Jim Harbaugh, the head football coach at the University of Michigan, was suspended for the last three games of the regular season, which sparked a scandal in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The university’s team is under investigation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for allegedly engaging in sign-stealing, which is the practice of paying individuals, such as staff members, to attend games against current or former opponents with the intention of stealing the signs that the opponents’ coaches use to interact with their players on the field. Unlike in professional football, college players cannot use communication devices inside their helmets to hear from coaches, thus instead, coaches must communicate with players through signs. The NCAA outlawed sign-stealing in 1994 because it was determined to beas an unjust benefit.
The Big 10 Conference declared a breach of its sportsmanship code on Friday, November 10, 2023. The statement stated, “This disciplinary action shall not preclude the University or its football team from having its Head Football Coach attend practices or other football team activities other than the game activities to which it applies. As a penalty imposed on the institution, the University football team must compete without its Head Football Coach for the games remaining in the 2023 regular-season, effective immediately.” Harbaugh will still be able to work with the players during the week even though he won’t be able to attend games.
