Jim Harbaugh will not be in attendance for Michigan’s first home game this month, despite being named honorary captain less than a week ago.
The new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers had planned to go to Ann Arbor despite his recently announced NCAA suspension and show-cause penalty, which will not affect him as long as he remains in the NFL. However, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore told reporters on Tuesday that Harbaugh would not make it.
The reason given for the absence was something that Harbaugh should have already considered: He did not want to leave his current team alone.
Moore’s explanation:
“I actually just talked to coach yesterday and what really went into the decision – we made the decision in March, or I think it was actually January or February – was really to honor him for what he did for Michigan. He came back for nine years and got us to where we are now, so it was really to honor him and nothing more.
“He called me yesterday and told me in true Coach Harbaugh fashion that he didn’t feel like he could leave his team. He wanted to stay in the trenches with his team and not give the impression that he was taking a deep bow.”
Instead, Michigan will reportedly host Harbaugh’s parents, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, as honorary captains for the game against Fresno State on Aug. 31. Harbaugh will continue to prepare the Chargers for their own season opener, scheduled for Sept. 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Aside from the Chargers, Harbaugh’s presence in the Wolverines’ opening game was already a story in itself. That may not have been great for Michigan, as it threatened to reinforce two narratives the program would like to dampen, between the ongoing NCAA investigation and whether Moore can stand as a successor.
