Jim Harbaughs turbulent Michigan 2023 timeline: From NFL rumors to multiple suspensions

Posted by Mittie Cheatwood on Saturday, April 27, 2024

The 245-day-long Michigan football offseason started with worries that coach Jim Harbaugh may leave the program for the NFL and ended with Harbaugh serving a three-week suspension to begin the season.

Harbaugh will end the regular season in a similar way after the Big Ten suspended the coach from games as punishment for Michigan’s in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal.

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In case you missed any of that, here’s the full timeline of the 2023 events at Michigan:

College Football Playoff loss to TCU: Dec. 31, 2022

Michigan comes out on the wrong side of a 51-45 CFP thriller, falling to TCU. Still, the season marks another major success for Harbaugh’s Wolverines.

For the second straight season, Michigan defeated Ohio State, won the Big Ten and made the Playoff. With more returning key players than arguably any team in the nation, including breakout stars quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Heisman-vote-getter running back Blake Corum, Michigan looks to be building its greatest era in decades.

(Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NFL rumors: Jan. 2 – Jan. 16

But almost immediately after a bow could be put on the 2022 season, the 2023 calendar year begins with worry in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh emerges as a serious candidate for the coveted Denver Broncos head coaching job, and sources tell The Athletic that not only is Harbaugh exploring a return to the NFL, but he would likely accept a job if offered.

Along with the Broncos, Harbaugh also speaks with Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper about the Panthers’ vacancy. A clause in his Michigan contract states that Harbaugh could be fired for cause if he participates in a job search without telling the athletic director.

On Jan. 5, Harbaugh releases a statement saying, “While no one knows what the future holds, I expect that I will be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023.”

Four days later, he conducts a virtual interview with the Broncos.

The Denver Broncos’ brand-new ownership group plans to interview Jim Harbaugh for the team’s vacant head coaching job.

Harbaugh simply wants back into the league, according to people who know him well.@SandoNFL's Pick Six: https://t.co/0MjsMsQnEK pic.twitter.com/Ace0tB3Xvg

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 9, 2023

On Jan. 12, Michigan president Santa Ono releases a statement saying he had “positive and constructive conversations” with Harbaugh and athletic director Warde Manuel.

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In response, Harbaugh says he is “in full support of President Ono’s message to our fans.” On Jan. 16, Harbaugh informs Ono of his intentions to remain at Michigan and writes in a statement, “My heart is at the University of Michigan. I once heard a wise man say, ‘Don’t try to out-happy, happy.’”

Matt Weiss fired: Jan. 5 – Jan. 20

In the midst of those rumors, the campus police department conducts an investigation on a report of “fraudulent activity involving someone accessing university emails accounts without authorization” at Schembechler Hall, the team’s training facility. The campus crime log time-stamps the report at 12:44 p.m. on Jan. 5, just over three hours before Harbaugh releases his aforementioned statement.

On Jan. 17, the UM Police Department confirms its investigation into “a report of computer access crimes that occurred at Schembechler Hall during Dec. 21-23, 2022.” A program spokesman confirms Weiss, Michigan’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has been put on leave.

(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

Three days later, Manuel announces Weiss’ firing.

NCAA investigates infractions: Jan. 5 – Aug. 12

In the evening of Jan. 5, hours after the criminal report at Schembechler Hall and Harbaugh’s statement, the NCAA puts the cherry on top of a hectic day with its draft Notice of Allegations outlining alleged rules violations within Harbaugh’s program.

The allegations include four Level II infractions that involve impermissible contact with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period, an analyst performing coaching duties in practice and other low-level violations. Harbaugh also faces a more serious Level I charge from the NCAA for not cooperating with investigators.

Two weeks later, Yahoo reports that talks between Michigan and the NCAA have broken down after Harbaugh refuses to acknowledge that he purposefully misled NCAA investigators, setting the stage for a long offseason battle.

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As part of a negotiated resolution with the NCAA, Michigan was working toward a four-game suspension for Harbaugh and one-game suspensions for assistants Sherrone Moore and Grant Newsome, a team source says in July. At Big Ten Media Days, the coach says that he’d “love to lay it all out there. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

Shemy Schembechler comes and goes: May 17 – May 20

In the midst of a tempestuous summer for its current legendary coach, the son of Michigan’s historic coach Bo Schembechler enters and then subsequently exits the program within a single week in May.

Shemy Schembechler is hired on May 17 as assistant director of recruiting after spending decades as an NFL scout. Shemy had remained involved in his father’s former team, having previously released a letter along with the rest of his family saying they believed Bo had no knowledge of longtime team doctor Robert Anderson’s alleged sexual abuse of hundreds of former athletes. Harbaugh also expresses support for Bo Schembechler. Michigan reached a $490 million settlement with more than 1,000 Anderson survivors in 2022.

On May 20, Shemy resigns from Michigan after drawing scrutiny for liking political social media posts containing offensive and racist content.

