbaugh connected? A number of staff members under his leadership have been implicated. Was that staff running wild, operating the widely known scheme without his knowledge?
He says so!
The NCAA says that Harbaugh has refused to cooperate in the investigation, as they’ve sent requests for his email communications.
For those who might be curious about the tactics used by NCAA enforcement, here’s the factual basis for the NCAA’s allegation that Coach Harbaugh “failed to cooperate” in their investigation of Connor Stalions by not producing his personal emails and text messages. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/H86tTj7Vz5
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) August 5, 2024
Thus far, Jim Harbaugh remains in the clear, and it might not matter what turns up given he’s no longer with the program.
Those in Ann Arbor will shoulder the brunt of whatever punishment is to come, though at least it appears the national title trophy is in no danger of being stripped.
We’ll see how everything continues to play out.