The Big Ten championship trophy presentation Saturday was hilariously petty and a bit of a disappointment if you were hoping for an awkward moment between Jim Harbaugh and conference commissioner Tony Petitti.
The pair appeared to largely avoid each other after the game, and college football fans loved it and unloaded jokes.
After No. 2 Michigan crushed offenseless No. 16 Iowa, 26-0, in the conference title game in Indianapolis, it was time for Petitti to present the trophy to the Wolverines. The same Wolverines whose coach Petitti and the Big Ten suspended for three games at the end of the regular season over Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal.
Harbaugh’s suspension was controversial in itself, but it also came with the possibility that Petitti would still have to hand Harbaugh the Big Ten championship trophy just one week after the suspension ended.
It looked like that’s exactly what would happen at Lucas Oil Stadium after the Wolverines won their third straight Big Ten title. But then, according to Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt, Harbaugh tapped injured offensive lineman Zak Zinter instead: “Coach Harbaugh wanted it to go to Zak Zinter.”
Zak Zinter raises the trophy for Michigan 🏆❤️@UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/MWu73rzryJ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 3, 2023
Petitti didn’t offer any congratulatory comments on stage to the Wolverines after — though per ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren, the pair shook hands before the presentation.
It wasn’t the awkward moment many excepted from this title game. But some fans loved it and had jokes.
Jim Harbaugh wants absolutely nothing to do with Tony Petitti. I love a petty king.
— Scott Bell (@sbell021) December 3, 2023
Jim Harbaugh @ Tony Pettiti pic.twitter.com/TzC9kPfYCu
— Alex Day (@goaleday) December 3, 2023
HAHAHA Jim Harbaugh didn't even want Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti handing him the trophy. Petitti gave it to Zinter.
Classic Harbaugh.
Jim is the man.
— Trevor Woods (@WoodsFootball) December 3, 2023
Jim Harbaugh when Tony Pettiti gives him the Big Ten Championshio trophy.@mgoblog pic.twitter.com/V4YpTe2TuN
— Roberto A. Jiménez Rivera (@hashtagRoberto) December 3, 2023
Joel Klatt calls Harbaugh up.
Petitti: pic.twitter.com/HBcJBLuVzp
— Jason Kroll (@JDKroll27) December 3, 2023
Crying Jim Harbaugh started in the back then went to the front and Tony Petitti went to the back lol pic.twitter.com/Njpl3E9Tot https://t.co/bHZOtrVZxo
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) December 3, 2023
Harbaugh snubs Petitti. pic.twitter.com/hSmLwspYc9
— Kevin P@rick (@kpkielcz) December 3, 2023
Jim Harbaugh is an A1 Troll.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti suspended Jim Harbaugh for 3 games, while Michigan was on the plane to play a Top 10 Matchup at Penn State.
Just now, Harbaugh requested that Petitti hands the trophy to injured All-American Lineman Zak Zinter.…
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) December 3, 2023
Look at Harbaugh having Petitti hand the trophy to Zak Zinter.
And then when being interviewed he yells BET into the mic.
Hilarious
— Jeff Riger (@riger1984) December 3, 2023
Harbaugh kept it classy…but he wanted no part in Petitti.
Happy for Zinter. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/RVEAMJeHpt
— CHRIS TORELLO 𝕏 (@TorelloSports) December 3, 2023
Jim Harbaugh really told Tony Petitti to not even LOOK at him, damn. I love him for that #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/T4tCb82Q01
— Julia Krisel (@MySweet_Time) December 3, 2023
Jim Harbaugh and the boys rolling up on Tony Petitti after the game pic.twitter.com/GqIgqWilEj
— Damon Drew | he/him/his (@DamonDrew) December 3, 2023
Tony Petitti to Jim Harbaugh. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/rEbW8f8GRJ
— Jeff Pfeifer (@pfeifer_jeff) December 3, 2023
I love Harbaugh and the moment for Zinter, but this moment was for all of Michigan. Hate that he let Petitti off the hook like that.
— Dave (@Dave07811335) December 3, 2023
Harbaugh ignoring Petitti and saying “Bet” is gold.
— Gridiron Uncensored 🏈🎙️ (@KicknitWTheGrid) December 3, 2023
