What if the NCAA combines all the cases open against Michigan—burgergate (illegal recruiting), exceeding permissible coaching time by using Zoom, illegal advance scouting (sign stealing) and refusing to cooperate with an NCAA investigation, throwing in Michigan’s unexplained terminations of Connor Stalions and Chris Partridge. Then they call the combined case a Level 1 Loss of Control and bring it before the full Committee on Infractions. Actually, that appears to be exactly the direction the NCAA seems to be headed.
It’s not unreasonable to assume that the COI would punish Michigan with a package of penalties including reduced scholarships, limits on coaching time, reduced recruiting time, reduced recruit visits and a show cause order calling for either the termination or suspension of Jim Harbaugh for multiple years.
Were that to happen, Michigan would have no option except to terminate Harbaugh. That’s exactly the scenario why Harbaugh is demanding immunity protection and why the University is seeking to avoid a Charlie Weiss or Jimbo Fisher situation where they would be obligated to continue to pay Harbaugh for the full term of his contract.
Is this scenario one that’s unlikely to happen? By the NCAA refusing to seek a negotiated settlement on the allegations against Michigan it actually appears that is exactly the direction they seem to be headed.
So answer these questions…
— If you were Jim Harbaugh, would you be seeking the contractual protections of his contract (Immunity)?
— If you were President Ono or a Regent would you endorse entering into a contract with Harbaugh that didn’t protect Michigan from a similar situation which cost Notre Dame and Texas A&M tens of millions of dollars because their contracts with their coaches did not have contractual protections.
Therein lies the stalemate between Michigan and Harbaugh. Unless the parties agree on terms which limit the damages to both parties—maybe a limit on damages of 1-2 years—the contract negotiation may well be at an impasse. This won’t change, even if Harbaugh calls off NFL Job Search ‘24.
It’s not unreasonable to assume that the COI would punish Michigan with a package of penalties including reduced scholarships, limits on coaching time, reduced recruiting time, reduced recruit visits and a show cause order calling for either the termination or suspension of Jim Harbaugh for multiple years.
Were that to happen, Michigan would have no option except to terminate Harbaugh. That’s exactly the scenario why Harbaugh is demanding immunity protection and why the University is seeking to avoid a Charlie Weiss or Jimbo Fisher situation where they would be obligated to continue to pay Harbaugh for the full term of his contract.
Is this scenario one that’s unlikely to happen? By the NCAA refusing to seek a negotiated settlement on the allegations against Michigan it actually appears that is exactly the direction they seem to be headed.
So answer these questions…
— If you were Jim Harbaugh, would you be seeking the contractual protections of his contract (Immunity)?
— If you were President Ono or a Regent would you endorse entering into a contract with Harbaugh that didn’t protect Michigan from a similar situation which cost Notre Dame and Texas A&M tens of millions of dollars because their contracts with their coaches did not have contractual protections.
Therein lies the stalemate between Michigan and Harbaugh. Unless the parties agree on terms which limit the damages to both parties—maybe a limit on damages of 1-2 years—the contract negotiation may well be at an impasse. This won’t change, even if Harbaugh calls off NFL Job Search ‘24.
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