University of Michigan files temporary restraining order against Harbaugh suspension
(CBS DETROIT) - Hours after the Big Ten Conference announced it suspended football coach Jim Harbaugh, the University of Michigan filed a temporary restraining order.
The university filed the order against the conference and Commissioner Tony Petitti in the Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court. Judge Timothy Connors, who works as a lecturer at the U of M Law School, is listed as the judicial officer.
Harbaugh was suspended on Friday for the final three games of the 2023 regular season amid an investigation of alleged sign-stealing.
In a statement, the conference said, "The University of Michigan has been found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition."
The conference said effective immediately, Harbaugh is not allowed to be on the sidelines on the day of the remaining games but can still attend practices or other football team activities.
The suspension comes a day before No. 2 Michigan takes on No. 9 Penn State at noon on Saturday. The other two games are scheduled for Nov. 18 against Maryland and Nov. 25 against Ohio State.
U of M issued the following statement after the suspension:
"Like all members of the Big Ten Conference, we are entitled to a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to determine the full set of facts before a judgment is rendered. Today's action by Commissioner Tony Petitti disregards the Conference's own handbook, violates basic tenets of due process, and sets an untenable precedent of assessing penalties before an investigation has been completed. We are dismayed at the Commissioner's rush to judgment when there is an ongoing NCAA investigation – one in which we are fully cooperating.
"Commissioner Petitti's hasty action today suggests that this is more about reacting to pressure from other Conference members than a desire to apply the rules fairly and impartially. By taking this action at this hour, the Commissioner is personally inserting himself onto the sidelines and altering the level playing field that he is claiming to preserve. And, doing so on Veterans Day – a court holiday – to try to thwart the University from seeking immediate judicial relief is hardly a profile in impartiality. To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to seek a court order, together with Coach Harbaugh, preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect."
