Desmond Howard: Big Ten decision to suspend Jim Harbaugh 'seemed really personal'

Those in Ann Arbor truly are starting to get the sense that it’s going to be Michigan vs. Everybody moving forward. Desmond Howard clearly feels that way as well based on his opinion of how Tony Petitti and the Big Ten chose to handle the three-game suspension of Jim Harbaugh.

Howard shared his thoughts on that process and decision during a segment on ‘Get Up’ on Tuesday. He went on to call out the conference for going after Harbaugh and the Wolverines in a manner that was “personal” and was so much so that, in Howard’s opinion, it revealed a bias against Michigan.

“I thought that it was totally unprofessional. I thought that it was outright disrespectful. And it seemed really personal,” said Howard. “To come after one of your flagship programs the way that the Big Ten commissioner did? In the manner in which he did it? It just seemed like it was a totally personal thing where we don’t care what’s going on – we’re going to get Jim Harbaugh and we want to make an example out of Jim Harbaugh.”

Howard didn’t stop there, though. He then viewed the suspension while also considering the separate case by the NCAA. With that in mind too, Howard saw it as the Big Ten jumping the gun in order to get their punishment in since the other investigation would take too long into the future for their liking.

“That was my takeaway,” said Howard. “At the end of the day, the Big Ten? They wanted to use NCAA bylaws about a head coach’s responsibility because they don’t have that – the Big Ten doesn’t. But, at the same time, they want to cast aside the NCAA’s investigation, which is going to take too long for them to be able to act in a manner in which they want to act – which is, by any means necessary, we have to get Jim Harbaugh.”

At this moment, the only approval that Michigan needs to concern itself with is that of a district judge come Friday. Still, it’s obvious that Howard, like many alumni of the maize and blue, are not pleased with how their penalties have played out over the past few days.

Howard explains why Jim Harbaugh being on the field is important

Jim Harbaugh can still coach and prepare during the week amid his suspension but can’t coach on Saturday.

Desmond Howard explained the importance of Harbaugh being on the sidelines, including this weekend against Maryland. Michigan is at its best with their head coach on the sidelines and, as Howard put it, they make their money on Saturdays.

“I think that people need to understand that coaches? They make their money on Saturday,” Howard said on Get Up. “That’s when they’re the most valuable to their team. Not to take away anything that they do throughout the week. Because, when you look at this Michigan team, they’re an incredibly prepared team for every game that they go into. They can go into a game, winning it in various ways. You saw that just last week.” 

Howard’s point is that Michigan has to at least know who’s coaching ahead of time. Regardless if Michigan plays Maryland or Ohio State, Harbaugh makes a huge difference.

“Sherrone Moore did an exceptional job and those guys rallied behind him,” Howard said. “So I think, if there would be an absence, he would be missed. But I still think those guys they are on such a mission. When you look at the and you listen to them? You understand that they understand the mission. It’s gonna be full steam ahead, no matter who’s on the sideline coaching those young Wolverines.”