Jim Harbaugh explains why he’s advocating for fall college football season

Jim Harbaugh explains why he wants college football to be played this fall.

Jim Harbaugh issued out a statement on Monday on why he’s in favor of fall college football.

With the Big Ten expected to issue out a formal statement on Tuesday about its plans to cancel its 2020 college football season, the Michigan Wolverines head coach does not agree with the majority of Big Ten university presidents. Apparently, only the University of Iowa and the University of Nebraska are in favor of playing college football this fall in Big Ten country.

Per Michigan beat writer Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit Free Press, Harbaugh released his statement on Monday morning shortly after news broke on The Dan Patrick Show of the Big Ten reportedly shutting it down for 2020. For a guy as competitive as Harbaugh is about everything, you would have expected nothing less from the fiery head coach of Michigan football.

Jim Harbaugh shares nine facts on why we should have college football.

“I would like to address the rumors that are swirling today,” wrote Harbaugh. “I’m not advocating for football this fall because of my passing or our players desire to play but because of the facts accumulated over the last eight weeks since our players returned to campus on June 13. I am advocating on August 10 that this virus can be controlled and handled because of these facts:”

Harbaugh listed nine facts about how coronavirus testing has been going at the University of Michigan under his watch. He mentions “there have been zero positive tests among the coaches or staff over the entire eight weeks of testing. Harbaugh also mentions Michigan has had “zero positive tests out of the last 353 administered” and only two in their last 417 given out.

This puts the University of Michigan in an incredibly awkward spot, as this was one of the 12 member institutions of the Big Ten to vote against having college football this fall. While Harbaugh isn’t the best coach in this Power 5 conference, he is certainly one of the most polarizing and certainly the most vocal. The Big Ten isn’t playing, but this could send shockwaves nationwide.

While the Pac-12 is expected to punt on its season as well, the Big 12 is supposedly split on the decision, while the ACC and SEC are dead set on having college football this fall. Depending on what happens in the coming days, we may have some college football or none at all. For now, Harbaugh and his Wolverines won’t get to play this fall and that is absolutely devastating.

Harbaugh’s statement may have been too little too but, we’re all taking notice of it.

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