Fansided

Big Ten fines Jim Harbaugh $10,000 for criticizing refs vs. Ohio State

By David Rouben

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh discusses a call with the referee during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh discusses a call with the referee during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jim Harbaugh ripped into the officiating after Michigan lost to Ohio State, and the Big Ten decided to fine him $10,000 for it.

This year’s edition of The Game was everything we could’ve asked it to be and more. For a rivalry that has lasted over a century, this year marked the first time Michigan and Ohio State went to overtime, and in the end, the Buckeyes were able to get by 30-27.

However, the biggest talking point afterwards was Jim Harbaugh’s comments. He was incensed over the officiating, which is understandable when Michigan had seven penalties to one for Ohio State at one point. And the spot on J.T. Barrett’s fourth-down run in double overtime when the Buckeyes’ way, even though he clearly felt he was short. Then again, did we really expect him to say he converted it?

The Big Ten wasn’t going to tolerate that kind of behavior, which is why they came down hard. It was just announced today that Harbaugh has been reprimanded in addition to being fined $10,000 for his comments:

Of course, Harbaugh is the highest paid coach in college football, so that’s chump change to him. And while nobody’s denying that he’s a great coach, these types of outbursts are highly troubling. During the third quarter, he got so mad over a penalty that he threw his play sheet and headset. That resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct and an additional five yards for Ohio State, making it easier for them to score a touchdown.

While some will argue that Michigan was the better team, they didn’t lose because of poor officiating. They lost because three turnovers on offense wasted an outstanding defensive performance, and because they couldn’t go on a clock-killing drive in the fourth quarter.

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Harbaugh is now 0-2 against his program’s biggest rival, while Urban Meyer became the first Buckeyes coach ever to win his first five games against Michigan. If Harbaugh ever wants to beat Ohio State, he has to behave in a more civil manner.

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