The university is about to be canceled.
But Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh still hopes you can play for a season. And he shared his opinion Monday morning in a letter explaining why he thinks football can still be this fall.
The presidents of the Big Ten voted against holding a season in the fall, and three others with wisdom from the resolution showed the Detroit Free Press.
Harbaugh’s argument presented nine evidence that the program has accumulated over the 8 weeks since players returned to campus for voluntary education on June 13. It reads:
The Michigan football program had 11 positive tests of 893 managed, adding 3 on the initial return to campus.
We had two tests of the last 417 administered.
We tested positive for the last 353.
There were no positive tests between coaches or staff during the 8 weeks of testing.
There has been no contract search for our fields, weight room, changing room or facilities.
We had no break in our training.
We have complied with all CDC rules and the strictest criteria implemented by ourselves to touch quarantine tracking and prevent it from spreading.
We have followed all the rules of fitness and protection and welcome and inspire any fitness department, university directors or other sports systems to stop and see how we practice and apply those protocols.
As Darryl Conway, our medical director and member of the Big Ten Medical Advisory Group, said, “I hope others can see this model.”
“It’s not easy,” Harbaugh wrote. “It’s hard. There is evidence that the driving, field and design of our program have led to those stellar results. We respect the challenge of the virus, but we won’t. We have developed a perfect prototype to know how you can make these paintings and give players the opportunity to play. If you’re transparent and stick to the rules, that’s how it can be done.
“I am proud of our players, parents, coaches and workers for being leaders and role models in our sport, in our establishment and in society. We will continue to follow all fitness and protection guidelines, teaching, exercising, and exercising these young men and their families who trusted us, while advocating for a football season in the fall.
“By quoting President Theodore Roosevelt, we are doing this” so that our position is among the intricent and shy souls who do not know victory or defeat.”
At the end of the letter, Harbaugh included the hashtag “#WeWantToPlay” and “#WeWantToCoach” that runs from Monday morning among the school’s football players and coaches.
Hunter Reynolds of Michigan, who led the Big Ten United movement, was concerned in a united coalition that issued one containing six lawsuits, adding the creation of an agreement for school football players. Meanwhile, apprentices such as offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and protection coach Bob Shoop tweeted the hashtag #WeWantToCoach Monday morning.
Follow Orion Sang at on Twitter: @orion_sang.