A potential negotiated resolution in the NCAA infractions case involving the Michigan football program fell through this week after the NCAA asked head coach Jim Harbaugh to say he lied to investigators, say multiple sources at Yahoo Sports.
According to sources, Harbaugh has admitted that his program committed four Level II violations, as originally alleged by the NCAA. He further apologized to the university that they happened. However, he refused to sign any documents or publicly state that he had never lied to law enforcement.
The 59-year-old claimed he had no recollection of events when first speaking to investigators, but was never deliberately dishonest.
The NCAA delivered a draft Notice of Allegations earlier this month citing the four Level II violations. They include meeting with two rookies during a COVID-19 dead period, texting a rookie outside of an authorized time period, having analysts perform field training duties during training and coaches watching players practice via Zoom, sources say.
The NCAA defines Level II violations as resulting in “less than substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage.” He further qualifies them as “systemic violations that do not correspond to a lack of institutional control”.
Punishments are usually minor.
However, the NCAA says that during the investigation, Harbaugh lied to law enforcement personnel about these violations, which in itself is a Level I violation. which turned this into a more serious case.
A Level I violation could result in a six-game suspension and significant recruiting restrictions, according to NCAA statutes. In the past, coaches have been hit with justification penalties that make their job difficult.
In two meetings this week, the NCAA and Harbaugh stood their ground and refused to back down. The NCAA said the coach lied. The coach said he simply overlooked otherwise insignificant actions. A stalemate resulted.
This all happened during a turbulent time for the football program. The Wolverines lost to TCU on New Year’s Eve in the college football playoff semifinals. It capped a 13-1 season that saw Michigan reach the playoffs, win the Big Ten and defeat Ohio State in consecutive years.
Within days, Harbaugh’s name popped up again for various NFL head coaching openings, including the Denver Broncos, with whom he spoke. Then news of the NCAA infractions case broke, and Harbaugh remained coy about returning to his alma mater for a ninth season.
Earlier this week, Harbaugh and the university said he would be back for the 2023 season, but the pending NCAA deal remained. Additionally, co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was suspended Tuesday as police investigate an allegation that someone at Schembechler Hall accessed college email accounts without permission.
As for the NCAA case, at this point the battle lines are drawn.
Harbaugh is not expected to back down and would likely mount a fierce defense against any allegations he deliberately lied. Harbaugh is famous for his stubbornness, both as a player and as an NCAA and NFL head coach.
Additionally, it’s usually difficult to prove someone knowingly lied without detailed contemporary evidence, which sources say the NCAA either lacks or simply doesn’t exist.
The NCAA may rescind its attempt to obtain that admission and resolve the case otherwise, but has made no indication that it will. An NCAA punishment, even a short suspension, for Level II violations without any admission of lies might be acceptable to Harbaugh. Anything that involves admitting dishonesty wouldn’t be, sources said.
Or the NCAA could pursue a full case and issue a Notice of Allegation. A case of extended infractions would take at least a year and potentially even longer, meaning Harbaugh could coach the entire 2023 season, where Wolverines are once again a national title contender.
Michigan would also have a decision to make on whether they should go to the wall backing their coach in a fight with the NCAA. In the past, cooperation was often the path of least resistance for schools, but the NCAA has lost a lot of credibility and power over the past decade.
Public opinion has turned to amateurism in general – and thus the NCAA rules that flow from it – as well as the infractions process that has failed to punish high-profile cases with allegations. much greater recruitment. Initial public support has been heavily on Harbaugh’s side and whether or not that should be a consideration for enforcement staff, the reality is that this is no longer 2003, or even 2018.
So, is the NCAA still going all-in to try to prove Jim Harbaugh lied? Does Michigan stand with its coach and tell the enforcement staff to beat some sand and prove it?
Or can this still be resolved before an epic battle emerges between one of the most powerful, popular and wealthy institutions in college athletics and one of football’s most famous coaches? and a weakened governing body that, even with diminished relevance, might still have power?
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