Michigan football team feeling the love from U-M President Ono

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ahead of yesterday’s game against Purdue, an email sent by second-year University of Michigan President Santa Ono to the Big Ten Conference was leaked by the media. With the conference looking to punish the Michigan football team in-season, Ono appears to be stepping in and backing Jim Harbaugh instead of caving to skipping due process in this case. After the win, Harbaugh and quarterback JJ McCarthy had a chance to share their thoughts on Ono’s involvement in football matters right now.

Michigan football team feeling the love from U-M President Ono

Earlier this week, the Big Ten Conference and its leadership were in Ann Arbor to meet with University of Michigan President Santa Ono and other high-ranking school officials in regard to the current sign-stealing scandal and investigation that surrounds Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football program.

While it has become clear that the Big Ten wants to take action, Santa Ono seemingly shut that down in an email to the conference commissioner, which was leaked by the media on Saturday afternoon.

JJ McCarthy, Jim Harbaugh responds to Santa Ono defending the program

Following yesterday’s email leaks, the Michigan football team seemingly cruised to a 41-13 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers at the Big House, improving to 9-0 on the season heading into a Week 11 game at No. 11 Penn State. Following their first November win of the season, stars like JJ McCarthy and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh addressed what Santa Ono’s involvement means to them and the program.

“(I have) no concern at all,” quarterback JJ McCarthy said when prompted about the Big Ten and its move to punish Michigan football. “We just control what we can control. We know one thing is for sure: president (Santa) Ono is the best president in the country. We absolutely love him. He’s done many great things for us other than just making that statement. A lot of love for President Ono, that’s for sure.”

“(Santa Ono’s support is) greatly appreciated,” Jim Harbaugh added soon after.

Heading into Week 11 against Penn State, it sounds like Michigan football is getting ready to dig in and prevent the Big Ten Conference from getting involved until after the investigation. A suspension for Jim Harbaugh and more has been rumored, though the Big Ten is yet to take any real action — now, only time will tell how everything plays out.

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