Warde Manuel slams those who tried to tear Michigan down, talks national title, Tony Petitti
HOUSTON, Texas — The story of the 2023 Michigan Wolverines football team will forever include rookie Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh for the final three regular-season games (Penn State, Maryland, Ohio State) amid sign-stealing allegations against the program.
The U-M community mobilized in backing Harbaugh and his team, including with a strongly-written statement from athletic director Warde Manuel blasting Big Ten coaches who pressured Petitti to act against Harbaugh. Manuel, speaking after the Wolverines’ 34-13 victory over Washington in the national championship game, said he doesn’t regret it, adding, “I promise you that. Promise.”
However, Manuel did say that he’s been in contact with Petitti and that a working relationship can continue.
“Yeah, I’ve talked to him,” the Michigan administrator said. “My relationship with Tony is fine, and we’ll work through whatever comes in front of us. He’s a good person, and he made the choice and the decision he felt he had to make. I disagreed with it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like the person.”
The Wolverines went 15-0, including beating four top-10 teams after the off-campus scouting accusations were thrown their way, making for a more than legitimate national championship.
“Am I happy? Absolutely,” Manuel said. “Does it say to everybody who wanted to try to tear us down that they didn’t? Yes. And if that’s vindication, then that’s what it is.”
More than anything, Manuel seems happy about what the Michigan football team accomplished — allegations or not.
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“Look at what we did the last three years. Look at what we did this year, even through more scrutiny,” Manuel said. “Jim, the staff and the student athletes — their character, their perseverance, it all speaks for itself today.”
Manuel added that the Wolverines winning their first national championship since 1997 is the height of his tenure.
“Absolutely,” Manuel said. “Listen, this is what you dream of. And I was around the ‘97 team. I was working in athletics, with [former athletic director] Tom Goss at the time. That was really special. Those guys are still special to me. There are a lot of kids, whether they win national championships or not, that are still special to me over my time as an athletic director.
“But this, today, given everything we had to deal with, given what all the people who are out there hating and spewing and wishing this would take us down, it’s the pinnacle today. I can promise you that.”
