Jim Harbaugh is not one to shy from sharing his opinion, and he certainly did plenty of that during Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
While addressing the gathered mass of journalists in the Hilton Chicago, the fifth-year Michigan head coach described how he thinks the NCAA transfer portal should work for student-athletes.
“My opinion is that every student-athlete should have a one-time ability to transfer and not have to sit out a year,” Harbaugh said. “And then if they were to transfer a second time, then the previous rule that we had, where you had to sit out a year of eligibility.”
“I would also keep the graduate transfer rule that we have in place right now, where you can graduate and transfer and become immediately eligible,” he added.
The question came about when Harbaugh was asked about wide receiver Oliver Martin’s decision to transfer and if he would allow Martin to play immediately. Harbaugh stated that it wasn’t his decision but the NCAA’s on if Martin would play before stating the above thought.
“You have one time where you can transfer, be immediately eligible,” he explained. “A second time you’d have to sit out a year, while still having the graduate transfer rule. It would be good to just have a clear, concise, where everybody understands what the ramifications are.
“I think that would be a fair way to proceed.”
Under the current system, the NCAA rules on a case-by-case basis whether a transferring student-athlete can play immediately or if they should sit out a year. Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson is one such case, where he was deemed eligible after transferring from Ole Miss following the 2017 season.
Later in the day on Friday, Harbaugh further explained that there could be any number of reasons for a student-athlete to transfer, from mental health to better possibilities. Ultimately, the Michigan coach wants more power choice afforded to players.
