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Michigan football’s Jim Harbaugh discusses his Urban Meyer comment at the Big Ten media days on Friday, July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Nick Baumgardner, Freep

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement Saturday reiterating his belief that all NCAA transfers should be allowed one move with instant eligibility, regardless of circumstance. 

Harbaugh was asked multiple times during Big Ten media days in Chicago if he had a role in determining player eligibility via waiver claims — specifically for former Michigan players Oliver Martin and James Hudson — and each time he said he did not. He further stated those are compliance department issues. 

[ How Harbaugh, other Big Ten coaches would chance the transfer portal rule ] 

Further, he said again it’s his belief that all players should get one free pass to transfer and be eligible immediately. On Saturday, he followed that up with a statement. 

“In response to some who say I am deflecting and dodging or pushing an agenda, they could not be more wrong. Rather I am choosing to be forthright and transparent,” Harbaugh wrote via his Twitter account. “As asked multiple times yesterday (Friday) at Big Ten Media Day, I offered an opinion. My belief is that a one-time transfer should be allowed for all student-athletes. I am clearly advocating for rights that college football players have not had. This would be the decision totally in the hands of the student-athlete and family and would protect all from disclosing information and rights afforded under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act).”

More: Michigan football may play both Shea Patterson, Dylan McCaffrey in 2019

Speaking with ESPNU Radio outside of his time with reporters at Big Ten media days Friday, Harbaugh gave a longer answer on his transfer stance. And brought up the role of depression/mental health in the process. 

“It’s something that’s really evolved in my mind,” Harbaugh said about the transfer process. “Where we’re at right now is in a limbo period, in my opinion. The NCAA decides who is eligible immediately. Who has to sit out a year in residence. It used to be you could sit out a year (and then) be eligible. Now we see guys get eligible immediately. It’s not really clear on what makes someone eligible immediately and what doesn’t. I don’t like the gray area of that. I think it cleans it up of saying ‘everyone has one year where they could be immediately eligible.’ If you do it a second time, that’s getting a little hippity-hoppity. … It’s a litigious society we live in right now as you know. This whole process has already gotten lawyers involved. Lawyers who are specializing in this right now. 

“And the other piece that bothers me about it is, the youngster that says ‘this is a mental health issue, I’m suffering from depression.’ Or that’s a reason to get eligible. And once that’s known that ‘hey, say this or say that’ to get eligible. The problem I see in that is you’re going to have guys that are ‘OK, yeah, I’m depressed.’

“Say what they’ve got to say. But down the road I don’t see that helping them if it’s not a legitimate thing. But nobody would know. But what are you going to say? Ten years down the road ‘I just had to say what I had to say?’ And I think you’re putting them in a position that’s unfair, not right. And, as you said, you’re saying it just to say it. And that’s not truthful. That’s not necessarily truthful. It’s not something we should be promoting at the college level. Telling the truth matters. Especially at a college.

More: Michigan football excited about RB Zach Charbonnet, hopeful for depth

“You can’t have experiments that aren’t truthful. You can’t lie about equations. Shouldn’t be lying in football. That’s a message that we should be teaching. I got a little long-winded there. But I think that would help all concerned.” 

He went back after his answer to further state: “And can I add, please don’t write a bunch of letters. I care very deeply about mental health. I’m not saying everybody’s lying about that. Just saying ‘OK, this is America. You started at this school, you didn’t like it and for whatever the reason is, you’re freely allowed to transfer to any other school like any other human being would have a right to do.’ That’s really the bottom line.”

Also at Big Ten media days, Harbaugh was asked if his decision to state earlier in the week that “controversy” follows former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer everywhere he goes was a “deflection strategy” due to the fact he’s 0-4 against the Buckeyes. 

“It was me saying what I think,” Harbaugh replied. 

Contact Nick Baumgardner at nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.

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Michigan football’s Jim Harbaugh discusses his Urban Meyer comment at the Big Ten media days on Friday, July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Nick Baumgardner, Freep

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement Saturday reiterating his belief that all NCAA transfers should be allowed one move with instant eligibility, regardless of circumstance. 

Harbaugh was asked multiple times during Big Ten media days in Chicago if he had a role in determining player eligibility via waiver claims — specifically for former Michigan players Oliver Martin and James Hudson — and each time he said he did not. He further stated those are compliance department issues. 

[ How Harbaugh, other Big Ten coaches would chance the transfer portal rule ] 

Further, he said again it’s his belief that all players should get one free pass to transfer and be eligible immediately. On Saturday, he followed that up with a statement. 

“In response to some who say I am deflecting and dodging or pushing an agenda, they could not be more wrong. Rather I am choosing to be forthright and transparent,” Harbaugh wrote via his Twitter account. “As asked multiple times yesterday (Friday) at Big Ten Media Day, I offered an opinion. My belief is that a one-time transfer should be allowed for all student-athletes. I am clearly advocating for rights that college football players have not had. This would be the decision totally in the hands of the student-athlete and family and would protect all from disclosing information and rights afforded under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act).”

More: Michigan football may play both Shea Patterson, Dylan McCaffrey in 2019

Speaking with ESPNU Radio outside of his time with reporters at Big Ten media days Friday, Harbaugh gave a longer answer on his transfer stance. And brought up the role of depression/mental health in the process. 

“It’s something that’s really evolved in my mind,” Harbaugh said about the transfer process. “Where we’re at right now is in a limbo period, in my opinion. The NCAA decides who is eligible immediately. Who has to sit out a year in residence. It used to be you could sit out a year (and then) be eligible. Now we see guys get eligible immediately. It’s not really clear on what makes someone eligible immediately and what doesn’t. I don’t like the gray area of that. I think it cleans it up of saying ‘everyone has one year where they could be immediately eligible.’ If you do it a second time, that’s getting a little hippity-hoppity. … It’s a litigious society we live in right now as you know. This whole process has already gotten lawyers involved. Lawyers who are specializing in this right now. 

