Michigan Under Investigation For Sign Stealing

[Tidelines]

They must have self-esteem issues if they felt a need to spy on Michigan State. Which is why you cheat in the first place, I guess.

 

[DrollTide]

It's probably already been said, but the dude was standing on the sideline, next to the DC, with the opponents' signals on a card, pointing at opponent signs, with the DC changing the play, every play, every opponent.

Nobody asked him how he got the signs? Noone on staff heard the rumors that Wolvie was sign-stealing? At the very least, this is lack of institutional control.

Like all cheating, the tendency is to start small, but you get greedy, you get brazen, and get caught.

 

[colbysullivan]

If this sign stealing/video taping/espionage was as widespread as most are saying, I don’t see where Harbaugh can built a case for plausible deniability. A couple of folks, you can playoff as “rogue staffers”. But if there was an intricate network of multiple people, then someone will likely talk, pulling the trigger on Harbaugh.
The more people involved, the more difficult it is to keep everyone quiet.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

It's probably already been said, but the dude was standing on the sideline, next to the DC, with the opponents' signals on a card, pointing at opponent signs, with the DC changing the play, every play, every opponent.

Nobody asked him how he got the signs? Noone on staff heard the rumors that Wolvie was sign-stealing? At the very least, this is lack of institutional control.

Like all cheating, the tendency is to start small, but you get greedy, you get brazen, and get caught.

Every scandal that is ever exposed results from a benign, almost seemingly harmless incident.

Then they pull on the thread......

 

[CB4]

This was Harbaugh’s press conference on Monday. We know he is a weird, quirky guy. And I understand he has been told not to comment on the investigations which makes answering difficult , but damn, Harbaugh acts like a squirrel on meth.

 

[BearFoot]

This was Harbaugh’s press conference on Monday. We know he is a weird, quirky guy. And I understand he has been told not to comment on the investigations which makes answering difficult , but damn, Harbaugh acts like a squirrel on meth.

He states over and over that he has a “one-track mind” and it’s focussed on his football team…..

…..and then he goes off on a tangent where he opines on the value and characteristics of field corn versus those of house plants.

 

[BloodyTusk]

BREAKING: Michigan Wolverines Now Facing New Serious Allegations Involving Ball Boys

The Michigan Wolverines have been hit with yet another accusation as their ball boys have now come under scrutiny.

www.totalprosports.com

 

[Ole Man Dan]

Every scandal that is ever exposed results from a benign, almost seemingly harmless incident.

Then they pull on the thread......

I think the NCAA and Michigan to a lesser extent all know that if they dig into that 'Cow Pattie' they are going to find more...
One of these days someone will say...
'I don't care if they are Michigan, enough is enough'

 

[BamaInBham]

delete

 

[BamaInBham]

A post from another site from poster tide06. Italics and bold font mine.

"NCAA has:
-video evidence of the guy stealing signs at multiple games over multiple seasons
-video evidence of him on their sidelines
-video evidence of him communicating with UM coaches to use the signs in-game
-financial records of him being paid by UM coaches and boosters
-I’m sure there are texts which they have between him and UM coaches/boosters
-he was shown to have been sent to CMU to steal signs and coordinate with McElwain against Michigan State
-Harbaugh was already suspended for two games this year for covid violations
-FBI is investigating them for hacking computers to gain an advantage

Bottom line Harbaugh is done. I doubt they wrap it up in season but he’s gone with a show cause and will hop to the NFL.

I would be shocked if UM doesnt vacate last season and this current season due to the obvious competitive advantage they gained.

It’s important to note this almost went nuclear in the B10. Teams were threatening not to play UM because the B10 was trying to slow play it and had to get involved or games were going to be cancelled. That would’ve caused a media rights issue with Fox, etc so I don’t think they can put this genie back in the bottle."

 

[BamaInBham]

Another post from the same site by poster dailybuck. The italics, bold font and parenthetical remarks are mine.

If you go to the video links, you should start at the beginning of the video, not where they cut in.

"Devastating reporting from Bruce Feldman. Said that he and other reporters at the Athletic asked coaches how much of a difference this cheating made to the outcome and for them to rate it on a scale of 1 to 5. 95% (50) of the coaches rated it as a 3 or above. Some coaches said it could give the cheaters a 21 point advantage in a game. Most of the coaches thought the cheating was very serious. Starts at minute 3 of Youtube video. LINK

Also, Paul Finebaum at 1:00 said it was extremely nefarious and could be the biggest scandal in college football history. 3:54 LINK

I think Michigan needs to be disciplined during this season and not after the college football playoffs. It their team wins the championship and gets the fruits of the cheating, no one at Michigan will care that they got caught cheating."

 

[Redwood Forrest]

I don't' understand why some coaches pretend there is no advantage to stealing signals. We all know a prohibitive favorite doesn't care if the other side knows their signals. But If the game is expected to be close then of course there is an advantage, just as a bad call or a penalty can alter the outcome.

 

[UAH]

I don't' understand why some coaches pretend there is no advantage to stealing signals. We all know a prohibitive favorite doesn't care if the other side knows their signals. But If the game is expected to be close then of course there is an advantage, just as a bad call or a penalty can alter the outcome.

