Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is able to take much less cash if it means faculty soccer gamers and different athletes can be paid.
“For the gamers to be compensated, I’m utilizing my voice, and I might take much less cash for the gamers to have a share. I hope different coaches would use their voice to precise the identical factor,” Harbaugh stated Sunday.
Harbaugh, a longtime advocate for paying gamers, made his remark throughout a information convention to preview his workforce’s Large Ten championship sport in opposition to Iowa on Saturday in Indianapolis. He stated he was reminded of the sacrifice athletes make when offensive lineman Zak Zinter broke his leg within the third quarter of the Wolverines’ 30-24 win over Ohio State.
“Who will be in opposition to the gamers being compensated for what they do, or not less than even minimal wage? I imply, who may argue in opposition to that when there’s harm or not?” stated Harbaugh, whose base wage is $7.63 million this 12 months with a further $3 million in bonuses doable.
Athletes are in a position to earn cash from their identify, picture and likeness, however usually are not paid straight by colleges.
FILE – Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches warmups earlier than an NCAA faculty soccer sport in opposition to Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Michigan received 42-27. (AP Picture/Tony Ding, File)
School athletics have by no means been extra profitable for colleges and coaches. The Large Ten is within the first 12 months of a seven-year tv contract value $1 billion per 12 months, fueling a dramatic rise in coaches’ salaries and spending on athletic services.
Harbaugh stated the Ohio State-Michigan sport was the most important sporting occasion of the week, judging by what number of promotions for the sport he noticed on tv.
“The buildup and the hype and the discuss gamers’ legacies and all the things that might probably be rolled into one sport, on the road, and then you definately see the quantity of individuals which might be benefiting financially from these gamers’ efforts on the market,” Harbaugh stated. “I ask different coaches to get on board, to make use of their platform, their voice for the student-athletes — not simply soccer gamers, all student-athletes — to be sharing on this ever rising income.”
Harbaugh has accomplished his three-game sideline suspension for violating the Large Ten sportsmanship coverage in connection to the Michigan sign-stealing scandal. He will likely be again on the sideline this week when the Wolverines (12-0) strive for his or her third straight Large Ten championship. Iowa (10-2) is a 22 1/2-point underdog, based on FanDuel Sportsbook.