In their faces

 Well, isn't this a fat ol' raspberry.

Also a big, honkin' "neener-neener-neener."

Also the University of Michigan, a prestigious university of long repute, deciding to go lowbrow in a scruffy, Randy-Quaid-at-the-end-of-"Independence Day" way.

Remember that? Quaid's character's last words as he flew his jet right up the mother ship's poop chute?

Up ... yours, you alien a**holes!

Now comes U of M, saying "Up ... yours, you NCAA a**holes!"

This after Michigan invited Harbaugh back to serve as honorary captain for UM's home opener against Fresno State -- almost immediately after the NCAAs handed Harbaugh a four-year show-cause penalty for essentially being a shady ne'er-do-well.

More specifically, the NCAA charged that Harbaugh "engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations."

Michigan's reaction: "Pffft."

And also, "Man delivered us a national title. Who cares if he broke a few of your dumb rules?"

And also, "Face it, you NCAA guys are just mad he escaped to the NFL, with whom have no extradition treaty."

The latter of which, frankly, has some weight behind it.

No other explanation for the NCAA's edict makes as much sense, given that it's largely pointless, baldly vindictive and more than a little silly. It's like telling a guy who's left Podunkville for the big city, "You'll never work in this town again!"  Or, "Fine! Go! But you'll be in BIG TROUBLE if you ever come back, mister!"

Yeah, boy. I'm sure that four-year show-cause penalty will cause Harbaugh many sleepless nights as he sends his Chargers out to battle Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday afternoons. Darn, I miss those September warmups against Central Michigan and Appalachian State. Takin' on Mahomes and Andy Reid just doesn't measure up.

Rrrright.

Of course, Michigan sticking its finger in the NCAA's eye has its elements of farce, too, considering on August 31 they'll be honoring the man who's largely responsible for putting the Wolverines in the NCAA's sights. The threat of sanctions still hovers over the program as the Sherrone Moore era begins, and that threat is the residue of shenanigans that happened on Jim Harbaugh's watch. But, oh, that national title!

And so: Welcome back, Coach. We forgive you for getting us in hot water by strategically looking the other way at all the right times. Heck, looking the other way is the secret to success in big-boy college football! Everyone knows that! So way to go! 

Yeesh. Almost sounds as if Michigan was willing to sacrifice a piece of its integrity for a national championship. But some might say that's unfair, and it probably is.

Or, you know, maybe.