'Free Jim Harbaugh' chant breaks out at Michigan hockey game

Michigan fans and supporters continue to rally around head football coach Jim Harbaugh after the Big Ten announced his three-game suspension on Friday. The punishment came from commissioner Tony Petitti under the conference’s sportsmanship policy and is a result of a sign-stealing investigation centered on former analyst Connor Stalions.

At Michigan’s hockey game Friday night, the student section made its thoughts quite clear.

“Free Jim Harbaugh” chants rang out at Yost Ice Arena as the Wolverines took on Minnesota. The game — a 4-3 Golden Gophers victory — took place as Michigan was preparing to take legal action against the Big Ten to try and keep Harbaugh on the sidelines.

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Free Jim Harbaugh@ChildrenOfYost @BarstoolUofM pic.twitter.com/TcOCqRvBDe

— 〽️ichael Salter (@MSalt_1) November 11, 2023

Michigan filed a temporary restraining order against Petitti and the Big Ten, and the case was initially set to be heard by Judge Timothy Connors. However, it wound up moving to Judge Carol Kuhnke, and the hope was a decision would come by kickoff of Saturday’s game between the Wolverines and Penn State.

The Big Ten handed down Harbaugh’s suspension Friday afternoon, and Michigan said it’d take legal action if such a punishment came down. That happened Friday night as the Wolverines were preparing to take on Penn State in a Saturday matchup in Happy Valley. News of Harbaugh’s suspension came down while Michigan was on its flight to State College for the highly anticipated game.

Despite courts being closed for most matters on Friday in Michigan for the observance of Veteran’s Day, there is usually a judge available on holidays to handle emergency matters, though not usually of this exact nature.

In its statement, Michigan warned a legal battle was coming as a result of the suspension.

“Commissioner Petitti’s hasty action today suggests that this is more about reacting to pressure from other Conference members than a desire to apply the rules fairly and impartially,” the statement read. “By taking this action at this hour, the Commissioner is personally inserting himself onto the sidelines and altering the level playing field that he is claiming to preserve.  And, doing so on Veteran’s Day – a court holiday – to try to thwart the University from seeking immediate judicial relief is hardly a profile in impartiality. 

“To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to seek a court order, together with Coach Harbaugh, preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect.”