Last Saturday (11), through a statement released on social media and official websites, the Big Ten Conference announced that it had decided to suspend the participation and activities of the head coach of the University of Michigan, Jim Harbaugh. The decision states that the coach’s absence will last until the end of the year.
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“The Big Ten Conference announced today that the University of Michigan was found to be in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible in-person scouting operation over several years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of the competition,” it said on disclosure.
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The organization continued to explain what happened: “The Big Ten Conference expects that all competitions involving a member institution will be conducted without compromising any fundamental element of sportsmanship. These fundamental elements include competition integrity, civility towards everyone and respect, especially towards opponents and managers”.
Given the coach’s absence during the University of Michigan’s upcoming games, Jim Harbaugh will still be able to help the team in preparatory matches and be present at some of the team’s practices. As one of the main names being investigated by the NCAA, the American had stated that he was cooperating with the investigation and that he considered himself innocent.
“I am not aware of anyone on our team who took or directed this action. I don’t tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rules. Regardless of the program or organization I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules,” Jim Harbaugh previously said in a statement. After the action was announced, the coach did not comment on the matter.