Michigan releases statement on Big Ten's decision to suspend Jim Harbaugh

Michigan has released a statement after head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten on Friday. The University has announced that it strongly disagrees with the suspension and is seeking a court order to prevent the disciplinary action from taking effect.

“Commissioner Petitti’s hasty action today suggests that this is more about reacting to pressure from other Conference members than a desire to apply the rules fairly and impartially… To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to seek a court order, together with Coach Harbaugh, preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect,” the statement reads in part.

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Michigan is set to play at Penn State on Saturday at Noon in what is one of the biggest games of the college football weekend. As things stand, Jim Harbaugh will not be on the sideline.

Harbaugh and the Michigan team flew to Penn State on Friday afternoon. The suspension from the Big Ten was announced as the team was in the air on the way to State College.

Here is the full statement from Michigan:

“Like all members of the Big Ten Conference, we are entitled to a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to determine the full set of facts before a judgment is rendered. Today’s action by Commissioner Tony Petitti disregards the Conference’s own handbook, violates basic tenets of due process, and sets an untenable precedent of assessing penalties before an investigation has been completed. We are dismayed at the Commissioner’s rush to judgment when there is an ongoing NCAA investigation – one in which we are fully cooperating.

Commissioner Petitti’s hasty action today suggests that this is more about reacting to pressure from other Conference members than a desire to apply the rules fairly and impartially. By taking this action at this hour, the Commissioner is personally inserting himself onto the sidelines and altering the level playing field that he is claiming to preserve.  And, doing so on Veteran’s Day – a court holiday – to try to thwart the University from seeking immediate judicial relief is hardly a profile in impartiality. To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to seek a court order, together with Coach Harbaugh, preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect.”

Michigan is currently ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff poll and will look to keep its unbeaten record alive on Saturday against No. 10 Penn State.