Sports
Big Ten Slaps 'Bitter' Jim Harbaugh Over Rant Against Officiating
University of Michigan fined $10,000 after Jim Harbaugh said he is "bitterly disappointed" in officiating in 30-27 loss to rival Ohio State.
Updated. University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has been reprimanded for violating the Big Ten's sportsmanship policy in Saturday's loss to archrival Ohio State University, and the school has been fined $10,000, according to reports.
Harbaugh publicly criticized the officiating in U-M's 30-27 loss in double overtime and said the officials cost the Wolverines a spot in the Big Ten title game.
He said he was "bitterly disappointed" in the officiating, which he called "outrageous."
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"Two penalties called all day (on Ohio State)," Harbaugh said. "Multiple holding penalties let go, multiple false starts. The official on my side, who is supposed to be watching that, is concerned about whether our coaches are in the (coaches' box) or not. Their coaches were on the field, practically in the huddle at times. I'm bitter."
The Big Ten's full statement publicly rebuking Harbaugh follows:
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The Big Ten office today issued a public reprimand of Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh for violating the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy following Michigan’s game against Ohio State on Nov. 26, 2016. In addition, the conference announced that the institution had been fined $10,000 as a result of the violation.
The Big Ten determined that Harbaugh’s postgame comments regarding officials were in violation of Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01, which states in part that “The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of competition, civility towards all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”
Coaches are teachers as well, and there is an expectation that they set the example for students and others in the area of sportsmanship.
The Big Ten Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.
Just in: #B1G reprimands Jim Harbaugh for violating the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy, fines school $10,000. pic.twitter.com/F8UlnbyJNb
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 28, 2016
Photo by via PROMaize & Blue Nation via Flickr commons
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