Some thoughts on Michigan football and the NCAA investigation

Here are some thoughts about the NCAA investigation into potential Michigan football sign stealing, which again, isn’t against the rules. 

I’m really sick of people talking about the NCAA investigation into Michigan football relating to sign stealing because as we all know, stealing signs isn’t illegal.

What is against the rules is in-person scouting. So the report that Pete Thamel came out with on Monday, was confirmation of a Michigan football staffer, Connor Stalions, being connected to in-person scouting which isn’t allowed during the same season.

If Michigan football was intercepting radio communications of opposing coaching staffs, then yes, the Wolverines would be in huge trouble. But they didn’t do that and there is no evidence whatsoever that Michigan has done anything except have one rogue staffer possibly violate the in-person scouting rules.

Here are some thoughts on this “investigation” so far.

Everyone steals signs…everyone

Of course, Ohio State fans are going nuts, forgetting the fact that Ohio State stole Michigan’s signals and had them in 2018 and 2019. This isn’t a secret.

Remember when Michigan football played Alabama in the Outback Bowl and had the banners blocking their coaches? There was commentary about it on the broadcast and it’s because Ohio State and others stole Michigan’s signs.

Then again, there’s nothing illegal about it. You can use TV copy, as well as the All-22 and in-person (in-game) information to steal signals and if you don’t change your signals frequently, they are going to get stolen.

There’s a new video from an Ohio State TV reporter showing Connor Stalions on the sideline communicating with Jesse Minter after an Ohio State signal like it’s proof of something nefarious.

Big shock. That’s his job. Every major college football team has guys that steal signs — including Ohio State (Brent Zdebski). Maybe Ohio State, which said it changed its signals before the 2022 game, didn’t do a very good job of it.

Stalions had a sheet of signals. So what? That’s his job. Why wouldn’t you compile information and take it to the game with you? It’s not evidence of anything illegal no matter how much Ohio State fans want to complain.

The reality is that Michigan football kicked Ohio State’s ass in 2021 and 2022 and this had nothing to do with it, regardless of how badly OSU fans want their soft little team to be OK.

The NCAA needs to go the way of technology

Matt Rhule was asked about Michigan stealing signals against Nebraska earlier this season and he declined to answer.

What he did say that was college football should start using electronic communications just like they do in the NFL and even some high school programs.

There’s plenty of money for this to happen. We could get rid of all the sideline signals and all the allegations of sign-stealing, which have followed Ohio State in both ways.

Ohio State stole Michigan’s signals. Ryan Day also accused Clemson of stealing signs back in the College Footbal Playoff, which again is totally legal.

That would put an end to all the sign stealing that’s been rampant in college football for as long as we can remember.

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.