The latest insane rumor in Michigan football scandal

People are now accusing Michigan football of aiding South Carolina in its efforts to beat Tennessee and Clemson last season. 

There has been some wild stuff coming out about Michigan football in recent days having to do with the sign-stealing investigation.

Ever since the story came to light last week, there has been a slow drip of information. The latest came from the Washington Post, saying an outside firm was hired to collect evidence, which was then presented to the NCAA last week.

There are more details about Connor Stalions and a reported $15K budget, with details for scouting games in person. There is also talk of Michigan assistants having access to information on a computer related to this.

The Washington Post did say the firm provided no evidence linking any of this directly to Jim Harbaugh. It’s also worth noting that the Washington Post writer, went to school with Ryan Day (they both attended at the same time).

That tidbit about Day and the reporter was drummed up on a Michigan message board. It could mean nothing but it is a fact people should be aware of.

However, there are a lot of crazy rumors going around that relate to this Michigan football scandal and the latest is absolutely wild.

The latest Michigan football rumor involves aiding South Carolina

If you haven’t heard of this, a Tennessee fan actually had knowledge of the Connor Stalions scouting ring back in 2022. He appeared to at least, citing a friend who actually was “paid” to scout the Vols game against Vanderbilt.

There has been other reporting about the scouting ring run by Stalions focusing on some potential playoff opponents.

However, Vols fans have taken this all a step further, and the same fan who first reported on the message boards about it is also among a group of fans claiming that Michigan football provided this information to Shane Beamer and South Carolina.

Over at Volquest, a Tennessee message board for Vols On3 site, the same fan and others have a bunch of threads about how Michigan got freaked out about the Vols offense and gave the info to Beamer, who used it to beat Clemson and Tennessee — doing Michigan some sort of favor.

Now, I get that Stalions clearly broke some rules and that his scouting went beyond the Big Ten. However, this would suggest a level of coordination that hasn’t been reported.

I also have a hard time believing Michigan football would go to another program and say essentially, we have been stealing signs — don’t tell anyone but here are signs for your next two games — go win.

Call me naive, (people have) but I don’t see Jim Harbaugh and the program authorizing this scheme that in total, at least according to the Washington Post, cost $15,000.

If that did come from the program in an official capacity, it should be easy to figure out and follow the money trail. Michigan football coaches have also given the NCAA access to phones and tablets, according to the Detroit News, so we’ll know more soon.

Regardless, the rumors are getting a little crazy. Many are using the Washington Post article as “proof” that Harbaugh was involved, even though the article literally states that the firm provided no evidence tying it to Harbaugh.

It’s just my opinion, but if that firm had that evidence of Harbaugh’s involvement, we would know.

The NCAA is clearly out to win the PR war and while I expect more stuff to come out, probably about Stalions actually going to games himself, I’m curious if that’s the worst of it.

I have a feeling we’ll find out soon. As far as the Tennessee rumor — Michigan footbal helping South Carolina beat the Vols — that sounds like sour grapes.