Pete Thamel: Attorney Tom Mars 'confident' Jim Harbaugh will be on Michigan flight to Penn State
Those in Ann Arbor, University Park, and around the Big Ten are waiting to see when or if a punishment will come the way of Jim Harbaugh. However, with only a few hours left between now and the Wolverine’s flight to Penn State, those connected the Michigan’s head coach anticipate his departure later today.
Tom Mars, Harbaugh’s attorney, shared this information with Pete Thamel at ESPN. Per Thamel’s subsequent tweet, Mars said the expectation is for Harbaugh to fly with the Wolverines today “one way or another”.
Everyone is still awaiting news regarding a potential punishment for Harbaugh from the Big Ten. All kinds of options are on the table for Tony Petitti, many of which could impact Harbaugh’s availability for this weekend’s matchup with the Nittany Lions.
Still, it sounds like, from Harbaugh’s side of the aisle, he will at least be on a plane come takeoff for Michigan on Friday. The question now is whether something comes down between now and then or even after the flight and before kickoff inside Beaver Stadium.
Report: Timetable set for Big Ten response to Michigan, Jim Harbaugh
The Big Ten is reportedly preparing a notice of disciplinary action against Michigan and Jim Harbaugh ahead of the team’s trip to Penn State on Friday.
According to an updated timeline from Heather Dinich, the notice could come out before or even while the team is en route to State College.
“Sources indicate that the Big Ten will give Michigan a response early this afternoon,” Dinich said on Get Up. “Michigan leaves at 1 p.m., they’ll fly mid-afternoon…Last night, Michigan sources indicated to me and my colleague that they had not had any communication with the Big Ten and there still has not been evidence presented to Michigan that Jim Harbaugh knew, orchestrated any of this, or lied.”
“The Big Ten, we’ve learned has considered the gamut of punishments,” she continued. “Now, we’re hearing this morning, it could be a three-game suspension, which would be significant and it could start this weekend.”
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Among the “gamut” of possible punishments for Michigan, Dinich described a possible indefinite suspension, a two-year suspension, or even a simple public reprimand. Another form of punishment could be financial, including fines of up to $1 million or more.
Mike Greenberg then clarified with Dinich that a suspension for Harbaugh could mean he has to miss the Wolverines’ next three games.
“It’s certainly possible,” Dinich said. “My understanding is that the Big Ten isn’t concerned about Michigan’s travel plans. They’ll release news when they deem fit and when they are ready.”