Michigan, Harbaugh Violations Reportedly Stem from Hamburgers

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are currently facing a myriad of NCAA violations. While the majority of the allegations are relatively minor, there is one that is more serious.

The program received four Level II violations and Harbaugh received one Level I violation.

All of the alleged offenses stem from the COVID-19 recruiting period, which spanned from March 2020 through May 2021. During that time, coaches were not allowed to have in-person contact with recruits, under any circumstances.

Apparently, two recruits who had already committed to the program stopped by Ann Arbor during the COVID-19 dead period. Balas said that the visit was “impromptu.”

With the two recruits in town, Jim Harbaugh wanted to treat them to lunch.

That, of course, violates NCAA protocol. Especially when coaches could not have in-person contact with recruits.

Despite the rules, Harbaugh reportedly took the two high schoolers out to eat at The Brown Jug. Named after the Michigan vs. Minnesota football trophy (the oldest in college football), the restaurant has been a staple in the city since 1936.

The NCAA reportedly found a receipt for those burgers and asked Harbaugh about the paper trail. He, according to various reports, wasn’t completely honest about it.

Thus, not only was it a Level II violation— the lie bumped it up to Level I for “providing false or misleading information” to the NCAA investigators.

The NCAA has yet to come to a decision and/or punishment for the Wolverines and Harbaugh. It is likely both the school and head coach will appeal any punishment handed down by the NCAA.