Big Ten Media Days shows sense of humor serving cheeseburgers on Michigan day

It seems like Jim Harbaugh and cheeseburgers still exist at Big Ten Media Days. Well, Harbaugh is off in LA coaching the Chargers, but cheeseburgers are still in Indianapolis!

Tom Orr of BuckeyeHuddle.com reported the lunch for media personnel changed each day at Big Ten Media Days. On Thursday, with Michigan set to appear, cheeseburgers were on the lunch menu.

Apparently everyone at the conference is pretty clever.

“They have had different lunches each day at Big Ten Media Days,” Orr wrote on Twitter. “Today, on the day that Michigan is here, they are serving cheeseburgers. Someone at the Big Ten has a great sense of humor.”

In case you need a reminder of cheeseburger-gate, Harbaugh was at the center of an NCAA investigation regarding recruiting violations. And yes, this was before the alleged sign stealing saga last year.

In July, just before Big Ten Media Days in 2023, the NCAA was considering a four-game suspension for Harbaugh, stemming from alleged recruiting violations that eventually resulted in a self-imposed three-game suspension to start last season. 

A cheeseburger was reportedly at the center of those allegations, although the NCAA emphatically said that was not the case.

Many MIchigan fans believe the investigation was based around Harbaugh and assistants buying recruits a cheeseburger in Ann Arbor. No, seriously.

A statement came from Derrick Crawford, the NCAA Vice President of Hearing Operations, last year. He said the issues with Harbaugh stemmed from recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period.

“The Michigan infractions case is related to impermissible on and off-campus recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period and impermissible coaching activities — not a cheeseburger,” Crawford said last August.

“It is not uncommon for the COI to seek clarification on key facts prior to accepting. The COI may also reject an NR if it determines that the agreement is not in the best interests of the Association or the penalties are not reasonable. If the involved parties cannot resolve a case through the negotiated resolution process, it may proceed to be a hearing, but the committee believes cooperation is the best avenue to quickly resolve issues.”

Being the football guy he is, Harbaugh is surely trying to find a great cheeseburger joint out on the west coast. In-N-Out aside, there must be other options.

Now the real question is will new head coach Sherrone Moore head over to the hospitality area and grab himself some ground beef with provolone cheese.

Boy, a cheeseburger sounds good right now doesn’t it?