As Jim Harbaugh enters the final week of preparation prior to Michigan’s season-opener against East Carolina this Saturday, the ninth-year head coach seems to have a lot on his mind.
Harbaugh, who will be serving a self-imposed three-game suspension that will take him away from the sidelines for much of September’s schedule, sounded off about college athletics Monday as he met with the media.
Harbaugh opened his remarks with a statement on “the state of college football” per Alejandro Zuniga of 247Sports.
“I don’t understand how the NCAA, TV networks, conferences and schools can continue to pull in millions off the efforts of college students across the country without sharing ever-increasing revenue.” Harbaugh said. “Who do we all go to watch? Who do we all go to see? They need to share in the profits.” He added, before calling the status quo “unacceptable”
It’s tough to argue with the points being made, as pay for college athletes has been a hot-button issue for decades. Even with the advent of NIL, there are questions about why all athletes aren’t being allowed to share the wealth.
Harbaugh has been at odds with the NCAA for most of the offseason, as Michigan has been under investigation regarding alleged recruiting violations in 2021. It seemed as though Harbaugh would be suspended for four games as punishment, but the NCAA never signed off on it, talks fell apart, and Michigan self-imposed the three-game suspension instead.
Many on social media sounded off about Harbaugh’s comments.
— Edwardian. (@DepressedDETN) August 28, 2023
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