Amid suspension news, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh delivers monologue to change college football

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh opened his Monday news conference with a 6-minute opening statement on the state of college football, including a lengthy advocation for revenue sharing plans involving NCAA student-athletes.

Harbaugh's opening statement comes amid a highly publicized, self-imposed three-game suspension, which he likened to a "baseball bat to the kneecaps." The Wolverines suspended him for his role in potential recruiting violations during the 2020 COVID-19 dead period (and ensuing refusal to cooperate with the NCAA during its investigation). The university and NCAA had reportedly had agreed to a four-game suspension.

Harbaugh will not be on the sidelines for the team's games vs. East Carolina, UNLV or Bowling Green.

"We all should be about diversity, equity and inclusion. I'm calling for a system that is fair, equitable and benefits all involved," Harbaugh said. "Don't exclude the student-athletes from the profits. My opinion, you can't say you're about diversity, equity and inclusion, if you aren't willing to include the student-athletes in revenue sharing.

"We have to try to make it work, we have to try to make it better and right now," Harbaugh said. "The current status quo is unacceptable and won't survive. In my opinion, we capitalize on the talent, we should pay the talent for their contributions to the bottom line."

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Below is Harbaugh's opening statement, in full, via Brad Galli of WXYZ-TV (Channel 7 in Detroit):

Harbaugh has previously shared his thoughts on revenue sharing models involving student-athletes, though his latest statement comes amid a rapidly changing college football landscape.

The Big Ten recently added Pac-12 mainstays in Oregon and Washington, who in 2024 will join USC and UCLA as the newest members of the conference. Those additions are, in part, due to the massive influx of TV and streaming money the conference will enjoy as part of its seven-year, $8 billion broadcast rights deal with CBS, NBC and Fox.

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Even with the influx of NIL money for players, Harbaugh said there has to be a way to more directly include the people most responsible for the money circulating through college athletics.

"I want them to be treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve," he said.

Harbaugh also addressed his three-game suspension, saying he doesn't yet know where he will take in Michigan's games while he is off the field. He said he has confidence in the coaches he has tabbed to replace him in that span, including defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who will serve as the interim coach against the Pirates.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Suspended Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh wants to change college football