We saw it during Michigan's first three games when Jim Harbaugh had to sit out, we did not see it last Saturday against Penn State due to the incredibly short notice, but we knew we'd see it again eventually.
Michigan players showed up to College Park, Maryland wearing "Free Harbaugh" shirts.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson pulled up wearing a ?Free Harbaugh? shirt ?
(via @BNKonFOX)pic.twitter.com/KSnLzQjnzz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 18, 2023
Star wideout Roman Wilson, who is currently second in the Big Ten with 10 receiving touchdowns, came out to warm up while sporting the shirt that featured the coach's image, the catchy slogan, and his own No. 1 on the shoulder. Wilson, like other Wolverines, is wearing the shirt to support his head coach, who has been hastily suspended by the Big Ten in response to the allegations surrounding the program's possible current in-person scouting practices.
Of course, this is not an uncontroversial move, and it will surely be met with very mixed responses. Michigan has been accused of "playing the victim" and playing off the consequences of their own wrongdoings as "adversity." But there are also voices who believe that the lack of due process afforded to Harbaugh by the Big Ten conference was completely inappropriate, as the decision was directly in conflict with the conference's own bylaws, and came in the midst of an active NCAA investigation.
Still, Harbaugh accepted the suspension, which some view as an admittance of guilt, but others consider to be a selfless move intended to keep the focus on the players. We'll see how things play out on the field this Saturday, as the Wolverines will try to become the first team in the history of organized football to win 1,000 games.
Interim head coach Sherrone Moore will be the one tasked with getting them there; he made a splash with a bold, all-run offensive strategy to close out a huge road win over then-#10 Penn State last week, and also picked up a win as an interim during Harbaugh's early-season suspension. One thing is for sure- with a mega-clash with an undefeated Ohio State looming next week, the level of drama between these two rivals has never been higher.
