Desmond Howard calls out Pete Thamel after reporting from inside Michigan Stadium

ESPN insider Pete Thamel reports on the latest happenings in the college football world every Saturday on ESPN College GameDay. During Saturday’s show ahead of the Michigan–Ohio State game, Thamel provided updates from inside Michigan Stadium, instead of out in the crowd.

ESPN analyst Desmond Howard wasn’t a fan of his coworker speaking from inside the stadium, away from fans.

“What are we, Week 13 now? Something like that. So we’ve been doing this 12, 13 weeks. Pete’s always been in the crowd doing his reports. I’m like, ‘What the hell is Pete in the stadium for?’” Howard said on ESPN College GameDay. “That kind of just threw me off, like put your big boy pants on and do it in the crowd like you normally do it. I was surprised by that. I thought he would be out here.”

College GameDay host Rece Davis took up for Thamel and shared that Thamel had received some threats ahead of GameDay.

Thamel has been providing updates on the Michigan sign-stealing scandal for weeks now, and some Michigan fans are unhappy with his reporting.

“Come on, man. He’s got, from the lunatic fringe, some threats, and we’re just taking care of him. That’s all,” Davis explained.

Still, Howard feels like Thamel should have been out and about with the crowd.

“We’ve got security. He’ll be OK. These guys are nice out here. They’re nice fans. They’re not going to do anything,” Howard said. “He’ll be OK. Put your big boy pants on.”

Pete Thamel weighs Jim Harbaugh’s future based on outcome of Michigan-Ohio State

One item Pete Thamel discussed on ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning was Jim Harbaugh‘s future at Michigan.

A loss would be detrimental to either coach in this game: Harbaugh or Ohio State’s Ryan Day. But with Harbaugh suspended, a loss could expedite the process for his exit. Or, a win could secure his future with the school.

At least, Thamel expects that to be a possibility.

“I think the results of today’s game loom as a significant pivot point for Jim Harbaugh’s future at Michigan,” Thamel said on College GameDay. “A loss could expedite key decisions from both sides. A win obviously returns Jim Harbaugh to the sidelines here at Michigan. They play in the Big Ten title game, and then they go on to be a favorite, if they beat Iowa, in the College Football Playoff. It would also inherently temper NFL interest in Harbaugh until the season’s done.

“A loss could put things in fast forward, it could open the door to any NFL conversations Harbaugh could have. It would also put Michigan’s decision makers in the crosshairs. They’d need to determine in the upcoming weeks whether they want Harbaugh to return to the sideline despite a suspension to start the 2024 season looming as an inevitability.”

Should Harbaugh be let go or leave, Michigan has to determine if the school can find a better coach. The answer is unknown, but it seems unlikely right now.

“There have been four controversial staff departures for Harbaugh in the last year and there’s also the ambiguity from two ongoing NCAA investigations,” Thamel said. “The other thing Michigan officials would have to weigh is: could they find a better coach? Michigan’s gone 36-3 in the past three seasons.”