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JJ McCarthy rocks 'Free Harbaugh' shirt to Michigan season opener

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•09/02/23
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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy looks on during the team's season opener against Colorado State on Sept. 3, 2022. (Nic Antaya / Getty Images)

As Michigan prepares for its season opener against East Carolina, it will do so without coach Jim Harbaugh, who is beginning a three-game suspension.

The suspension itself hasn’t been without controversy, as Harbaugh and Michigan went back and forth with the NCAA over the length of the punishment before eventually settling on three games.

At least one Michigan player believes Harbaugh’s suspension should end sooner: quarterback JJ McCarthy. Getting off the team bus on Saturday before the East Carolina game, McCarthy sported a custom jersey shirt with the No. 4 and the word “Harbaugh” on it. Right above the Harbaugh paint, a piece of tape with the word “FREE” was attached.

You can check it out below.

Harbaugh himself was not happy with the length of his suspension, using a colorful metaphor to illustrate his displeasure. He 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 his 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.”

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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.

The Wolverines will be looking to build on that this season, continuing their recent success against the in-state rival Buckeyes, as well.

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