Harbaugh tells players’ parents he’s not leaving Michigan
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has sent an email to parents of players on his team, refuting a report saying representatives are working on his departure from his alma mater.
“I am reaching out to let you know that the recent claims that I am ‘pursuing an exit strategy’ are total crap,” Harbaugh wrote in an email, a copy of which was obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. “It’s an annual strategy driven by our enemies to cause disruption to our program and to negatively recruit.
“By the way, I don’t even have an ‘agent or representative.’ I am committed to your sons, their education and their development as football players and people.”
The person who shared the email’s content with AP did so on condition of anonymity because it was intended only for players’ parents.
Harbaugh was responding to a report citing sources saying his representatives have their eye on getting Harbaugh back in the NFL, where he was a head coach in San Francisco. Last year, former Ohio State star receiver and Fox Sports analyst Cris Carter said Harbaugh was a potential candidate to lead the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns.
Michigan won 10 games last season for the third time under Harbaugh, but dropped to 0-4 against the rival Buckeyes.
Harbaugh, who is 43-16 with the Wolverines, is in the fifth year of a seven-year contract with a compensation package that gives him more than $7 million per year. He returned in 2015 to the school where he was a star quarterback after going 44-19-1 with the 49ers, winning the 2012 NFC championship.
SOONER SCHOONER GROUNDED AFTER ACCIDENT >> The University of Oklahoma says the “Sooner Schooner” will not run the rest of the season after it tipped over during a home game against West Virginia last Saturday, according to an announcement from senior associate athletic director Kenny Mossman.
The Schooner, a miniature covered wagon, circles the field after Oklahoma scores. The mishap came after a second-quarter touchdown during Oklahoma’s 52-14 win. Mossman said Tuesday that the university will repair the damaged Schooner and use it for viewing purposes, but it will not run. He said a new Schooner is under construction and should be ready to run its customary loop on the field for the Spring Game in 2020.
Soccer
Pozuelo scores twice, Toronto advances to conference final >> Alejandro Pozuelo converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute for his second goal of the game, and Toronto FC beat topseeded New York City FC 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals in New York.
Playing without striker Jozy Altidore (quad) and defender Omar Gonzalez (hamstring), Toronto advanced to face the winner of Philadelphia-Atlanta game Thursday night on Oct. 30 for a spot in the MLS Cup. It’s Toronto’s third Eastern Conference final in the last four seasons.
Pozuelo scored in the 47th by intercepting an illadvised header to the goalkeeper and sliding it inside the post. On the winner, he sent Sean Johnson diving the wrong way with a chip shot down the middle.
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi tied it in the 69th, sending home Maximiliano Moralez’s cross at the back post.
The game was played at Citi Field.
MLS NAMES LAFC’S BRADLEY COACH OF YEAR >> Bob Bradley, who guided Los Angeles FC to the best regular season in league history, was named the coach of year. LAFC (21-4-9) reached the MLS records for points (72), goals (85) and goal differential (plus-48) while dazzling the continent with an aggressive, cohesive brand of soccer. It’s the third MLS coach of year honor for Bradley.
LAFC takes on rival LA Galaxy tonight in a onematch Western Conference semifinal.
The Quakes’ Matias Almeyda was fifth in voting.
SPANISH LEAGUE CONSIDERS LEGAL ACTION OVER ‘CLÁSICO’ CHANGE >> The Spanish league says it will consider legal action against the decision by the Spanish soccer federation to play the “clásico” match between Barcelona and Real Madrid on a Wednesday in December.
The league released a statement shortly after the federation confirmed Dec. 18 as the new date. The match was initially scheduled for Saturday but was postponed because of a planned separatist rally in the riot-stricken Catalan capital. The new date was proposed by the clubs, but the league wanted the match to be played on Dec. 7, a Saturday, because it would better suit television rights holders.
Golf
PGA TOUR HOPES TO ‘NEVER LEAVE JAPAN >> Joining forces with a celebrity tycoon who dreams of going to the moon, the PGA Tour is committed to being in Japan for the long haul with its first tournament starting this week in Inzai City, Japan.
With the help of businessman Yusaku Maezawa, known for taking chances, the sport’s biggest names hope to usher in a new era for golf-mad Japan at the Zozo Championship.
Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy are all here at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, about 50 miles east of Tokyo.
“When we make a commitment to bring a new event to a market, that’s a commitment that is permanent,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday. “Our intention is to never leave Japan, to always have a PGA Tour event in Japan from this day forward.” 15-YEAR-OLD BECOMES
YOUNGEST WINNER OF SANCTIONED TOUR EVENT >> Josh Hill became the youngest winner of a sanctioned tour event Wednesday when the 15-year-old amateur from Dubai shot 8-under 62 to win the Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) Open on the MENA Tour. The MENA Tour holds tournaments in the Middle East and North Africa and receives points from the Official World Golf Ranking. The previous youngest winner of an OWGR event was Ryo Ishikawa, who was 15 years, 8 months when he won on the Japan Golf Tour in 2007. Hill is two months younger.
Tennis
FEDERER EASES INTO SWISS
INDOORS QUARTERFINALS >> Roger Federer eased to a 6-0, 6-3 win over 49thranked Radu Albot in the second round of the Swiss Indoors.
The top-seeded Federer had to save two break points in the first set on his way to sweeping the first eight games of the match in Basel, Switzerland.
Federer is seeking a 10th title at his hometown event.
Other winners in firstround matches Wednesday were David Goffin, Stan Wawrinka, Filip Krajinovic and Francis Tiafoe.