Michigan football coach defends players amid cheating allegations

Last weekend, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh led his Wolverines to a 41-13 victory over Purdue coming off the bye week. The win boosted Harbaugh & Co. to 9-0 on the season (6-0 Big Ten) heading into a major matchup this weekend, which pits No. 3 Michigan against No. 9 Penn State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) in Happy Valley. After Michigan’s Week 10 win, Harbaugh hit the podium and defended his players and team amid the sign-stealing allegations.

Michigan football coach defends players amid cheating allegations

It doesn’t take more than a quick scroll through social media to see that Michigan football is getting dragged right now despite all of the team’s success. In fact — as many have pointed out before — the Wolverines are under a microscope right now. If Michigan wins, it’s because they cheated; if it loses, it’s because they lost Connor Stalions. For the time being, there is nothing that the Wolverines can do that will be accepted by the world of college football.

Following the Wolverines’ win, Jim Harbaugh was in good spirits, though he was firm in his evaluation of his Michigan football program. Per Harbaugh, the Wolverines are winning so much because they just have “really good players.”

“The guys (Michigan football) are such stalwarts,” Jim Harbaugh said shortly after his 41-13 win over Purdue. “The comments keep coming about why they’re good, how they’re good. And they’re just good. If you know football and you watch our guys play — I’ve said it before: There are 20, 22, 23 guys that will be playing on Sundays next year. I truly believe there’s another 30-35 right behind them that will return. And others that’ll be developing, and it’s just really good players, and that’s if you know football.

“I mean, just watch the game, turn on the tape. That’s why they’re so good. They’re good at (football).”

More from Jim Harbaugh on why Michigan is so good following Purdue win

Jim Harbaugh was prompted a second time about how the sign-stealing news has impacted his team, yet once again, he was steadfast in his belief that his Michigan football program is full of warriors.

“Stalwarts. I mean, savage warriors,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Yeah, go ahead and question them on why they’re good, how they got good. I mean, it’s practically a priceless gift to get to where we want to go.”

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh ready for 9th contest against James Franklin and Penn State

Amid the noise from the sign-stealing news and talks of pending in-season punishment from the Big Ten Conference, Jim Harbaugh and his team will hit the road this weekend for their first ranked test of the 2023 season. The 9th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, who are coming off an impressive 51-15 road win over Maryland, have momentum on their side and their backs against the wall right now.

For all those who question how good Michigan football truly is this fall, this Saturday’s matchup against Penn State will tell us quite a bit.

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