Jim Harbaugh on three-game suspension: 'It's more like a baseball bat to the kneecaps'

Jim Harbaugh didn’t mince words on his latest comments regarding his three-game suspension, self-imposed by Michigan.

Harbaugh won’t return until Michigan’s Big Ten opener against Rutgers in Game No. 4. For now, he can only coach during the week and not on game day.

He fired back at anyone who thought it was a light punishment for alleged infractions.

“I’ve heard people comment it’s a slap on the wrist, it’s more like a baseball bat to the kneecap,” Harbaugh said. “Or to the shoulder … I’ve never missed three games, unless it was for a broken arm or dislocated shoulder.”

Harbaugh also said he doesn’t know exactly what he’ll do on game days since he can’t be there for the first three in 2023.

“There’s a chance my son Jack’s team’s gonna be playing at the same time,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know if I’ll be, if he’s playing I’ll go watch that game. I don’t know if I’ll watch it on TV or won’t be able to watch it. Again can’t predict what it’s going to be at the time. I mean, this is uncharted waters for me. As a college player, I broke my arm, missed six games, I think it was, as a pro player. 

“I don’t think I ever missed three in a row. And I had all kinds of injuries, ribs, broken fingers, things like that. Concussions never kept me out of a game and an MCL that put a brace on and played. Had a shoulder separation and I think that might have been two games, might have been three, was at the end of the season so would have been would have been more though.” 

Athletic director Warde Manuel released a statement regarding Harbaugh’s suspension to start the year.

“While the ongoing NCAA matter continues through the NCAA process, today’s announcement is our way of addressing mistakes that our department has agreed to in an attempt to further that process,” Manuel said.

“We will continue to support coach Harbaugh, his staff, and our outstanding student-athletes. Per the NCAA’s guidelines, we cannot comment further until the matter is resolved.”

Harbaugh goes into the 2023 season with a 74-25 record at Michigan since 2015 and a 132-52 record overall with the Wolverines, Stanford and San Diego. He’s led Michigan to back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances.

Michigan opens up, without Harbaugh, Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor against East Carolina.