U-M’s Harbaugh accepts ban; Big Ten ends probe

• Heather Dinich, ESPN

  • Elder WriterNov 16, 2023, 03:39 PM ET Close College football reporter
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

Michigan and coach Jim Harbaugh have agreed to the Huge 10’s three-game suspension of the Wolverines coach, the school revealed Thursday, which means Harbaugh will not coach Saturday at Maryland or in the regular-season finale versus rival Ohio State.According to the declaration, the Big 10 accepted close its investigation, which indicates there won’t be a hearing Friday early morning as was prepared at the Washtenaw County Courthouse. The case has actually been officially dismissed in Washtenaw County Court.

“Today, the University, Coach Harbaugh, and the Big Ten resolved their pending litigation,” the university’s statement read. “The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh accepted accept the three-game suspension. Coach Harbaugh, with the University’s assistance, chose to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their efficiency on the field. The Conference has confirmed that it is not familiar with any details recommending Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the claims. The University continues to work together fully with the NCAA’s examination.”

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1 Associated The Big 10 also released a statement Thursday stating that Michigan withdrew its “legal obstacle.” Attorneys representing Michigan and Harbaugh had actually initially filed a motion requesting an emergency situation momentary restraining order in addition to a breach of agreement grievance. The hearing Friday early morning was scheduled so Michigan lawyers might try to argue before a judge their reasons to have actually Harbaugh reinstated. The Big Ten statement said the “commissioner’s responsibility to safeguard the integrity of competition will never ever waiver.”

“Today’s decision by the University of Michigan to withdraw its legal obstacle versus the Conference’s November 10th Notification of Disciplinary Action is indicative of the high standards and worths that the Conference and the university seek to support,” the Big 10’s declaration read. “The University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big 10 Conference, and the Conference will continue to work cooperatively with the university and the NCAA during this process.”

The legal battle started last Friday after Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti announced the league was suspending Harbaugh for the last three games of Michigan’s routine season due to the fact that the football program broke the league’s sportsmanship policy.The Big 10 found

that Michigan violated its policy by “conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unreasonable competitive advantage that compromised the stability of competition,”according to the league’s original statement.Harbaugh has actually served one game of the suspension, as he enjoyed last week’s

win at Penn State from a hotel roughly 20 minutes away. Michigan would make its 1,000 th win Saturday if it beats the Terps. Protective line coach Mike Elston stated “for [Harbaugh] not to be a part of that would be an outright pity. “Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who coached the Wolverines to the win at Penn State

, will again act as interim head coach.” I would state to me, and to everyone else, that would be his win,”Moore stated this week of

a possible 1,000 th program triumph. “It would not count as mine. He’s the head coach of this football team and I’m simply standing in there to make certain we do not mess it up.”