Harbaugh: Michigan has to be 'America's team' amid my suspension
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is confident that his team is destined for greatness after winning while he served the first of a three-game ban handed down by the Big Ten.
"They've gotta be America's team," Harbaugh told reporters, including The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach. "America loves a team that beats the odds, beats the adversity, overcomes what the naysayers, critics, and so-called experts think. That's my favorite kind of team."
Harbaugh missed the victory over Penn State after the Big Ten handed down a three-game suspension to Michigan's coach due to the program violating the league's sportsmanship policy. Conference commissioner Tony Petitti wrote in a letter that he had obtained enough information from the NCAA and other teams in the conference to prove that a former Michigan staff member violated the integrity of this year's games by scouting other teams' signals in advance.
Michigan staffer Connor Stalions resigned after he was identified as the man behind an in-person scouting operation. Stalions allegedly purchased tickets for games featuring upcoming Michigan opponents or prospective opponents over a three-year period, sending people to those contests to film the sideline and identify each team's signals.
Harbaugh plans to be in attendance for a court hearing Friday where a judge will listen to arguments to grant a restraining order that would nullify the Big Ten's three-game suspension.
"I'm going to talk on Friday," Harbaugh said, according to ESPN's Dan Murphy. "I'm just looking forward to that opportunity - due process. I'm not looking for special treatment, not looking for a popularity contest, just looking for the merit of what the case is."
Both Harbaugh and Michigan filed a complaint against the Big Ten and its commissioner on Friday after the suspension was announced. The hearing on the school's request to negate Harbaugh's suspension is set to take place at the Washtenaw County Courthouse in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh said he learned about the suspension when someone showed him a post on social media as the team was en route to Pennsylvania on Friday.
While Harbaugh isn't sure whether he'll be given the opportunity to state his case in front of the judge, he's eager to attend the proceedings in person.
"I've always felt like it'd be cool to get up there and thunder away at a jury like Tom Cruise in 'A Few Good Men' or be a judge. Alas, I did not go to law school," Harbaugh said. "This will be the first time I've ever really been in this situation."
The Wolverines (10-0) are preparing for a road game against Maryland on Saturday.
The 59-year-old is allowed to coach the team throughout the week under the parameters of his suspension.
If Harbaugh is unable to return to the field for this weekend's matchup, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore will continue to act as the interim head coach. Moore led the Wolverines to victory in place of Harbaugh.