Some thoughts on Michigan football and the NCAA investigation

Potential punishment

What’s annoying about all of this is the NCAA is leaking all of this out to its favorite reporters, who are all using Michigan opponents, who definitely have sour grapes, as their primary sources of information.

This was called a “vast network” of spies. In reality, it was Slations who bought the tickets in his name and had some people attending games to presumably record the opposing sideline.

The actual by-law in question only limits in-person scouting. A school also can’t pay for in-person scouting but there is no evidence that anyone outside of Stalions paid anyone to do anything.

This is the same person who was a Michigan football superfan and essentially did whatever it took, volunteering, buying a house, and renting all the rooms so he could live in Ann Arbor. It’s not a stretch to imagine he would use his personal means to get better at his job of stealing signs.

The impact was probably minimal because he could already use the TV copy, as well as the All-22 film. However, it seems clear he’s connected to in-person scouting. That is against the rules. There could be a gray area because none of the people who attended games are Michigan staffers.

People are wondering if a Michigan football fan was at a game, recorded a video, and emailed it of their own free will to the coaching staff, would that be illegal?

The point is that Michigan football should be able to fight this if the NCAA tries to level serious punishments. Stalions will get a show-cause penalty. He will also get terminated.

Michigan football should get probation. I don’t see games being vacated. The NCAA’s own working group almost eliminated this rule in the past decade because it provided little competitive advantage.

Jim Harbaugh could get hit with a lack of institutional control or something, but I don’t see how his punishment could be worse than Bill Self’s at Kansas.

The idea of Michigan being banned from the Big Ten title game because one staffer broke a minor rule is insane. It’s also why the NCAA shouldn’t be leaking selective information to Pete Thamel and others until the investigation is complete and Michigan can defend itself, which it can’t now.

What Michigan football should do is give Jim Harbaugh the contract extension he deserves, and give the NCAA the finger. However, that probably won’t happen.

I also don’t see this impacting the 2024 season. But we shall see.