Jim Harbaugh 'bitterly disappointed' with 'outrageous' officiating

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jim Harbaugh was unrestrained.

After his No. 3 Michigan team lost to No. 2 Ohio State today at Ohio Stadium, 30-27 in double overtime, his focus was not targeted on the Buckeyes.

He went after the officials, calling it "outrageous."

"I'm bitterly disappointed with the officiating," Harbaugh said.

►Seidel: Officiating worse than Michigan's mistakes, turnovers

He was loaded up with ammunition, most significantly the fourth-down play on defense in the second overtime when Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was apparently stopped by Chris Wormley's arm. That gave the Buckeyes another play and it became Curtis Samuel running in for the game-winning touchdown.

"My view on the first down was it was that short," he said, holding his hands apart a few inches.

But there were an abundance of others.

"That spot," he started. "The graphic displays on the interference penalties, the one not called on us on (U-M receiver) Grant Perry clearly was being hooked before the ball got there. And the previous penalty they called on (U-M safety) Delano Hill, the ball's uncatchable and by the receiver. I'm bitterly disappointed in the officiating. Can't make that any more clear."

That wasn't the end, though.

"Multiple holding penalties let go, multiple false starts, the official on my side is supposed to be watching that," Harbaugh said. "He was concerned about whatever our coaches are in the white or not in the white. Not on the field. Their coaches were on the field, in the huddle at times. I'm bitter."

He was called for one himself, an unsportsmanlike for throwing his headset and papers to the ground. The explanation on that one really threw him.

"They could have been watching the game rather than being concerned about throwing a hat," Harbaugh said. "Can you throw a hat? Can you throw a script toward your sideline? That's a penalty? I asked him that and he said, it is in basketball. I said, this isn't basketball. He told me that he officiates basketball. I don't know the relevance. He told me it would have been a technical in basketball.

"I'm bitter."

►Related: Overheard from players, coaches after U-M's loss

Harbaugh said he has left games upset at the officiating but this was different.

"I can remember a few other times, but not to this level,"  he said. "I thought there were some outrageous calls, including the one that would have ended the game."

His players heard his speech in the locker room and he said it sounded much the same as what he said publicly.

“We didn’t get the calls we wanted and coach Harbaugh has his opinions and we back him up on what he has to say,” linebacker Mike McCray said. “Just like he backs us up.”

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.

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