It’s been reported that a punishment from the Big Ten will be handed down to Michigan at some point on Friday, according to reporting from ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
We have no idea what the punishment will be or how punitive things might get for the school. We’re assuming Jim Harbaugh will have to assume some sort of responsibility in this whole sign-stealing scandal, but we really have no idea.
RELATED: Everything we know about Michigan’s sign-stealing investigation
Even with that being the case, though, Michigan alum and College Gameday mainstay Desmond Howard is here to defend his school. Shocker, right?
During his time on ESPN’s Get Up Friday morning he laid out a defense for Michigan…and he kind of had a point?
Look, I know. I know. He is definitely carrying water for the school. But just hear him out for a second.
Desmond Howard, unsurprisingly, is upset about potential discipline coming soon for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan from the Big Ten.
"You know Greg this would never happen in the SEC. Are you telling me they would do this to Nick Saban and Alabama? Hell no!" pic.twitter.com/FfKMbDMLVL
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 10, 2023
“The commissioner [Tony Pettiti] is actually treating them unfairly. He’s circumventing due process by the NCAA. That’s why. You know, Greg, this would never happen in the SEC. Are you telling me they would do this to Nick Saban and Alabama? Hell no.”
Alright, look. On one hand, Michigan made its bed with this one. If the allegations are true, it would be a clear violation of NCAA rules. Nobody should feel bad for the school.
On the other, though, the NCAA isn’t the one investigating or punishing Michigan — the Big Ten is. And it’s happening partially because of pressure from the rest of the coaches around the conference.
Quite frankly, to Howard’s point, it is hard to see something like this happening to Nick Saban and the SEC. The conference would probably just let things play out and take whatever punishment the NCAA hands down if there is one at all.
That’s not happening here. The Big Ten is being proactive about things. And that’s what Howard — and Michigan — have a problem with.
We’ll see how this goes. But it’s looking like it could get a lot uglier from here on out.
