Jim Harbaugh's Comment About 'Cheaters' in Recruiting Comes off as Cheap and Petty

Jim Harbaugh's tenure at Michigan has not gone as well as many hoped it would.

So, Harbaugh has decided to whine and make excuses for his team's disappointing performance over the last four seasons.

In a new book called 'Overtime: Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines at the Crossroads of College Football' by John U. Bacon set to be released in September, Harbaugh repeatedly mentions the difficulties in competing with programs that "cheat" in recruiting without naming any specific team.

With Harbaugh as head coach, Michigan has struggled in bowl games, has never beaten rival Ohio State and has not earned a Big Ten title.

There are high expectations on Michigan this year, so Harbaugh should be more focused on coaching his team than making excuses. A coach is supposed to lead his team and preach accountability.

If Harbaugh really wants an answer to his recruiting struggles down south, he should look no further than the budget. Michigan's recruiting finances allow for a $2,400 allowance for out-of-state players, while that number is doubled at some SEC schools. In this sense, Michigan is competing against itself.

But by whining to an author about other teams cheating, Harbaugh is setting a precedent for his players and other coaches. When things start going rough, will the players give up because of the unfair advantage other teams may or may not have?

Michigan's recruiting rank is still relatively high, especially in the Big Ten. Still, they're going to struggle competing against the likes of Alabama and Clemson when those schools are willing to aid their student-athletes far more than those in charge in Ann Arbor.

No amount of whining can make up for that.