The Wolverines paid tribute to suspended coach Jim Harbaugh when No. 2 Michigan broke the huddle for a play to begin its second offensive drive of the 2023 season on Saturday against East Carolina. In a reference to Harbaugh, who wore No. 4 during his playing career at Michigan, the 11 offensive players stood in a line and put up four fingers before sprinting to their spots.
The Wolverines started the first of three games sans Harbaugh, who is scheduled to return to the sidelines for Michigan’s Big Ten opening against Rutgers on September 23. The drive ended with Michigan’s first score of the game and sent a message.
JJ McCarthy, the quarterback for Michigan, was seen getting off the team bus early on Saturday morning while wearing a Harbaugh uniform with the word “free” taped over Harbaugh’s name.
It is a Level I infraction for Harbaugh to be accused of giving the NCAA incorrect or misleading information. Initial allegations of Level II infractions by Michigan’s staff during the NCAA-mandated COVID-19 recruiting dead period of 2021 prompted the NCAA to open an investigation. Among them: Harbaugh called two prospects during the off-season and had too many coaches in attendance at Michigan workouts.
Before a deal with the NCAA fell through, the ninth-year coach had been anticipating a suspension of four games. Later, Michigan decided to impose a three-game ban on themselves.
In place of Harbaugh, the Wolverines’ head coaching duties are being divided among four different assistants, with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter managing the ECU game.
