Jim Harbaugh maintains innocence amidst NCAA noise: ‘I do not apologize’

Jim Harbaugh has nothing to apologize for. The NCAA has a lot to apologize for.

The NCAA is doing what they do best yet again, leaking confidential information to the press. This time around, ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Murphy obtained a draft of the NCAA’s notice of allegations against Michigan pertaining to alleged sign-stealing by former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions.

The draft claims current Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore violated NCAA rules and deleted a text thread between him and Stalions. However, Moore “subsequently produced” the texts to the NCAA enforcement staff.

The draft of allegations also mentioned former head coach Jim Harbaugh, but per ESPN, the NCAA didn’t provide evidence that Harbaugh was involved in Stalions’ operation or that he knew it was going on. Harbaugh, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, made a statement on Monday afternoon about the NCAA investigation.

Harbaugh’s statement

Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson. I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams I have coached. No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So for me, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 regular season (at Penn State, at Maryland, vs. Ohio State) despite admitting they did not know of any wrongdoing from Harbaugh.

While Harbaugh’s no longer the coach for Michigan, he’ll continue to defend the honor of the football program and the legacy of a team that won the National Championship. Jim Harbaugh has nothing to apologize for. The NCAA has a lot to apologize for.