You have to be a certain age to remember the Abbott and Costello skit of “Who’s on first?” Sure, I know it applied to baseball and first base.
But for me, it works appropriately enough for “Who’s on the sideline?” Particularly for Michigan and its coach Jim Harbaugh when the third-ranked Wolverines face their toughest test of the season this morning (11 a.m. Central Standard time) against ninth-ranked Penn State on big FOX.
Harbaugh already sat out three games to start the season, thanks to a suspension that has nothing to do with this cheating sign- stealing scandal punishment handed down Friday afternoon by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti.
The University of Michigan was quick to respond, saying it’s entitled to a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to determine the full set of facts. The school added they will fight the suspension and attempt to get a court order to allow Harbaugh to continue coaching.
They’re mad and upset. So, will he be on the sideline for the contest matching the Big Ten East rivals today?
Michigan’s very good. Good enough to win without their coach. Nevertheless, it’s a distraction.
The announcement by the Big Ten of the latest suspension came after the Wolverines and their coach were in the air enroute to Happy Valley yesterday.
The defense is first in fewest total yards allowed, passing yards allowed and points scored. As good as those numbers are, the Wolverines’ schedule is 111th of 133 teams. Go figure.
Penn State’s lone loss came against Ohio State 20-12 on Oct. 21. Seeking a signature win, Michigan would certainly fit that bill for the Nittany Lions.
Multiple Big Ten schools have found records of tickets purchased in Connor Stalions name and his sending people to those games to record video of that team’s signals.
Stalions’ position on the Michigan staff was that of a football analyst. And he resigned promptly when the scandal broke in mid-to-late October.
When initially questioned, Harbaugh didn’t act like he knew anything about anything. Sly like a fox that Jim Harbaugh. Today’s game, at least for the Maize and Blue, has Big Ten title and College Football Playoff implications.
And who knows? By the time you read this, the courts may have stepped in with a temporary restraining order and it’s an even-bigger game of 52-card pick-up.
The NCAA investigation probably won’t be concluded until after the season. Like it or not, Michigan has a shot at its third straight Big Ten title and its first national championship since 1997. That’s if they run the table and stay unbeaten.
You know some school officials have been quick to point the finger, saying other teams in the Big Ten steal signs that violate the conference’s sportsmanship policy too.
A chorus of, “What about them,” Reminds me of something my sweet Mama, bless her soul, used to ask me when I wanted to do something stupid, “If I’d jump out of an airplane without a parachute if everybody else did.”
My answer was usually, “I don’t guess I would, probably not,” followed by “no”.
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