The Michigan cheating scandal might be over as far as the investigation goes, but there was never any chance that the college football world was ever letting this go.
Michigan’s season — and the entire Jim Harbaugh era, really — will be forever tainted in so many people’s eyes because of this sign-stealing scandal. What he knew about doesn’t even matter. The fact that all this happened under his watch is something people will never forgive or forget.
READ MORE: The Michigan sign-stealing scandal explained.
One of those people is Paul Finebaum. Finebaum made an appearance on the Dan Patrick show where he was asked for his thoughts and he had a lot to say.
The biggest thing was this: Finebaum says he’ll refuse to accept Michigan as national champions even if the Wolverines win it all.
"I will refuse to recognize Michigan as the National Champs. I was taught that athletics should be an even playing field and to me they are not subscribing to that."@Finebaum explains why he wouldn't recognize #Michigan as a National Champion if they won it all this season pic.twitter.com/SBI2fXxPoc
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) November 16, 2023
“I will refuse to recognize Michigan as the national champs. I was taught that athletics should be an even playing field. And, to me, they are not subscribing to that.”
In the end, it doesn’t matter how he feels. If the NCAA still recognizes Michigan as the champion in this hypothetical scenario then Michigan will still be the champion. That’s how this works.
But still, it’s hard to blame Finebaum — and anyone else — for feeling this way.
Fans scoffed at this thought. Especially Michigan fans. They didn’t like it at all.
Oh no! Whatever would we do…. https://t.co/EEQVU1byDt pic.twitter.com/bq7yEdrhGg
— Michigan -vs- I don’t even know anymore (@Medic12821) November 16, 2023
Paul has no power. https://t.co/PeDruClBvO
— Carron J. Phillips (@carronJphillips) November 16, 2023
I just can’t help but laugh about Paul Finebaum going from openly defending Michigan on Week 1 of the sign stealing allegations to recanting days later and going on a full-on press tour about his extreme stance on the matter 😂 https://t.co/wT3uxqPLXF
— 〽️att Hartwell (@MaizeCrusader) November 17, 2023
Do we really want to get into what SEC teams have done to get kids to play for their programs prior to NIL? https://t.co/qQUdFfoQqj
— Dan Erickson (@Dan22Erickson) November 16, 2023
Finebaum pretending that a level playing field exists in College Athletics is pretty rich. https://t.co/Cl9knSMoax
— Not a Robot (@Crandell1974) November 17, 2023
Athletics has never been an even playing field. https://t.co/0AVdT53OEW
— James Francis (@JscottFrancis4) November 16, 2023
wow what will i do watching my favorite team win a national title knowing paul finebaum won’t recognize it? https://t.co/Wyl66AokOY
— Jer (@jer824) November 16, 2023
College football has always been an even playing field, no one ever got paid before NIL https://t.co/qJlz7iQ9ZZ
— Craig Titus (@TitusPlumbing) November 17, 2023
