ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh faced a number of questions at his weekly news conference Monday regarding his contract status and the latest NCAA investigation into alleged sign-stealing violations within his program. While he mostly referred to his statement from Oct. 19, saying he can’t comment on the NCAA matter, the process, he said, must play out.
His first response was to a question about the accuracy of a Wall Street Journal report on Sunday night that indicated a new contract that would make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten was “rescinded”.
“I wouldn’t say that’s accurate, no,” Harbaugh said.
The Detroit News reported Sunday night that a source indicated an offer was temporarily withdrawn as the program deals with this latest investigation.
The Michigan football program is being investigated for illegal scouting and allegedly recording the sidelines of future opponents to gain an edge in stealing play-call signals. It is legal to steal signals within a game.
Connor Stalions, listed as an analytics assistant in recruiting, allegedly was behind the sign-stealing scheme and was suspended with pay on Oct. 20 by Michigan. Yahoo Sports broke the story on Oct. 19 and the Big Ten that day confirmed the NCAA had opened an investigation.
Harbaugh in his statement said that he and his staff will fully cooperate with the investigation.
“I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment,” Harbaugh said in the Oct. 19 statement. “I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.”
On Monday, he was asked if he’s had to bite his tongue to avoid responding while headlines have appeared across the country blasting Michigan for the sign-stealing allegations.
“You have to let it play out. Cooperate with the investigation and watch how it plays out,” Harbaugh said. “The speculation part, there’s too much of a one-track mind on coaching the team to be able to engage in every piece of speculation that seems to be any and everywhere.”
This latest investigation comes at a time when Michigan football is undefeated and ranked No. 2 nationally with four regular-season games remaining. The first College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday night. In response to a question about how this may affect his legacy, Harbaugh referenced his one-track mind after sharing how he, his staff and his team are feeling fresh coming off not having a game last Saturday.
The Wolverines face Purdue at Michigan Stadium on Saturday then have back-to-back road games against Penn State and Maryland and then the regular-season finale against Ohio State.
“We’re in onward mode,” Harbaugh said. “To answer your question specifically, it’s a one-track mind that I’m modeling and I see it throughout the program.”
It is unclear how quickly the NCAA will move, but the organization has been notoriously slow to conduct investigations. The Detroit News reported last Wednesday that NCAA investigators requested and received work phones and tablets from Michigan football coaches. Harbaugh made clear he has not been made aware of an investigation timetable.
There also is an unresolved ongoing NCAA investigation. The NCAA delivered a draft of a Notice of Allegations to the school in early January but the school has not yet received a Notice of Allegations. It could go to a hearing next spring. Harbaugh faces a Level I allegation, the NCAA’s most severe, for lying to and being uncooperative with NCAA investigators. He served a school-imposed three-game suspension earlier this year.
