Harbaugh, U-M ‘laser’ focused amid NCAA probe
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Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff Writer
EAST LANSING, Michigan — Despite an NCAA investigation into alleged sign stealing, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and his players said there was a laser focus within the program this week.
Michigan played in-state rival Michigan State and came away with a convincing 49-0 victory on Saturday. Harbaugh said his players never let the reports or investigation permeate their preparation and how they took on this opponent.
“I think there’s been attempts to diminish the team in a lot of ways,” Harbaugh said after the game. “‘Starting with this is too easy of a schedule. These guys aren’t very good.’ And that kind of thing. But they just play, and they’ll do that again today, we’ll get on to the next one and move on with humble hearts.
“Their focus was laser, laser like. Staying strong, focused, just on a mission.”
The NCAA is investigating Michigan for allegedly scouting future opponents in person at games, which would be a violation of NCAA rules. Michigan has since suspended staffer Connor Stalions, who is the focus of the investigation.
Despite the news coming out this week, Harbaugh and his players said it wasn’t a distraction and didn’t limit their goal of winning this game.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy said that Harbaugh did address the team this week about the allegations, but there was no rah-rah speech given. It was a message of staying focused on the task at hand and not letting outside noise take away from their season.
“We do a tremendous job of keeping the main thing the main thing and staying in the present moment,” McCarthy said. “Controlling what we can control, just striving to get better and we know this is a special group. We just strive every single day to see how good we can really get, and all the outside distractions and all the allegations against Coach Harbaugh, that doesn’t do anything to us, because we’re just out there trying to play ball, have fun with our boys.”
Tight end Colston Loveland echoed McCarthy, adding that the Wolverines believed they had to stay focused to remain undefeated.
“Really had a single mindset of getting prepared, beating State. That was pretty much, if anyone around the building wanted to talk about anything else, they didn’t want to,” Harbaugh said. “They wanted to just talk about the game, preparation and practice and get ready to play and execute and I thought they played their best. We have a little saying around here that says what you do speaks so loudly, we can’t even hear what you’re saying.”
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Jake Trotter, ESPN Senior Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan star tight end Colston Loveland has been ruled out of Saturday’s game against No. 11 USC with an undisclosed injury.
Loveland suffered an apparent shoulder injury in last weekend’s win over Arkansas State. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore hasn’t specified the nature of the injury.
A preseason All-American, Loveland leads the Wolverines with 19 catches for 187 yards; no other Michigan pass catcher has more than nine receptions.
The No. 18 Wolverines also changed starting quarterbacks this week, moving from Davis Warren to Alex Orji. Warren had thrown six interceptions in three games, including three last weekend. He threw two picks in a 31-12 loss to Texas on Sept. 7.
Orji has only seven career passing attempts but has rushed for 58 yards in a relief role this season.
Moore said this week that he wants to see Orji “take the reins” of the Michigan offense with his opportunity.
“Excited for him,” Moore said. “I know he’s chomping at the bit.”
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Jeff Passan, ESPN
The Washington Nationals demoted All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams to the minor leagues after he stayed out all night at a Chicago-area casino, leaving only hours before a Friday day game against the Chicago Cubs, sources told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
The 23-year-old Abrams led off for the Nationals and went 0 for 3 with a walk and strikeout in Friday’s game, which started at 1 p.m. CT. He was informed of the demotion Friday night, sources said. He will be sent to West Palm Beach, home of the Nationals’ minor league complex.
Because Abrams has been with Washington for the entirety of the season, the demotion will not affect his service time. Players earn a full year of service with 172 days on the major league roster, and Abrams already has exceeded that threshold.
Abrams could, however, file a grievance through the Major League Baseball Players Association to fight for lost pay if he believes the demotion unjust. He would lose around $30,000 of his $752,000 salary for missing the season’s final week. Abrams will be arbitration-eligible this winter, entering the system for the first of four times as a Super 2.
Acquired as one of the centerpieces of the Juan Soto trade two years ago, Abrams parlayed a breakout first-half into an All-Star selection, hitting .268/.343/.489 with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases over the Nationals’ first 89 games. He struggled significantly in the second half, slashing .203/.260/.326, and Abrams’ defense has been a weakness throughout the season.
Still, the Nationals did not intend to send him to the minor leagues until they learned of his time spent at the casino, which was first reported Friday by CHGO.
“I just want it to be known it wasn’t performance-based,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters Saturday. “It’s an internal issue. I’m not going to give specifics.”
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson defensive end Peter Woods will not play for the 21st-ranked Tigers against NC State on Saturday because of a leg injury.
The team announced Woods’ status about 90 minutes before kickoff. Woods, 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, got hurt two weeks ago on a chop block below the knee in a 66-20 victory over App State. Woods came back in briefly after getting checked then missed the second half.
The Tigers were off last weekend.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has said Woods’ playing status was day-to-day. Swinney said Woods had not missed a practice. But Woods came out to the field for warmups in sneakers and sweatpants while other defensive linemen went through drills.
Woods leads the Tigers with 2½ tackles for loss.
Third-year sophomore Jahiem Lawson is listed as Woods’ backup on the depth chart.
NC State will be without starting quarterback Grayson McCall, who was hurt last week in a win over Louisiana Tech. Freshman CJ Bailey started for the Wolfpack.
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