Joel Klatt: Big Ten needs to let due process play out in Michigan, Jim Harbaugh sign stealing saga

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt doesn’t want the Big Ten to rush to judgment when it comes to Michigan and Jim Harbaugh.

The rushing to judgment and jumping to conclusions could send a dangerous precedent before all facts are presented. The latest reports suggest Harbaugh could be suspended two more games amid the sign stealing allegations, perhaps even longer.

Klatt did not defend Michigan’s actions, if true, but warned of opening a can of worms that can’t be closed.

“I just want to categorize I have never defended Michigan,” Klatt said on The Herd. “I have defended the process and I’ve been an ardent defender that Tony Petitti and the Big ten should not circumvent the process. And the process being: gather evidence, all of it, deliver the evidence to those accused and then make a judgment afterwards. And if that process is followed, if rules were broken, then people should be punished. 

“And I’m here to say that if rules were broken, they should be punished and it looks like rules were broken. The hard part is, if you rush ahead of the process, and you allow mob mentality to force you into action, if you’re Tony Petitti, you’re setting a very dangerous precedent. Because if you’re not acting on facts, then all you’re going to do is invite that type of mob mentality over and over and over.”

Klatt argued the process playing out regarding Michigan and Harbaugh is smart, but the critics will tell you it is hesitation on a decision.

“I just feel like our culture can, in a lot of ways, confuse patience with apathy,” Klatt said. “And just because there hasn’t been action, doesn’t mean those in charge are apathetic to what happened. It just means that they’re trying to gather evidence and by the way, the new news is exactly why you don’t allow a mob or the angriness of the victims to force you into action. If Tony Petitti would have done something rash last week, and then this news comes out then he’s got to do something rash to those people. 

“So all the sudden you’re putting yourself in a predicament where you’re having to suspend everybody, right? And I don’t think that’s where he wants to be.” 

The news Klatt referred to was Purdue, Ohio State and Rutgers exchanging signals of Michigan prior to the Boilermakers’ Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan in 2022.

Joel Klatt wants Big Ten to let process play out on Michigan

With Petitti, it shouldn’t be a rush to make a decision to appease coaches and ADs from other member schools.

“So he needs to make sure that he’s following the process,” Klatt said. “That he’s got the right backing from the right presidents on the joint committee that they have and enforcement, and quite frankly, the Big Ten shouldn’t want to be involved in quote unquote, governance. That’s the NCAA’s job. 

“And there’s a big reason why we’re in this mess to begin with, right? That reason is that the NCAA has basically abdicated their responsibility to govern the sport in any sort of meaningful manner.” 

The lack of speed at the NCAA is what caused a lot of outrage regarding Michigan’s sign stealing allegations. So what do those people do? Go to the conference to look for a workaround.

“So what happens is when there is a victim of let’s say, sign stealing those people want action now, so what do they do? They go to the one area where they think they can get that action now, which is the conference,” Klatt said. “Even though it’s not really within the conference’s purview in particular within the season. Now, I’m not suggesting that he shouldn’t be punished or other people shouldn’t be punished. All I’m saying is that the process has to run its course. 

“Gather every bit of evidence that is available on all sides, deliver it to those accused, let’s have a little bit of due process here because again, patience is not apathy. And I think we get it confused a lot in our culture.”