With Michigan's strength of schedule it is really hard to see how sign stealing becomes such an obsession. Crazy to have it surface now!

 

[whatsamatta U]

I had read somewhere that the NFL was monitoring this and would probably not accept Harbaugh back with open arms. I can't remember exactly how the article was worded, but if the NCAA slams Harbaugh then the NFL would not approve his hiring until his sanctions were over.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

A post from another site from poster tide06. Italics and bold font mine.

"NCAA has:
-video evidence of the guy stealing signs at multiple games over multiple seasons
-video evidence of him on their sidelines
-video evidence of him communicating with UM coaches to use the signs in-game
-financial records of him being paid by UM coaches and boosters
-I’m sure there are texts which they have between him and UM coaches/boosters
-he was shown to have been sent to CMU to steal signs and coordinate with McElwain against Michigan State
-Harbaugh was already suspended for two games this year for covid violations
-FBI is investigating them for hacking computers to gain an advantage

Bottom line Harbaugh is done. I doubt they wrap it up in season but he’s gone with a show cause and will hop to the NFL.

I would be shocked if UM doesnt vacate last season and this current season due to the obvious competitive advantage they gained.

It’s important to note this almost went nuclear in the B10. Teams were threatening not to play UM because the B10 was trying to slow play it and had to get involved or games were going to be cancelled. That would’ve caused a media rights issue with Fox, etc so I don’t think they can put this genie back in the bottle."

Another post from the same site by poster dailybuck. The italics, bold font and parenthetical remarks are mine.

If you go to the video links, you should start at the beginning of the video, not where they cut in.

"Devastating reporting from Bruce Feldman. Said that he and other reporters at the Athletic asked coaches how much of a difference this cheating made to the outcome and for them to rate it on a scale of 1 to 5. 95% (50) of the coaches rated it as a 3 or above. Some coaches said it could give the cheaters a 21 point advantage in a game. Most of the coaches thought the cheating was very serious. Starts at minute 3 of Youtube video. LINK

Also, Paul Finebaum at 1:00 said it was extremely nefarious and could be the biggest scandal in college football history. 3:54 LINK

I think Michigan needs to be disciplined during this season and not after the college football playoffs. It their team wins the championship and gets the fruits of the cheating, no one at Michigan will care that they got caught cheating."

If just half of that stuff is actually true, it's horrible for Michigan, Harbaugh, the AD, and a whole bunch of footsoldiers. It could even take down the president of the University.

I thought two claims were most interesting -- (1) the claim that there are phone / text records and (2) the claim that the FBI is investigating the possibility of hacked computers. Here's why:

If, as the poster claims, the NCAA really does have phone / text records, it'll be interesting to find out how they got them.

The NCAA famously doesn't have subpoena power. So it would take a law enforcement agency going to a judge to get a subpoena (or subpoenas?) approved...which, because the NCAA has no power to do that, would indicate issues beyond violation of NCAA rules and into the legal world.

If the FBI is really investigating potential hacking, and finds that it happened to one or more state-owned computer(s), whoever did it is looking at some no-foolin' prison time.

If it's more than one hacker, there'll be a race to give up information in exchange for leniency.

I don't know which of the above allegations are true. But with lots of specific information leaking out, and a deafeningly silent response from Ann Arbor, it's a dead certainty that at least some are.

So yeah, I think it's time to buy popcorn.

 

[Guido]

No way the big10 does anything except think about this, what if osu beats the blue and knocks them out of the NC hunt. Then the big10 commish could ban mich from the rose bowl, look good and not cost themselves any mula.

 

[lowend]

I had read somewhere that the NFL was monitoring this and would probably not accept Harbaugh back with open arms. I can't remember exactly how the article was worded, but if the NCAA slams Harbaugh then the NFL would not approve his hiring until his sanctions were over.

Maybe he'll have more time to work the chain gang at the local high school next year.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Pressure is starting to mount for Big Ten. I think they'll try and wait it out and see what happens, but end of the day, they most likely will be ruled ineligible for conference game and playoff.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Why can't the guys who are going to cheat like this have the common sense to make sure they send a text message EARLY in the scandal that says, "This is a violation of NCAA rules. Please do not text me again else I will notify my school and the NCAA. The only reason I'm not now is because you may not be aware of this, and I don't want to cause you trouble based solely on your zeal."

And then use the spare phone that you destroy (the "burner") or none at all.

I mean, you don't have to be overly bright to think about laying down the denial, do you????

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I don't' understand why some coaches pretend there is no advantage to stealing signals.

I don't think anybody actually thinks it isn't an advantage.

HOW MUCH of an advantage is the issue.

The Houston Astros might know a fastball is coming, but you still have to hit the ball, which even the best hitters fail in MLB about 7 out of 10 times, maybe a bit less.

I would think that most teams know what is in most other teams' playbooks. Remember when Auburn hit that insane TD right before halftime (I think it was in 2018), and Saban didn't even flinch, saying he knew they had that play in their arsenal - and that it was coming?

So YES...it IS an advantage because Harbaugh or anyone wouldn't even try this without thinking it was.
But HOW MUCH of an advantage?

Well, it isn't going to turn Purdue into national champions, I'll put it that way.