Jim Harbaugh takes subtle shot at NCAA when asked about show-cause penalty

Jim Harbaugh‘s departure from Michigan and return to the NFL to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach has not come without his past with the Wolverines following him. Earlier this week, the NCAA issued a four-year show-cause order and a one-season suspension to Harbaugh for recruiting violations and coaching activities by non-coaching staff members that occurred during his tenure in Ann Arbor.

Additionally, the NCAA also prepared to issue Michigan with a Notice of Allegations regarding their sign-stealing scandal and investigation that hit the team last season. Harbaugh unapologetically responded to the NCAA punishment on Monday, claiming that he did not did not participate and was unaware of the allegations surrounding sign stealing.

And on Thursday, he also gave a response to the four-year show-cause order that would require any college program wanting to hire him over the next four years to suspend him for his first full season.

“I’m stopping the engagement there with commenting,” Harbaugh said during a press conference. “So my only continued hope is that one day college athletics will be about what’s best for the young men and the young women who participate in them. That’s really all I’ve got to say about it.”

Between Michigan’s self imposed suspensions following the violating of recruiting regulations to the Big Ten’s suspensions as a part of their sign-stealing investigation, Harbaugh missed six games for the Wolverines’ last season en route to a national championship win. With many forecasting his exit from college football well before becoming the Chargers’ head coach due to his friction with the NCAA.

Harbaugh’s recent history off the field and approach to his run ins with the NCAA have led to polarized opinions surrounding the eccentric head coach. With college football analyst Paul Finebaum particularly reacting to his most recent comments on ESPN’s Get Up on Friday morning.

“Yeah Greeny, I don’t think what he said last night is going to rank with the ‘Gettysburg Address’ and the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech among the the two or three greatest pieces of oratory in American history,” Finebaum told host Mike Greenberg. “And the reason was that I don’t think Jim could stop laughing.

“I mean as soon as he heard the question, he’s like the little kid that said, ‘Hey, you finally figured it out that I stole the car and wrecked it.’ I mean I can’t get mad at him, even though I know what he did,” Finebaum added. “He was part of a scandal that he knew about and he acted like he didn’t. But he got away with it and isn’t that what America is all about? It’s not showing leadership, it’s getting away with the crime, and he got away with it, and he’s laughing all the way to the nearest bank out in LA.”

Barring an unexpected return to college football, Harbaugh facing any further punishment in the near future does not seem very likely. But it will surely be fascinating to see if Michigan’s program and staffers face any penalties in the future as their sign-stealing investigation continues to ensue.