Jim Harbaugh may not be the coach at Michigan anymore, but he remains attached to the program’s sign-stealing scandal via a draft of the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations, received by the university last week. But Harbaugh did not mince words when asked about the NOA draft following a Chargers practice on Monday.
“Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson,” Harbaugh said at a press conference. “I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I’ve coached. No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So, for me, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
Harbaugh is one of four accused of committing Level I violations by the NCAA, along with former Michigan staffers Chris Partridge, Denard Robinson and alleged ringleader Connor Stalions. The school also faces a Level I violation charge for “pattern of noncompliance.” First-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, who served as offensive coordinator under Harbaugh, could also face sanctions after alleged Level II violations, including a show-cause and one-game suspension.
Moore and Harbaugh would both be considered repeat offenders by the NCAA after they were suspended at various points during the 2023 season for recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period. The NOA draft is just a first step in order to allow Michigan to counter or prepare for its defense. A NOA can change between its initial delivery and formal release to the public.
The allegations against Michigan and its staff surround an alleged sign-stealing scheme in which Stalions bought tickets for more than 30 games and used “illegal technology” to record sidelines and steal signs. The NOA draft also claims evidence that Stalions was in disguise on the sideline during Michigan State’s 2023 Week 1 game against Central Michigan, presumably to steal signs.
There is some precedence for NFL teams enforcing some level of NCAA or collegiate punishment at the next level. In 2011, former Ohio State player Terrelle Pryor was suspended five games in the NFL after the NCAA hit him with a suspension for selling memorabilia. However, it’s unclear whether the NFL would consider enforcing later punishment against a sitting NFL coach.
Harbaugh led Michigan to its first national championship since 1997 in his final season with the program. He was suspended for half the regular season because of the two NCAA investigations, the latter of which came from the Big Ten office for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy regarding the sign-stealing allegations. After the year, he opted to leave for the NFL, becoming the first reigning title coach to leave since Tom Osborne in 1997.
