Jim Harbaugh is no longer the coach at Michigan but he is still talking about it. That's because he's being asked.
Harbaugh, now the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and was asked Monday about being accused of committing a Level 1 violation by the NCAA. He answered by insisting that he had no awareness of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing operation.
"Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson," Harbaugh told reporters at Chargers practice. "I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams that I've coached."
Either way, now that he's in the NFL again, he doesn't really need to worry about it — beyond, of course, his reputation.
"No one's perfect. If you stumble, you apologize, and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize," Harbaugh said. "I did not participate —was not aware, nor complicit — in those said allegations. So for me, it's back to work, and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."
This is all the result of an ESPN report, as relayed by the New York Post.
"On Sunday, ESPN reported that the NCAA had begun to outline potential penalties for those involved in Michigan's sinuous controversy, including Harbaugh and new head coach Sherrone Moore, who were both named in a draft of the governing body's notice of allegations," the Post reported.
"Harbaugh reportedly did not allow the NCAA to look at 'relevant messages and phone records from his personal cellphone.'
"Likewise, Moore — who was elevated after working as UM's offensive coordinator for the last three seasons — allegedly deleted 52 texts with staffer Connor Stallions after news spread of Stallions' wrongdoing."
So things have suddenly been a bit rocky for the Wolverines. But Harbaugh insisted he had nothing to do with it. Now, it's up to the NCAA.
Harbaugh and the Chargers open the season on Sept. 8 at home vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
