Harbaugh: Big Ten 'tired of me asking' about rules

Apparently the Big Ten office has decided not to answer rules queries from Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show Monday night, discussed with host Jim Brandstatter the blocked punt by Penn State last Saturday.

“For real football enthusiasts out there, I didn’t realize this when the game was happening,” Harbaugh said. “We got a punt blocked in the game, and the ball was blocked behind the line of scrimmage. Nobody reacted. Nobody got on that ball until Chris Wormley went and picked the ball up and started running toward the Penn State goal line.

“You see it in the film that as soon as he picked it up and started running, the side judge started blowing his whistle and waving his arms and that ball should never have been blown dead. That should have been Chris Wormley running with the ball, because we all know that a punt blocked behind the line of scrimmage can be returned by either team. That ball was sitting there behind the line of scrimmage.”

Brandstatter asked Harbaugh if he asked the Big Ten for an explanation. Harbaugh recently asked the office for an explanation for an “intent to deceive” penalty for which Michigan was called against Rutgers.

“I think they’re tired of me asking,” Harbaugh said, laughing. “My texts aren’t being returned anymore. I’m going to use my time in other ways.”

But Brandstatter pressed, saying it would be interesting to get the explanation.

“I’m out of the explanation business for a while,” Harbaugh said.

angelique.chengelis@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/chengelis