Jim Harbaugh fires back at Ohio State's AD, mocks 'tattoo fiasco'

Michigancoach Jim Harbaugh returned to Twitter on Tuesday night, this time to return a jab from Ohio Stateathletic director Gene Smith.

Earlier Tuesday, Smith told reporters in Columbus that he'd consider taking his school's football team on a spring trip if "we were jump-starting our program," before adding that the Buckeyes are "in a different place."

Smith's comments were a shot at Michigan's recent trip to Florida to conduct its spring practice.

As he has been known to do in the past, Harbaugh fired back later Tuesday night, this time in an apparent reference to the tattoo scandal that rocked the Buckeyes program of deposed coach Jim Tressel in 2010.

Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott later responded, referencing the Buckeyes' 42-13 win at Michigan in November.

Smith issued a Twitter apology on Wednesday morning.

Harbaugh, meanwhile, has previously responded to comments from his "Rocky Top colleague" Butch Jones and "the Georgia coach" Kirby Smart.

Harbaugh said earlier this month that he turns to Twitter to right wrongs and to find some humor. There's a good chance that Tuesday's response was an attempt at the latter, although there isn't much of a chance it will be viewed that way in Columbus.