Social media beat the Big Ten to telling Jim Harbaugh of his three-game suspension.
The Michigan football coach learned of his punishment mid-flight to Penn State in a less-than-official way.
“Just someone showing me their phone,” Harbaugh said in a press conference held Monday. “Via social media, like yeah, social media.”
Harbaugh’s suspension came Friday, 23 days after the NCAA first notified conference and Michigan officials that it had received a credible tip the Wolverines had been involved in a sign-stealing scheme, in which analyst Connor Stalions and others scouted future opponents off campus.
Harbaugh and the school filed an injunction against the ban, which prevents the coach from being on the sidelines during games for the rest of the regular season.
The Michigan coach was joined in his uncovering of the news by athletic director Warde Manuel, who didn’t exactly take it well.
“Warde was pretty upset, he was on the plane, too,” Harbaugh said. “He was pretty upset that he heard it through social media and not through the Big Ten office.”
The Big Ten’s punitive measures did not keep the second-ranked Wolverines from making a statement in a 24-15 win over No. 9 Penn State on Saturday.
The suspension of Harbaugh has been widely criticized as there was no direct evidence that the head coach had any knowledge of Stalions and others’ stealing signs.
Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore served as head coach for the game.
Despite the noise, Harbaugh knows that the support he feels goes beyond his staff and team.
“Tremendous support. Warde has been 10 toes down, he’s standing right here with us,” Harbaugh said during the press conference. “His support, President [Santa] Ono’s support, the board of regents. Our team was already galvanized, they’re connected, they’re together, but boy, I’m feeling a galvanized Michigan, alumni network … and the fan base which goes coast-to-coast and worldwide, really being a galvanized thing. That’s a tremendous thing. That’s a body of metal thing. That’s going to be tough to beat.”