Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, amidst the greatest on-field success of his time atop the program at his alma mater and awash in the greatest controversy he has yet faced off the field, was introduced Monday with the caveat that Harbaugh was not allowed to answer numerous questions.
But quickly Harbaugh faced a salient question from a reporter who wondered if Harbaugh had any response to Sunday's Wall Street Journal story that indicated Michigan officials had pulled off the table an open offer that would make Harbaugh college football's highest-paid coach.
"I wouldn’t say that’s accurate, no," Harbaugh said. "And the university has a policy, I think they made a statement, have a policy on contracts and publicly talking about it."
It is fairly commonplace practice for universities not to discuss ongoing contract matters until the completion of a deal.
As Harbaugh faced additional questioning, he was pointedly asked if he worried this latest investigation -- into Connor Stalions' allegedly widespread, illegal, multi-state video-taping signal-stealing spy scheme -- would tarnish Harbaugh's own legacy at his alma mater; he also was asked if it was the responsibility of a head coach to know everything that unfolds within his or her program.
"The team is refreshed. I’m refreshed," Harbaugh said, initially giving no indication to the legacy question. "Opportunity to spend time with the families after a pretty good week of practice last week got some things done. We’re in an onward mode.
"To answer your question specifically, it’s a one-track mind that I’m modeling and I see it throughout the program."
And a head coach's duties?
"I think that question probably answers itself," Harbaugh said. "I was forthright with the statement right away. But you’re asking, yeah, I’ll just leave it at that.
"I’ve got a one-track mind. I’m not going to be speculating. I’m going to let others speculate on the various speculations out there. It would be unfair to the team."
Jim Harbaugh says reports about his contract being "rescinded" are not accurate. He also took several questions about the ongoing NCAA investigaton.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/HxljIEls7B
— The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) October 30, 2023
In his initial statement after news of the investigation broke, Harbaugh promised transparency and cooperation; he also professed zero knowledge of Stalions's alleged machinations.
“I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals," Harbaugh's initial statement read, "nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action. I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rules.”
However, as reporting has been ongoing, new alleged details have emerged where a dozen other Big Ten schools have confirmed that Stalions sought to or did buy tickets to their games.
Additional sources directly told FootballScoop that Stalions attempted to scout SEC programs Georgia and Tennessee last year as well.
Moreover, myriad photographs and videos have emerged that have showcased Stalions not only on the Michigan Wolverines' football sidelines but routinely in direct proximity to assistant coaches, including but not limited to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore.
Additionally, Michigan has now become embroiled into investigations involving its football program on at least three fronts: This ongoing probe in Stalions's alleged illegal activities, the NCAA's ongoing probe in Harbaugh's alleged recruiting misdeeds during the COVID-19 pandemic and specifically during NCAA-mandated recruiting dead periods; and the ongoing, hush-hush investigation into fired Michigan offensive coordinator Matt Weiss.