Jim Harbaugh doubles down on player revenue sharing during Big Ten teleconference

Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has never been shy from sharing his thoughts on the state of college sports and issues within the NCAA. He used a press conference earlier this season to air grievances and push for players to be involved in revenue sharing with the Big Ten’s new television deal.

As Harbaugh watched Michigan’s 30-24 win over Ohio State and an injury to team captain and elite offensive lineman Zak Zinter, the issue popped back into his head when considering the stakes of the game and player safety.

“The emotions were with Zak and with him with his family,” Harbaugh said during a Big Ten Championship game teleconference on Sunday. “I was hoping for the best, but you start preparing for the worst. He’s just so tough, so strong. He ended up with a broken fibula and tibia. You really feel that.

“The other thought was: Who could be against the players being compensated for what they do? At least even minimum wage. I mean, who could argue against that? Whether there’s injury or not. I mean, the emotional buildup watching it on TV, There wasn’t a commercial that went by, a sporting event that was played all week that you didn’t see those two teams and the buildup and the hype and the talk about players’ legacies and everything that could possibly be rolled into one game on the line.

“And then you see the amount of people that are benefiting financially from those players’ efforts out there. I wonder who could be against that? I ask other coaches to get on board, to use their platform and their voice for the student-athletes, not just football players, all student-athletes, to be sharing in this ever-increasing revenue. That was another thought that I had, and I just don’t know who could be against that.”

Harbaugh was asked by a reporter if he would be willing to give up money or donate to a cause to make that happen. While the Michigan coach is barred from putting his own money into NIL collectives, he did say he would be willing to take less to make sure players are taken care of.

“There’s a lot of people profiting,” Harbaugh said. “Coaches are profiting millions. I’ve had people tell me, ‘Don’t say anything about that. That’ll take away money for the coaches.’ What I’ve been able to do is donate money back to the athletic department in 2021. 

“I would [take less money] for the players to be compensated. I would take less money for the players to have a share. I hope other coaches would use their voices to express the same thing.”

Back in August, Harbaugh opened his East Carolina week press conference with similar comments and support for the student-athletes on the eve of the first year of the Big Ten’s new lucrative TV contract, rumored to pay out schools between $80-$100 million per year.

“What I don’t understand is how the NCAA, television networks, conferences, universities and coaches can continue to pull in millions and in some cases billions of dollars in revenue off the efforts of college student-athletes across the country without providing enough opportunity to share in the ever-increasing revenues,” Harbaugh said.

“I’m aware and understand that when someone speaks out in defense of those without a voice, attempts are made to diminish the individual’s character and credibility. As a former player and current coach, mentoring many of these student-athletes, what I want to do is be a voice for the student-athletes. I want them to be treated with the respect and the dignity that they deserve.”

Harbaugh and Michigan will be back ina action on Saturday night as the team goes for its third-straight Big Ten Championship in a showdown with the Iowa Hawkeyes. It will be Harbaugh’s first game back from a Big Ten-imposed three-game suspension.