Why Ohio State football players and Buckeye supporters are disappointed that Jim Harbaugh has accepted his suspension — Jimmy Watkins.
Ohio’s Cleveland Jim Harbaugh earned a jury of his peers and his day in court. Despite the accusations of sign-stealing his team is facing, he deserved to be treated as innocent until proven guilty and to be the head coach of Ohio State vs. Michigan the following Saturday.
Ohio State supporters, before you hurl your phones or laptops, think about our American values. Think of our founding fathers and the Bill of Rights. Think about how much OSU wants to witness the contempt on Harbaugh’s face if—sorry—it defeats his Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Everywhere there are Buckeyes, starting next week, they want retribution. After two meetings in a row, Harbaugh has made their program look bad. Ryan Day has come under fire from him, and he has let his team trash the Ohio Stadium block “O.” And for those reasons, the fact that Harbaugh accepted his sentence on Thursday afternoon should depress Buckeyes worldwide.
In particular, he consented to two further games of the suspension imposed by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti last week in accordance with the sportsmanship act of the conference. Harbaugh will therefore miss the games against Ohio State the next weekend and Maryland this weekend.
However, it also means that Ohio State supporters will miss the opportunity to see him writhe if—sorry, when—the Buckeyes make amends in Ann Arbor.
One week from now, imagine this: The Buckeyes are hurting Michigan’s program’s pride and intimidating its supporters. They are making amends for the wrongs done by Connor Stalions, the former recruiting analyst and cameraman for Michigan. The Fox Sports camera cuts from sorrowful Michigan students to a smiling Ryan Day embracing his players, and finally back to the UM sideline. Interim Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore is standing alone, sporting a sad blank expression to match his “Michigan vs. Everybody” sweater.
Please understand that I am aware that Ohio State supporters enjoy any and every negativity related to Michigan. I understand that seeing Moore suffer actual tears after shedding joyful ones the previous weekend would make Brutus Buckeye grin.
