by Lee Enochs

Like many fans of the University of Michigan Football team, I was overjoyed with the Wolverines’ recent victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, unlike many of my friends who love Michigan football, I believe the current “sign stealing scandal” involving the University of Michigan is very serious, and I do not believe the three-game suspension that Jim Harbaugh has served as punishment is enough.

I believe that Harbaugh should be fired or suspended for an entire season without pay as a consequence of the egregious infractions members of his staff committed. At the bare minimum, Coach Harbaugh should be docked pay for the six games he was suspended from this season in connection with two different scandals.  

Lest anyone forget, there is conclusive evidence that former Michigan off-field analyst Conor Stalions, against NCAA rules, purchased tickets to several of the games of Michigan’s upcoming opponents, transferred the tickets to associates, and solicited from these associates, iPhone videos of the signs teams delivered from the sidelines.

Many of Michigan football fans I know believe that this “sign stealing scandal” is a non-issue about which Jim Harbaugh knew nothing, including when his staffer Stalions was traveling around the country. This argument does add up since as the head football coach, Harbaugh should know exactly what his football coaches and analysts are doing on behalf of his football team.

Even if one buys the argument that Harbaugh did not know anything about the illicit activities of Conor Stallions, Harbaugh is still responsible for infractions related to this current scandal since he is ultimately responsible for every aspect of his football team. At the bare minimum, Harbaugh should be held accountable for losing institutional control of the University of Michigan football team.

In the pragmatic, “win at any cost” culture of big-time college football, it’s convenient to turn a blind eye to this scandal. However, I am one fan who believes that ethics matter and that Jim Harbaugh should be held accountable for the infractions his football coaches and analysts have committed. In my opinion, running a clean program and personal integrity are more important than winning national championships.

Lee Enochs is a life-long fan of the University of Michigan and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary where he studied ethics and church history.