The Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State’s arch-rival, continue to be in turmoil after new information recently surfaced about their sign theft and recruiting violations.
After ESPN uncovered a draft NOA (Notice of Allegheny) regarding NCAA violations against Michigan related to the theft of game signs, Harbaugh recently told reporters, “I make no apologies. I did not participate in, nor was I aware of, or complicit in the allegations in question.”
Sports media star Colin Cowherd defended Harbaugh on Tuesday on his show “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” while simultaneously criticizing Michigan State in his monologue.
“The first day under Jim Harbaugh’s leadership at Michigan, they were after him,” Cowherd said. “And you know who was really after him? Michigan State and Ohio State. They were the ones that got all excited here when Harbaugh started rolling over them. … He was a target on day one. I know what my eyes told me. Michigan has built a powerhouse based on all of Harbaugh’s career principles – physicality, intensity, making every day of practice count.
“I still don’t know what Ohio State’s offense is. It’s pretty. It’s not physical. I don’t know what Michigan State is either, other than a giant tire fire. But I know what Harbaugh’s teams are, and I know what Jim Harbaugh is.”
Much of Cowherd’s argument revolved around what he believed to be exaggerated violations. That’s fine; maybe some of them were exaggerated. You don’t have to agree with the severity of the violations.
However, when it comes to the State of Michigan’s allegations, Cowherd’s statements are simply false.
First, we don’t even know to what extent, if at all, Michigan State is involved in the allegations. And if the program was upset, it was probably because Michigan’s former employee Connor Stalions was literally dressed up on the Central Michigan sideline during the Spartans’ game against the Chippewas last season. Not because Harbaugh “ran them over.”
It doesn’t seem like Michigan State would get much out of criticizing Harbaugh for its crushing losses to Michigan over the past two seasons, as Michigan State has struggled with off-the-field issues of its own. Not to mention, the Spartans probably had more on-the-field issues than the loss to Harbaugh, as Michigan State has only nine wins over the past two years, an embarrassing total.
Cowherd went on to say that the allegations of sign-stealing and player recruitment were of no concern to anyone other than Michigan State and Ohio State.
“If you think people outside of Columbus and East Lansing really care, mention Pete Carroll’s name in LA,” he said. “Nobody cares. It’s just this: He won games, he changed kids’ lives, he was optimistic, he was great for the city of Los Angeles. Nobody cares about the Reggie Bush nonsense. Nobody cares outside of Columbus and East Lansing.”
Interesting. If there is a possibility that the defending national champions committed rules violations on the way to the title, I’m sure there are many other programs besides Michigan’s rivals that care.
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