Michigan Football: Rival fans meltdown over latest Jim Harbaugh news

Chris Breiler | Aug 9, 2024

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with the CFP Championship trophy after beating the Washington Huskies in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It's been nearly seven months since Jim Harbaugh accepted the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he's still very much a hot topic in the world of college football.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced that it had penalized Harbaugh with a four-year show-cause penalty and a one-year suspension over recruiting violations relating to the COVID-19 dead period in 2021. The punishment was little more than a symbolic gesture, as there's no indication that Harbaugh ever intends to return to coaching at the collegiate level again. But the NCAA is clearly desperate to make an example of Harbaugh one way or another, even if it means making a fool of itself in the process.

Just two days after the NCAA made its announcement, U-M athletic director Warde Manuel announced that the Wolverines would be welcoming Harbaugh back to the Big House as an honorary captain on Aug. 31 for the season opener. Not surprisingly, the announcement caused quite a stir on social media. Michigan fans were thrilled to hear that Harbaugh would be making his way back to Ann Arbor as an honorary captain, particularly since most believe he's been unfairly targeted by the NCAA. Rival fans obviously feel differently.

Here are just some of the social media reactions to news of Harbaugh being Michigan's honorary captain to open the season:

🐐#GoBlue https://t.co/KU3rd8EQNn pic.twitter.com/Clcm8aGJ5n

— The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) August 9, 2024

Mike Valenti with nothing but facts about Jim Harbaugh being named an Honorary Captain first week of the year pic.twitter.com/3bHqeK5xYQ

— THE Bunch of Nuts Podcast (@bunch_nuts) August 9, 2024

I couldn’t love this move more. #Michigan https://t.co/JrmBRRi2uT

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) August 9, 2024

Captain Coach!!!!! Let’s goooooooo!!!! https://t.co/gdvEu4mUoy

— Ryan Ermanni (@RyanEFox2) August 9, 2024

Harbaugh is a National Treasure 😂 https://t.co/3lINGoG5qe

— BongoBlue2 (@Blue2Bongo) August 9, 2024

I honestly respect it. https://t.co/iTaSKzItwk

— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) August 9, 2024

Dawg lol they laughing at the ncaa https://t.co/gfnOVEFlNw

— xman (@XisBack305) August 9, 2024

Michigan with a good ole 🖕 to the NCAA https://t.co/lRWOZGH11z

— Alex Gleitman (@alexgleitman) August 9, 2024

It’s one thing to cheat discreetly, it’s another to cheat and then rub it in everyone’s faces. https://t.co/wKCOkuwjos

— BeatinTheBookie.com®️ (@BeatinTheBookie) August 9, 2024

Hilarious. https://t.co/ZzwXUqJDrc

— Riley Gates (@Riley_Gates) August 9, 2024

Oh my god MAKE IT STOP https://t.co/fPcQGqDI6A

— MilkManMSU (@MilkManMSU) August 9, 2024

Douchebag behavior. https://t.co/Rj8DxQ3zUD

— Buckeye Frank (Buckeye Productions) (@FrankD_419) August 9, 2024

This can’t be real https://t.co/4YJiGVIzpA

— Carson (@cmacrae13) August 9, 2024

A big middle finger to the NCAA and the heading scandal that has engulfed the program. @NCAA do your thing https://t.co/L3AQKjXCs5

— Buckeye G (@SCBuckeye_G) August 10, 2024

They can’t help themselves. You wouldn’t believe this as satire if it wasn’t happening in real time. https://t.co/Rl5uuAAql3

— Will (@SpartanWilliam) August 9, 2024

Just this week, the NCAA suspended Jim Harbaugh for a year. He served two different suspensions LAST SEASON.

Michigan couldn’t even keep him away for ONE GAME. What a disgraceful athletic department. https://t.co/Jbz6PSaVQc

— William Qualkinbush (@QualkTalk) August 9, 2024

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