Desmond Howard reveals how Jim Harbaugh's four-game suspension will impact Michigan in 2023

Jim Harbaugh’s impending suspension for the first four games of Michigan’s season was major news coming out of Ann Arbor. Even so, Desmond Howard sees it as a joke of a ruling by the NCAA.

Howard spoke with Mike Greenberg on ‘Get Up’ this morning about Harbaugh’s season-opening suspension. He said that it is obvious that someone got their feelings hurt by Harbaugh’s response within the investigation and chose to respond in a way with a punishment that’s over the top.

“I think that this is a situation where, as Pete (Thamel) said, it was a level two allegation initially. Someone’s feelings got hurt, their ego got crushed. So they moved it up to a level one,” Howard said. “They tried to punk or bully Harbaugh into participating. He didn’t participate at the level that they expected, that they wanted him to. So now they moved it to a level one and you’re talking about a four-game suspension. Now they have to negotiate that. Because it seems as though the NCAA didn’t like Coach Harbaugh’s answers to their allegations.”

Even so, Howard agrees with many that this won’t have too much of an impact on Michigan’s season, especially considering their opposition over the first four games. Add in reports that Harbaugh will be able to work with his team throughout the week and Howard thinks the Wolverines will be just fine.

“I don’t think so. Pete Thamel reported that, because he can’t coach in the games, he still can prepare his teams, coach them every day of the week leading up to the games. So he’s not coaching on Saturday,” said Howard. “Their schedule is pretty light in the first four games. So I really don’t think it’ll have that type of effect on the team, on the schedule, or the season.”

Nothing is certain yet with Harbaugh as far as missing time in the season. It could also eventually get worse too with two assistants, Sherrone Moore and Grant Newsome, facing suspensions as well.

Still, this is just a hurdle of adversity for Michigan to overcome early. Considering all things, Howard has every reason to believe that they will and will be just fine upon what will likely be Harbaugh’s return.

Howard agrees with Paul Finebaum, calls Harbaugh suspension ‘a clown show’

As part of Howard’s take on ‘Get Up’ this morning, he mentioned how he watched Paul Finebaum comment on the matter in the days before. As someone who isn’t often on Harbaugh’s side, Howard found himself agreeing with Finebaum based on how ridiculous he found the NCAA’s decision to be.

“It’s damn near impossible to get Paul Finebaum to compliment Jim Harbaugh on anything. But even Paul Finebaum said this is a clown show by the NCAA,” Howard said. “This is Paul saying, this is his words. I agree with Paul.”