ANN ARBOR, Michigan. – A judge did not rule on the University of Michiganof the temporary restraining order on Saturday, meaning the Wolverines will be without Jim Harbaugh against Penn State due to his suspension in the sign-stealing case.
Angélique Chengelis, from the Detroit News, initially signaled that no decision would be made in time for Saturday’s game.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel issued a statement about 50 minutes before kickoff, saying the Big Ten and commissioner Tony Petitti acted “unethically” Friday when they banned Harbaugh from the team’s final three regular season games.
He called it “a violation of everyone’s right (especially in the Big Ten) to be judged by a fair and full investigation.”
“Disliking someone or another university or believing without any evidence that they knew or saying that someone should have known without investigation is not grounds to remove someone from their position before the process of “The NCAA has reached a conclusion through a comprehensive NCAA investigative process,” Manuel said.
On Friday, while the Michigan football team was in the air on a plane to Penn State, conference commissioner Tony Petitti disclosed to the media that Harbaugh was suspended for the remainder of the season regular. This suspension included matches, but not practices.
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Michigan filed a TRO request, arguing that punishment against Harbaugh is premature and would inflict “irreparable harm” on the team. The university requested that any decision regarding punishment be deferred until the NCAA’s investigation is complete.
Harbaugh has not yet been linked to the illegal forward reconnaissance operation led by former team analyst Connor Stalions. Stalions resigned last week after allegations that he bought tickets to games involving Michigan’s future opponents and sent others to record signs used on the sidelines.
While the Big Ten admitted there was no evidence implicating Harbaugh in the scheme, Petitti wrote that urgent action was needed and cited playing without a head coach as a fitting punishment for the Big Ten’s program. college football.
MORE: Michigan letter to Big Ten defends Harbaugh, questions evidence and cites Ohio State
Michigan is 9-0 and hopes to win a third straight Big Ten championship this season. On Saturday, they’re in Happy Valley for the biggest game of the season so far: a battle against No. 10 Penn State.
The Wolverines played without Harbaugh for the first three games of the season due to a separate NCAA investigation, but the competition was much weaker. Saturday’s game will likely determine whether Michigan remains alive in the race for the conference title and a playoff appearance.
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