Wolverines channel Flair, embrace role as ‘villain’
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Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ric Flair strutted out of Schembechler Hall on Monday and into a private car.
The former pro wrestling legend was at Michigan to see Jim Harbaugh, as the two have been friends since the Wolverines coach played with the Chicago Bears in the late 1980s.
Flair was known as the villain in the wrestling world, and Harbaugh now finds himself and the Wolverines being described as the villains of the college football world amid allegations of sign stealing and in-person scouting that have triggered an NCAA investigation.
Despite what is being said outside the program, Michigan’s players aren’t shying away from the newfound target on their back and the criticism they’re receiving.
“I know there’s a lot of noise going on the outside of the building,” Wolverines offensive lineman Zak Zinter said. “Haven’t really paid too, too much attention to it. But I mean if someone thinks we’re the villain, I mean, I’m fine being the villain.
“You know, sometimes the villain wins and takes down the superhero. So, if that’s got to be the case, let’s be the villain and let’s take them down. I’m fine with being the villain if that’s how the media and everyone else sees it outside the building.”
Michigan’s program and former staffer Connor Stalions are being investigated for in-person scouting, with Stalions allegedly paying people to attend opponents’ games and record their playcall signals from the stands.
The NCAA also is investigating whether Stalions was in disguise on the Central Michigan sideline during the Chippewas’ game against Michigan State this season.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said he won’t be attending this week’s College Football Playoff selection committee meeting so that he can handle “important matters regarding the ongoing investigation.”
“I look forward to being back in the room with my fellow committee members next week and every week through the end of this season,” Manuel said Monday in a statement.
Criticism also has come from opposing coaches, with Purdue‘s Ryan Walter asking publicly why there has been a delay in punishing Michigan as evidence mounts. Despite the criticism, Wolverines linebacker Jaylen Harrell said the team is focused only on what’s happening on the field.
“We don’t really react to it too much,” Harrell said. “We just keep everything, keep making the main thing, I think [Harbaugh] said last week, a one-track mind. We just focus on one day at a time, whatever we have in front us, we handle.”
The Wolverines have handled every opponent this season, sitting at 9-0 and outscoring their opponents 114-0 in the third quarter. Michigan has its biggest test upcoming with Penn State on the road Saturday.
Although Michigan’s players say they are not paying attention to the outside noise, Harrell believes it has been a motivator.
“I guess it’s an extra little chip,” Harrell said. “Whatever people got to say and, like I said, outside crowd noise, we don’t pay attention to it. But [our] main focus right now is prepare this week and get ready to battle with Penn State.”
Harbaugh said he has seen his players stay focused, and he mentioned after the 41-13 win over Purdue that the controversy has been the ultimate motivator for his players. While he said he is not able to comment on the investigation, he addressed the criticism and how he is viewing what is being said about him and the team.
“Nobody wants criticism, that’s why I work so hard to do everything right, both on and off the field,” Harbaugh said. “Because it’s been that way for a long time, since I was 22 years old. But if the criticism is directed to me and not my adolescent kids or the players on the football team, then I’m OK with it.”
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Mark Schlabach
Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and is expected to make a full recovery after doctors detected the disease in its early stages, the school announced Friday.
Freeze, 55, will continue coaching the Tigers while receiving treatment, Auburn officials said in a statement.
“Recently, Coach Freeze was diagnosed with an early form of prostate cancer,” the statement said. “Thankfully, it was detected early and his doctors have advised that it is very treatable and curable. He will continue his normal coaching duties and responsibilities, and with forthcoming proper treatment, is expected to make a full recovery.
“Coach Freeze is incredibly appreciative of our medical professionals and has asked that we use his experience as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing and scheduling annual health screenings.”
The Tigers are scheduled to start spring practice March 25.
Freeze’s teams went 11-14 (5-11 SEC) in his first two seasons, including a 5-7 campaign in 2024. With the additions of transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma), wide receivers Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech) and Horatio Fields (Wake Forest), offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech), and others, the Tigers are expected to be much improved this coming season.
At Liberty, Freeze coached from a hospital bed set up in the coaches’ box during the Flames’ 24-0 loss to Syracuse in his debut on Aug. 31, 2019. Freeze was recovering from surgery for a herniated disk in his back and a staph infection.
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Adam Rittenberg
Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler is leaving the school after six seasons to become quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Loeffler, 50, went 27-41 at Bowling Green but led the Falcons to bowl appearances in each of the past three seasons, posting a 16-10 record in MAC play during the span.
He will replace Doug Nussmeier, who left the Eagles with Kellen Moore to become the New Orleans Saints‘ offensive coordinator. Loeffler will work under new Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who had been the team’s passing game coordinator and associate head coach.
“Scot has been dedicated to not only BGSU Football, but to all our student-athletes and BGSU Athletics, as well as our Falcon Marching Band and spirit programs,” university president Rodney Rogers said in a statement. “He cares deeply about player development and student success, and we wish him all the best as he continues his coaching career in the NFL with the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles.”
Loeffler returns to the NFL for the first time since 2008, when he coached quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions. A former Michigan quarterback, Loeffler coached QBs at his alma mater from 2002 to 2007 and also with Central Michigan and Florida. He first became an offensive coordinator with Temple in 2011 and made coordinator stops with Auburn, Virginia Tech and Boston College before landing his first head-coaching opportunity at Bowling Green.
The coaching change means Bowling Green players now have a 30-day window to enter the NCAA transfer portal. The Falcons had already lost three All-MAC performers to the portal in December in running back Terion Stewart (Virginia Tech), offensive tackle Alex Wollschlaeger (Kentucky) and linebacker Joseph Sipp Jr. (Kansas). Bowling Green also is losing record-setting tight end Harold Fannin Jr. to the NFL draft.
Athletic director Derek van der Merwe will lead the search for Loeffler’s replacement. In a statement, Van der Merwe praised Loeffler for building “a very successful program in a challenging climate in collegiate sports.
“I am looking forward to this process of finding the next great leader for our program who embraces what it means to be a Falcon,” Van der Merwe added.
ESPN’s Max Olson contributed to this report.
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