Biff Poggi defends Jim Harbaugh in Michigan sign-stealing scandal: 'Stop whining'
Former Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi is speaking out in support of Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines program.
Poggi, who is currently the head coach at Charlotte, took to X to offer support of Harbaugh on Friday.
“I have been quiet on the Michigan situation BUT NO longer. I was closer to Jim Harbaugh over the last three years than anyone except his wife and kids. If Jim knew I would have known. I didn’t know and neither did he. I stake my reputation on it. Stop whining and get a better team,” Biff Poggi posted.
A potential problem for Harbaugh and for Michigan is that under NCAA guidelines, as the leader of the program, Harbaugh is still at fault, whether he knew about Connor Stalions’ elaborate sign-stealing scheme or not.
Poggi was hired as the head coach at Charlotte last November, after spending the previous two seasons as the associate head coach at Michigan. The Wolverines made the College Football Playoff both of those years.
He was also on staff at Michigan as an analyst in 2016.
Biff Poggi and the 49ers are currently 3-6 in his first season running the program. Charlotte is coming off of an overtime win at Tulsa last weekend. The 49ers host Memphis on Saturday.
Jim Harbaugh boards Michigan team bus amid Big Ten suspension speculation
The Big Ten is reportedly set to hand out a punishment to Jim Harbaugh on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s game at Penn State.
However, as of now, Michigan and Harbaugh are continuing on as normal.
Harbaugh is in tow with his team for a road trip to play Penn State. He was spotted boarding team buses outside the football facility as they loaded up and head to the airport on Friday.
It was reported earlier on Friday that Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti and the league could take action as soon as Friday afternoon and punish Harbaugh and Michigan for the alleged impermissible scouting that has resulted in an ongoing NCAA investigation. It appears that as of mid-afternoon, Petitti has not levied any punishment.
Michigan and Penn State are slated to kick off at noon on Saturday in a matchup with massive implications, both for the Big Ten and College Football Playoff race.
And Harbaugh, for his part, seemingly always expected to be traveling with his team to coach this weekend.
Tom Mars, Harbaugh’s attorney, shared with ESPN’s Pete Thamel that he suspected the Michigan head coach would make his way to State College, Pennsylvania, with his team on Friday.
“I’m confident he’s going to be on that plane one way or another,” Mars said.