Michigan Legend Desmond Howard Weighs In On Potential Jim Harbaugh Suspension
News came out on Tuesday that Michigan, Jim Harbaugh, and the NCAA are working to compromise on a four-game suspension for the Wolverines' head coach.
Former Michigan wide receiver and legend, Desmond Howard, went onto the ESPN show 'Get Up' on Thursday to discuss the impending suspension.
The former Heisman winner said that someone within the NCAA got their feelings hurt when Harbaugh wasn't as 'forthcoming' as they wanted. The initial allegations were all Level II, but it's now turned into a Level I since the NCAA said Harbaugh was 'lying' and 'untruthful'.
“I think that this is a situation where, as Pete (Thamel) said, it was a level two allegation initially," said Howard. "Someone’s feelings got hurt, their ego got crushed. So they moved it up to a level one,” Howard said. “They tried to punk or bully Harbaugh into participating. He didn’t participate at the level that they expected, that they wanted him to. So now they moved it to a level one and you’re talking about a four-game suspension. Now they have to negotiate that. Because it seems as though the NCAA didn’t like Coach Harbaugh’s answers to their allegations.”
Even if Harbaugh is ultimately suspended for four games this season, Howard doesn't see it hurting Michigan. Even if he can't coach on gameday, Harbaugh could still coach during practices leading up to game day.
“I don’t think so," stated Howard. "Pete Thamel reported that, because he can’t coach in the games, he still can prepare his teams, coach them every day of the week leading up to the games. So he’s not coaching on Saturday,” said Howard. “Their schedule is pretty light in the first four games. So I really don’t think it’ll have that type of effect on the team, on the schedule, or the season.”
Even Harbaugh's nemesis, Paul Finebaum, agreed this suspension is absurd. We're talking about cheeseburgers, after all.
