Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh could face another consequence in connection to the sign-stealing scandal at Michigan. Harbaugh served a three-game suspension last season. At the time, the Big Ten and NCAA did not conclude Harbaugh was aware of Connor Stalions involvement in stealing opposing team’s signs.
The NCAA is continuing its investigation into the matter. A report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel dropped on Sunday about an update on the investigation. Michigan’s new head coach, Sherrone Moore, faces a potential suspension for allegedly deleting more than 50 text messages between himself and Stalions.
New Michigan HC Sherrone Moore faces possible suspension
However, Moore isn’t the only high-profile coach who stands to be punished for the cheating scandal. Per Thamel, Harbaugh and several other coaches from the 2023 team are accused of committing Level 1 violations in a draft on the NCAA’s accusations against Michigan:
Former Michigan staff members Jim Harbaugh, Chris Partridge, Denard Robinson and Stalions are also accused of committing Level 1 violations, the most serious category in the NCAA’s enforcement process.
The draft includes no evidence that Harbaugh knew about or was involved in Stalions’ operation at Michigan. It does claim that Harbaugh didn’t do enough to evaluate the program for possible wrongdoing via “red flags.”
Los Angeles Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh could be punished again
Per Thamel, Harbaugh could face a “show-cause” restriction if he returns to coach college football because he allegedly didn’t cooperate with the investigation:
is accused of not cooperating because he denied the NCAA’s request to view relevant messages and phone records from his personal cellphone. The draft says Harbaugh could face a “show-cause” restriction if he ever opts to return to college sports.
A show-cause restriction means any punishment the NCAA would give Harbaugh for the sign-stealing scandal would apply whenever a school hired him at the college level.
Punishment for Level 1 violations is at the discretion of the NCAA. They choose a punishment that fits the crime. Potential punishments could be anything from a personal suspension to a postseason suspension for the team.
Harbaugh left Michigan at the perfect time. He won a title and took a high-paying NFL job before a potentially program-altering punishment hits his alma mater.
Could Harbaugh be suspended by the NFL?
Harbaugh also left for the Chargers before the NCAA could gather enough evidence to give the NFL reason to punish Harbaugh as the league did to Jim Tressel in 2011 when it suspended the former Ohio State coach for six games. (Tressel would have been suspended for five games at Ohio State if he stayed through the 2011 season.)
One has to wonder if the league would punish or suspend Harbaugh if he is found guilty of q Level 1 violation. Thanks to Ohio State, the league has a precedent for doing so.
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