Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Addresses Suspension

Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday spoke to reporters for the first time since the Big 10 announced his three-game suspension.

Harbaugh was absent from Saturday's victory against Penn State as he serves the suspension related to an ongoing investigation into sign-stealing allegations against the Michigan program. His suspension applies to on-site coaching for the final three regular season games, but still allows him to attend practices and other activities such as press conferences.

In his comments, Harbaugh expressed angst about not hearing directly from the conference, saying that the team was in the air on its way to Saturday's game when the news broke.

"(Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel) was pretty upset, he was on the plane, too," Harbaugh said during Monday's press conference. "He was pretty upset that he heard it through social media and not through the Big Ten office."

In a 13-page letter that made the rounds Friday, conference commissioner Tony Petitti said the conference determined it had enough evidence showing Michigan was guilty of engaging in an illicit in-person scouting scheme that created an unfair advantage.

Michigan defeated its most formidable opponent this season by nine points. It used a bludgeoning running attack to down the Nittany Lions, with Harbaugh relegated to watching the contest away from the sidelines.

"I would have to say to everybody: That's got to be America's team," Harbaugh told reporters. "America loves a team that beats the odds and adversity and overcomes what the naysayers, critics and so-called experts think. That's my favorite kind of team. Watching from that view on television, it was violent. People get to see what I see every day from these players and coaches."

Michigan and Harbaugh filed a temporary restraining order against the Big 10's decision in order to get Harbaugh back on the sidelines. Washtenaw County Courthouse in Ann Arbor will hold the hearing on Friday, less than 24 hours before the Wolverines' next game against the Maryland Terrapins.

Harbaugh was uncertain if he would be testifying but confirmed that he would attend the proceedings.

"I'm just looking for that opportunity for due process," Harbaugh told reporters. "I'm not looking for special treatment or [for] a popularity contest. I'm just looking for the merit of what the case is. Senior year of high school, had a civics class and talking about government justice, and what I took away from that class was that you're innocent until proven guilty. That was 40 years ago, but I'd like that opportunity."

Even with Harbaugh's status uncertain, Michigan is a 19.5-point road favorite against Maryland, according to Monday's odds on BetMGM Sportsbook.