“Effective this afternoon, Shemy Schembechler has resigned his position with Michigan Football,” Harbaugh and Manuel say in a joint statement. “We are aware of some comments and likes on social media that have caused concern and pain for individuals in our community. Michigan Athletics is fully committed to a place where our coaches, staff and student-athletes feel welcome and where we fully support the University’s and Athletic Department’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Shemy Schembechler’s extreme and inflammatory political beliefs were not a secret to many who followed Michigan closely.

So why was he still hired?

Whatever the answer, his firing is another embarrassing moment for the program.

✍️ @ChrisVanninihttps://t.co/ScbOToF3Tf

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 22, 2023

Michigan self-imposes Harbaugh suspension: Aug. 12 – Aug. 24

In August, news arrives that Harbaugh’s negotiated resolution with the NCAA wasn’t approved by the Committee on Infractions, per an industry source. Without a resolution, it appears that the case will move further through the NCAA disciplinary system and may not be resolved until 2024, allowing Harbaugh to coach all of 2023.

But nine days later, on Aug. 12, news breaks that Michigan was self-imposing a three-game suspension on Harbaugh, finally clarifying the coach’s early-season availability. The self-imposed ban isn’t expected to be the final word on the case, but it will likely soften the penalty the NCAA eventually imposes while also allowing the program to dictate which games Harbaugh misses.

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“I’ve heard people comment that it’s a slap on the wrist,” Harbaugh says on Aug. 28. “It’s more like a baseball bat to the kneecaps or to the shoulder.”

Harbaugh will miss the Wolverines games against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green to start the season. The program announces a plan to rotate head-coaching duties among four assistant coaches during his absence.

(Photo: Michael Hickey / Getty Images)

Harbaugh lambasts the NCAA: Aug. 28

In his first public appearance since being suspended, Harbaugh calls on the current NCAA setup to change in a lengthy statement about the need to share TV revenue with players.

“I don’t think this current system is going to survive,” Harbaugh says. “The status quo is unacceptable. That’s my opinion.”

The coach says his comments weren’t a reaction to his recent investigations with the NCAA, but rather thoughts he’s held for years.

“This is something I’ve long talked about,” Harbaugh says. “I didn’t wake up this morning and decide to share this.”

NCAA investigating Michigan football amid sign-stealing allegations: Oct. 19

The NCAA is investigating the University of Michigan football program amid allegations of sign-stealing, the Big Ten announces.

“U-M Athletics will offer its complete cooperation to the NCAA in this matter,” athletic director Warde Manuel says in a statement on Oct. 19. “At the University of Michigan, all of us are committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity for all members of our community. This is the same expectation I have of all coaches, staff, and student-athletes.”

The Big Ten approached Michigan State on Oct. 18, ahead of a weekend matchup between the rivals in East Lansing, saying it’s been made aware of “credible evidence” that exists suggesting the Wolverines have successfully stolen signs called by opposing teams’ coaches this season.

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The NCAA is investigating Michigan “over possible rule-breaking around in-person scouting of opponents,” according to an industry source briefed on the matter. According to NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1, off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited. An issue with the bylaw would mean a case that would likely proceed through the traditional infractions process.

Manuel spoke with conference commissioner Tony Petitti on Oct. 18. According to a source briefed on the allegations, as of noon on Oct. 19, Michigan has yet to be presented with the evidence compiled in the investigation.

One source who was briefed on the allegation says Michigan is being accused of using a “vast network” to steal opposing teams’ signs. The alleged evidence appears to suggest UM had knowledge of what play an opposing team was going to run before the play occurs.

“The Big Ten Conference considers the integrity of competition to be of utmost importance and will continue to monitor the investigation,” the league says in a statement on Oct. 19.

Big Ten suspends Harbaugh from Michigan’s games through end of regular season: Nov. 10

Harbaugh will not be allowed on the sidelines during games through the end of the regular season after The Big Ten handed down its suspension as punishment for Michigan’s in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal, the conference announces. Harbaugh will miss games against Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State. He will be allowed to coach during the week at practices and attend other team activities.

The Big Ten said Michigan was found to be in violation of its sportsmanship policy “for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition.”

Michigan plans to file a court order to keep Harbaugh on the sidelines, it says in a statement.

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In a letter sent to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti writes that the conference “has not yet received any information indicating that (Harbaugh) was aware of the impermissible nature of the sign-stealing scheme,” and that the sanction is “against the university” rather than the coach. But Petitti writes that Harbaugh was suspended because he “embodies the university for purposes of its football program.”

The university accuses Petitti of using the Veteran’s Day court holiday “to try to thwart the university from seeking immediate judicial relief.” Petitti notes in his letter the conference gave Michigan a one-day extension earlier in the week to file its response to the conference’s notice of potential disciplinary action.

The decision comes after a tense week of deliberations involving Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, officials at Michigan and the school’s outside attorneys. Michigan submitted a response earlier in the week to the Big Ten’s notice of potential disciplinary action, which was sent after Petitti met with school officials the week before to outline the league’s position.

Michigan’s 10-page response argued against premature action from the Big Ten before the conclusion of an NCAA investigation and said the Big Ten lacked the authority to suspend Harbaugh for the actions of staffer Connor Stalions, who resigned the week prior.

Read more on Harbaugh’s suspension

(Top photo: Robert Goddin / USA Today)

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