How the Michigan sign-stealing scandal and Jim Harbaugh’s suspension unfolded

We’ll find out on Friday if Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will be able to coach against Maryland.

Harbaugh served the first game of his three-game suspension during Michigan’s win over Penn State in Week 11. The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh the day before the Penn State game after it said it had “uncontroverted” evidence of an in-person sign-stealing scheme.

However, the conference said in its letter announcing Harbaugh’s suspension that it did not have any evidence that Harbaugh himself was involved with or even aware of the scheme. He was suspended for three games — but allowed to keep coaching during the week — because Harbaugh “embodies the University for purposes of its football program.”

Michigan immediately requested a stay against the Big Ten’s ruling in Washtenaw County (Mich.) court. A hearing on Michigan’s request to get Harbaugh back on the sideline for the Maryland game and maybe even the Ohio State game on Nov. 25 is scheduled for Friday.

As we wait for the result of that hearing, here are how events have unfolded over the past month that have gotten us to the point of legal proceedings.

Oct. 18: NCAA informs Big Ten of in-person scouting allegations

In a meeting the Big Ten said had “several extraordinary aspects,” NCAA president Charlie Baker had a call with the conference and Michigan where he said the NCAA had “highly credible evidence of a wide-ranging, multi-year in-person, off-campus scouting scheme orchestrated by a non-coaching staff member of the University’s football program.”

On Oct. 19, Yahoo Sports reported on the existence of the investigation. According to Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s letter to Michigan on Nov. 10, what was detailed in the call “were a clear statement from the NCAA that the nature and reliability of the evidence they had received…

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