“And the other piece that bothers me about it is, the youngster that says ‘this is a mental health issue, I’m suffering from depression.’ Or that’s a reason to get eligible. And once that’s known that ‘hey, say this or say that’ to get eligible. The problem I see in that is you’re going to have guys that are ‘OK, yeah, I’m depressed.’

“Say what they’ve got to say. But down the road I don’t see that helping them if it’s not a legitimate thing. But nobody would know. But what are you going to say? Ten years down the road ‘I just had to say what I had to say?’ And I think you’re putting them in a position that’s unfair, not right. And, as you said, you’re saying it just to say it. And that’s not truthful. That’s not necessarily truthful. It’s not something we should be promoting at the college level. Telling the truth matters. Especially at a college.

More: Michigan football excited about RB Zach Charbonnet, hopeful for depth

“You can’t have experiments that aren’t truthful. You can’t lie about equations. Shouldn’t be lying in football. That’s a message that we should be teaching. I got a little long-winded there. But I think that would help all concerned.” 

He went back after his answer to further state: “And can I add, please don’t write a bunch of letters. I care very deeply about mental health. I’m not saying everybody’s lying about that. Just saying ‘OK, this is America. You started at this school, you didn’t like it and for whatever the reason is, you’re freely allowed to transfer to any other school like any other human being would have a right to do.’ That’s really the bottom line.”

Also at Big Ten media days, Harbaugh was asked if his decision to state earlier in the week that “controversy” follows former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer everywhere he goes was a “deflection strategy” due to the fact he’s 0-4 against the Buckeyes. 

“It was me saying what I think,” Harbaugh replied. 

Contact Nick Baumgardner at nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.

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Michigan football’s Jim Harbaugh discusses his Urban Meyer comment at the Big Ten media days on Friday, July 19, 2019, in Chicago.
Nick Baumgardner, Freep

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement Saturday reiterating his belief that all NCAA transfers should be allowed one move with instant eligibility, regardless of circumstance. 

Harbaugh was asked multiple times during Big Ten media days in Chicago if he had a role in determining player eligibility via waiver claims — specifically for former Michigan players Oliver Martin and James Hudson — and each time he said he did not. He further stated those are compliance department issues. 

[ How Harbaugh, other Big Ten coaches would chance the transfer portal rule ] 

Further, he said again it’s his belief that all players should get one free pass to transfer and be eligible immediately. On Saturday, he followed that up with a statement. 

“In response to some who say I am deflecting and dodging or pushing an agenda, they could not be more wrong. Rather I am choosing to be forthright and transparent,” Harbaugh wrote via his Twitter account. “As asked multiple times yesterday (Friday) at Big Ten Media Day, I offered an opinion. My belief is that a one-time transfer should be allowed for all student-athletes. I am clearly advocating for rights that college football players have not had. This would be the decision totally in the hands of the student-athlete and family and would protect all from disclosing information and rights afforded under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act).”

More: Michigan football may play both Shea Patterson, Dylan McCaffrey in 2019

Speaking with ESPNU Radio outside of his time with reporters at Big Ten media days Friday, Harbaugh gave a longer answer on his transfer stance. And brought up the role of depression/mental health in the process. 

“It’s something that’s really evolved in my mind,” Harbaugh said about the transfer process. “Where we’re at right now is in a limbo period, in my opinion. The NCAA decides who is eligible immediately. Who has to sit out a year in residence. It used to be you could sit out a year (and then) be eligible. Now we see guys get eligible immediately. It’s not really clear on what makes someone eligible immediately and what doesn’t. I don’t like the gray area of that. I think it cleans it up of saying ‘everyone has one year where they could be immediately eligible.’ If you do it a second time, that’s getting a little hippity-hoppity. … It’s a litigious society we live in right now as you know. This whole process has already gotten lawyers involved. Lawyers who are specializing in this right now. 

“And the other piece that bothers me about it is, the youngster that says ‘this is a mental health issue, I’m suffering from depression.’ Or that’s a reason to get eligible. And once that’s known that ‘hey, say this or say that’ to get eligible. The problem I see in that is you’re going to have guys that are ‘OK, yeah, I’m depressed.’

“Say what they’ve got to say. But down the road I don’t see that helping them if it’s not a legitimate thing. But nobody would know. But what are you going to say? Ten years down the road ‘I just had to say what I had to say?’ And I think you’re putting them in a position that’s unfair, not right. And, as you said, you’re saying it just to say it. And that’s not truthful. That’s not necessarily truthful. It’s not something we should be promoting at the college level. Telling the truth matters. Especially at a college.

More: Michigan football excited about RB Zach Charbonnet, hopeful for depth

“You can’t have experiments that aren’t truthful. You can’t lie about equations. Shouldn’t be lying in football. That’s a message that we should be teaching. I got a little long-winded there. But I think that would help all concerned.” 

He went back after his answer to further state: “And can I add, please don’t write a bunch of letters. I care very deeply about mental health. I’m not saying everybody’s lying about that. Just saying ‘OK, this is America. You started at this school, you didn’t like it and for whatever the reason is, you’re freely allowed to transfer to any other school like any other human being would have a right to do.’ That’s really the bottom line.”

Also at Big Ten media days, Harbaugh was asked if his decision to state earlier in the week that “controversy” follows former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer everywhere he goes was a “deflection strategy” due to the fact he’s 0-4 against the Buckeyes. 

“It was me saying what I think,” Harbaugh replied. 

Contact Nick Baumgardner at nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.

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