ESPN reports latest on Jim Harbaugh, Michigan suspension injunction filing vs. Big Ten
ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg provided an update on where things stand with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his suspension that was handed out by the Big Ten on SportsCenter Saturday morning.
According to Rittenberg, the judge has yet to deliver a ruling after attorneys for Harbaugh and Michigan filed suit against the Big Ten and commissioner Tony Petitti Friday night.
“We’re still waiting on Judge Carol Kuhnke from the Washtenaw County Court to rule on Michigan’s request for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten’s ruling,” Rittenberg said Saturday morning from inside Beaver Stadium. “Michigan is arguing that the Big Ten breached its contract and its use of its sportsmanship policy to suspend coach Jim Harbaugh and also caused irreparable harm to both Harbaugh’s reputation, and this team, pointing out its place in the College Football Playoff race and so forth.”
UPDATE: Jim Harbaugh will not coach today vs. Penn State, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
“There will not be a ruling today in Jim Harbaugh’s request for a temporary restraining order, according to a person familiar with the court filings,” Thamel wrote on Twitter. “This means Jim Harbaugh will not coach at Penn State today.”
Thamel also joined College GameDay to provide the full scope of the situation.
“We were just alerted through the email filing systems in the judicial part of this in Ann Arbor, Jim Harbaugh will not get a hearing for a temporary restraining order today,” Thamel said. “November 17th, 9am, ext Friday, Jim Harbaugh will get his hearing.
“He’ll get his day in court whether or not he can get an injunction to return to the sideline on the Big Ten’s rulings. So this is fresh just in the last few minutes. The various lawyers have been notified: Jim Harbaugh will not get his hearing for a TRO today.”
Without a temporary restraining order in time, Harbaugh will be ineligible to coach Saturday. There was hope from Michigan it would be in time so he’d be on the sidelines.
Michigan released a statement following the decision of the court to not make a ruling on the temporary restraining order.
“We look forward to presenting our case next week where we intend to demonstrate that the Big Ten has not acted legally or fairly,” Michigan’s statement read, shared to X (formerly known as Twitter) by ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
The Big Ten determined that Michigan violated the conference’s sportsmanship policy, which led to Jim Harbaugh being suspended.
If the ruling is not overturned, Harbaugh will miss the final three games of the regular season. The suspension begins Saturday morning against Penn State and also includes matchups against Maryland and Ohio State.
The undefeated Wolverines are currently ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff poll entering Saturday’s showdown with No. 10 Penn State. The game is scheduled to kickoff at Noon.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti explained in a letter to Michigan why he was suspending Harbaugh.
“As described below, the existence of the impermissible [sign-stealing] scheme is proven. While other investigatory bodies continue to develop additional evidence of the scope, extent and individual knowledge of the scheme that may advise additional or enhanced penalties in the future, taking immediate action is appropriate and necessary under the Conference’s Sportsmanship Policy,” Petitti said in part.