Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and members of his staff are in New Jersey for another series of events with Paramus Catholic, a talent-rich high school program that has taken on the unofficial look of a farm team for the Wolverines.
Multiple players, including Jabrill Peppers and Rashan Gary, have left Paramus Catholic to join the Harbaugh-led Michigan program and even the former head coach, Chris Partridge, is now on staff as a linebackers coach. Harbaugh will be giving an address at the school's commencement on Thursday night as well as participating in a camp this week on the school's campus.
This infiltration of New Jersey to establish a Michigan-friendly pipeline is not something that makes Rutgers pleased. New head coach Chris Ash already tapped Urban Meyer to help with a camp meant to compete with Michigan's and now it looks like members of the Rutgers' student body are involved as well.
Secret societies, vandalism and curses; this story has it all.
According to NJ.com, school officials arrived on campus Wednesday morning to find " Rutgers magnets across the fields, a teddy bear and Rutgers paper packet on the 50-yard line of the football field."
NJ.com received an email at 2:51 a.m. from a group called the "Order of the Bulls Blood," claiming to be a a group of "elite student leaders." Claiming they have "had enough of Michigan" and "are ready to protect our state," the group took credit for the vandalism and placed a curse on the Wolverines' football program.
"Tonight sparked the beginning of the end for Wolverine Football, and no longer will they return to their former glory," the letter read. "The Curse of The Bambino reigned for 86 years, Michigan's will last for 28."
Paramus Catholic officials have gotten used to this response, according to school president James Vail.
"Some people have fermented the situation to this point, raising the level of emotion and vitriol that results in a situation like this,'' Vail told NJ.com. "This is not the first time we've been the target of threats in recent weeks. I'm not at liberty to say what because those things are a police matter now. It's sad, really. We're talking about running a football camp, providing opportunities for kids to get instruction and maybe get some increased exposure. To me, that's the bigger story. Why is our high school viewed as such a threat to (Rutgers)? The Hun School just had a camp yesterday, and from I've seen it went off without a hitch.''
According to an NJ.com feature from 2015, the Order of the Bull's Blood claims to be Rutgers' oldest and most secret society. Though only reportedly tied to elaborate pranks around campus and New Jersey, the group claims to have been around since 1834.
Given the ongoing impact of Lil' B's curses in the NBA, you would think this is something that Michigan and its fans should take seriously, but not Jim Harbaugh.
To nobody's surprise, the Michigan coach took to Twitter on Wednesday night to share his thoughts on the situation.
History has documented many "secret orders" that have brought our country great shame.
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) June 9, 2016
