The Michigan Wolverines had their biggest win of the 2023 college football season yesterday on the road against Penn State. However, this win was about more than taking down a conference foe in a top-10 matchup. It was about sending a message to the rest of the college football world.
Less than 24 hours before kickoff, the Big Ten announced that it would be suspending Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh due to the program’s sign-stealing allegations. This meant that Harbaugh was not allowed on the field for regular season games such as yesterday against Penn State. However, he was still allowed to coach the team during practices.
Did that mean anything to Michigan? Emotionally, that answer is a resounding yes. The entire team went to bat for Harbaugh in a meaningful 24-15 road victory over Penn State.
Michigan Wolverines Support Jim Harbaugh
Players and coaches alike made their feelings known about Jim Harbaugh’s suspension. Shortly after Harbaugh’s suspension was announced, several Michigan players simply tweeted “Bet” as a response to this. It gave the indication that they did not support this suspension and were going to take care of business despite the circumstances.
Well, that they did. Michigan only allowed 70 passing yards in the entire game. Plus, they did not give up any points in the second half until the final minutes of the game. The Wolverines remained in firm control of the game and secured their first win over a ranked team all season.
Sherrone Moore was the man tasked to replace Harbaugh on the sidelines in Saturday’s win over Penn State. Once Michigan secured the win, he was not short on emotions. Moore had this to say about the Harbaugh situation:
“I want to thank coach Harbaugh. I f****** love you, man. I love the s*** out of you, man. We did this for you.”
Players and coaches are not the only people from the University of Michigan to show their support for Harbaugh. Michigan representatives filed for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten to try to fight Harbaugh’s suspension. While there was no decision made in time for yesterday’s game, this legal battle is far from over.
Michigan Wolverines Are Out For Blood
If yesterday’s win is any indication, this may not be the last emotional win that the Michigan Wolverines have this season. They have to host arch-rival Ohio State in two weeks. At the time of writing, Ohio State is the top-ranked team in the country.
Right now, tensions are high between these two teams. Recently, Michigan went as far as accusing Ohio State of using a private firm to spread allegations about the team stealing. They have also stated that they worked together with other schools such as Purdue and Rutgers to steal signs.
You can argue that the kitchen sink is currently getting thrown at Michigan. So far, they have overcome this and have sent a message to the rest of the NCAA that they are not going to get rid of the Wolverines that easily. If they go on to win the national championship, it will certainly be one to remember.
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