Nobody loves a good press conference sound bite like SEC Network host Paul Finebaum, and former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh provided him with a great clip on Monday.
Asked about sanctions against Michigan, the new Los Angeles Chargers head coach insisted he had no idea about the sign-stealing alleged in the impending Notice of Allegations against Michigan. Finebaum then had some fun with Harbaugh’s “Oscar-winning performance.”
Finebaum on Harbaugh: ‘I Think He’s the Jack Nicholson of Coaching’
Harbaugh was adamant — and perhaps a bit dramatic — that he has nothing to apologize for after being asked about his role in Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal.
“No one’s perfect,” Harbaugh started. “If you stumble, you apologize, and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware, nor complicit in those said allegations. So for me, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
Those allegations, of course, are that Michigan staffer Connor Stallions attended the games of upcoming opponents to record and study signs and hand signals.
When reacting to Harbuagh’s comments, Finebaum didn’t hold back in criticizing — or maybe praising — the former Michigan coach.
Paul Finebaum on Jim Harbaugh's denial regarding Michigan's sign-stealing scandal: "It's an Oscar-winning performance… I wanted to label him as a pathological liar, as someone who's delusional. But I can't do it anymore because I think he in many ways is the Jack Nicholson of… pic.twitter.com/nYUZUbtQ1b
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 6, 2024
“He, in many ways, is the Jack Nicholson of coaching,” Finebaum said. “He’s a man for all seasons. He has so many different lanes. You really can’t get mad at the guy. You can’t say he ran a program into the ground because they won a national championship … I’m gonna bow at the feet of Jim Harbaugh for pulling off this scam and then acting like he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Bomani Jones chimed in, wondering why Harbaugh would deny something when “the NCAA can’t do anything about it.”
The NCAA’s Notice of Allegations should drop soon, and Michigan could face some sanctions, but Harbaugh, now in the NFL, should go free, regardless of what the investigation finds.
For now, Harbaugh keeps giving us great quotes, while Finebaum’s zingers still elicit quite a response.
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