Michigan football: Recapping a dizzying day in ‘sign gate’

If your head is spinning, you aren’t alone, and here’s the recap from a dizzying day in the Michigan football sign-stealing investigation. 

We all knew that things were going to get crazy this week between Michigan football and the Big Ten in regard to the sign-stealing investigation.

First, there were some new revelations regarding some of the sign-stealing going on within other Big Ten programs.

It was reported by Chris Balas of The Wolverine that Illinois used “legally” stolen signals against Michigan football in 2022.

A few hours later, Larry Lage of the AP reported that several Big Ten schools had Michigan signs and shared them with each other.

"“A former employee at a Big Ten football program said Monday it was his job to steal signs and he was given details from multiple conference schools before his team played Michigan to compile a spreadsheet of play-calling signals used by the Wolverines last year. The employee said he shared with Michigan the documents, which showed the Wolverines’ signs and corresponding plays after his school faced the Jim Harbaugh-led program in 2022.”"

This former Big Ten staffer also has text exchanges to back it up via Lage. 

"“The person also passed along screenshots of text-message exchanges with staffers from a handful of Big Ten football teams with Michigan, giving the program proof that other conference teams were colluding to steal signs from the Wolverines.”"

Rivals have correctly stated that stealing signals isn’t against any rules. However, it exposes the hypocrisy and pearl-clutching of Big Ten coaches last week who acted like this was the worst scandal in sports history in an effort to demand punishment for Michigan.

The Big Ten is trying to punish Jim Harbaugh, even though, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA hasn’t found any evidence that he knew about what Connor Stalions was doing.

"“The NCAA’s findings do not connect the in-person scouting and recording of opponents’ sidelines to Harbaugh, sources say, an absence of evidence essential to a potential lawsuit from the school and coach against the league.”"

Dellenger also reported that Michigan football has received a notice of allegations from the Big Ten. Michigan has 48 hours to respond.

After that, the Big Ten could apply some form of punishment, but Dellenger also notes if that punishment is a suspension of Jim Harbaugh, Michigan will go to court, seeking a temporary restraining order which would allow Harbaugh to keep coaching while the issue is decided in the courts.

Michigan president Santa Ono has asked that the Big Ten wait for the NCAA to finish its investigation, yet the Big Ten feels pressure to act. So we’ll see what happens.

Long story short: There’s no evidence against Jim Harbaugh, the Big Ten is trying to act beyond its authority, and there was a collusion among Big Ten teams to steal and share Michigan’s signs with each other. Oh, and the NCAA is now involved in the Central Michigan investigation.

My guess for now is that Harbaugh doesn’t miss any games this season.