Jim Harbaugh is shelved for three games -- all of them contests in which his second-ranked Michigan squad projects to be heavily favored to win -- and now Harbaugh has divulged offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore also will miss time.
Speaking Monday at his weekly game-week press conference, Michigan's Harbaugh revealed that in addition to his own three-game suspension to open the 2023 season, Moore also has been told to sit for a game.
The Wolverines have been investigated by the NCAA for alleged recruiting misdeeds that focus on the behavior of Harbaugh and other staff members, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harbaugh did not speak at length about the absence of Moore, saying instead that the Wolverines will elevate an offensive analyst to fill Moore's vacant spot. He said Kirk Campbell will call the offensive plays; he has offensive coordinator experience at the FBS level.
However, Michigan's coach fought back against talk he's heard that his school-imposed three-game exile is "a slap on the wrist."
"I’ve heard people comment it’s a slap on the wrist," Harbaugh told reporters. "It’s more like a baseball bat to the kneecaps. Or to the shoulder.
"That’s what I equate everything to: football. I’ve never missed it or missed three games, unless it was for a broken arm or dislocated shoulder."
Harbaugh wasn't done with just that one comment as he addressed a bit more in-depth his impending absence from Michigan's games against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green. Those three teams combined to win 19 games in 2022.
He says he's unsure of his plans for watching the Wolverines without him.
"I don’t know yet. I really don’t know yet," Harbaugh emphasized. "There’s a chance my son Jack’s team is going to be playing at the same time. I don’t know — if he’s playing I’ll go watch that game. But I don’t know.
"I don’t know if I’ll watch on TV. If I won’t be able to watch it. I can’t predict what it’s going to be at the time."
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