![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
The Big 10 suspended University of Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games on Nov. 10 after reports of a Wolverines staffer’s sign-stealing plot sparked major headlines.
Less than two months later, Harbaugh raised the national championship trophy. His team stood on top of the college football world after a multiple-touchdown victory against Washington.
The NCAA and Big 10 investigation into an alleged scheme, in which a Michigan staffer recorded opposing teams’ signs at their home games, took longer than expected. Michigan fired the staffer accused of stealing signs before any verdict appeared, but Harbaugh was still suspended after almost two weeks of waiting.
The suspension was also Harbaugh’s second of the season. Michigan’s self-imposed punishment, a practice where teams can take accountability and delegate their own punishments for low-level recruiting violations, took the coach out for the first three games of the season. Between the two suspensions combined, Harbaugh missed half of his team’s regular-season contests.
All championship teams experience struggles, but they usually unfold over multiple years as coaches rebuild programs to top-tier levels. A historic program facing such controversy yet returning to the top of college football within the same season is unprecedented.
Interestingly, the scandal might be why Michigan closed this gap with such ease. When overcoming in-season struggles strengthens teams’ resolve, it usually comes at an on-field cost, such as narrow losses or injuries to crucial players. The best teams are able to respond by improving despite these events, and players step up to improve the squad. For instance, the Florida State Seminoles, who lost Heisman contender quarterback Jordan Travis for the season in Week 11, ended up winning this year’s ACC championship with relative ease, despite the loss of their superstar field general. Even after their head coach’s return and their ascent to number one in the nation going into the CFP, the team played with a palpable chip on their shoulder
In contrast, Michigan attained underdog status without ever facing adversity on the field, as the team was undefeated and healthy yet staring down the barrel of Harbaugh’s suspension. In the weeks following, the Wolverines played with a newfound intensity after Harbaugh’s suspension only led to increased dominance on the field, including a win over their rival, Ohio State.
Even after their head coach’s return and their ascent to number one in the nation going into the CFP, the team played with a palpable chip on their shoulder. The Wolverines bullied opponents on defense and in the run game, while attacking aggressively through the air and forcing crucial turnovers.
The scandal breathed new life into a team that, at the time, struggled to separate itself from the pack of blue-bloods at the top of the CFP rankings. While initially the verdict from the investigation seemed as if it could sink the Wolverines’ hopes for the season and set the program back years, it ended up being a driving factor towards their title win, creating a legend that will last as long as the 2023-24 championship banner hangs.
