Jim Harbaugh Won't Be Honorary Captain for Michigan's CFB Opener vs. Fresno State
Four days after Michigan announced Jim Harbaugh would serve as the honorary captain for the 2024 season opener against Fresno State, the Wolverines' former head coach has had a change of heart.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore told reporters on Tuesday that Harbaugh informed him he won't be able to pull himself away from his new job with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said last week on the 1 Star Recruits podcast (h/t ESPN's Jake Trotter) that Harbaugh accepted an invite to the Aug. 31 game.
Per the NCAA's statement, Harbaugh "engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations."
The show-cause order runs through Aug. 6, 2028, and requires any school that might hire Harbaugh to suspend him for his first full season. He would also be barred from taking part in any athletics-related activities, including team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings, after the suspension is over through the end of the show-cause order.
Michigan is also in the midst of a separate NCAA investigation into sign-stealing allegations involving former staffer Connor Stalions.
Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a national title last season, the first for the program since 1997. They won a school-record 15 games and defeated Washington in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.
Two weeks after the victory over Washington, Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract to become Chargers head coach. He is returning to the NFL for the first time since parting ways with the San Francisco 49ers after the 2014 season.
The Aug. 31 opener for Michigan would come during a break in the Chargers' schedule. They wrap up preseason play on Aug. 24 before starting the regular season against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 8.
from Bleacher Report - Front Page https://ift.tt/zQnEWw1
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