Throughout its investigation, the NCAA, and those on its side, providing it information, did a great job of winning the PR war against Michigan football, which was important, because when it comes down to it, the NCAA doesn't have a ton of actual, reliable evidence.
The NCAA cited two witnesses in its 79-page report that alleged there was "overwhelming evidence" of impermissible scouting.
The NCAA mostly has evidence of Connor Stalions purchasing tickets and the idea that Stalions wouldn't have taken those steps if it wasn't an advantage. If the NCAA has videos that were given to Stalions that are so damaging, it should make them all public. All the evidence and where it came from should be public.
Who would object to that? Probably the NCAA based on a new report.
CBS Detroit's Gino Vicci reports that the on-campus source cited by the NCAA was a former Michigan football player. This is also student-athlete 1, who lied to the NCAA about former Michigan assistant Chris Partridge.
"CBS News Detroit has been provided information from a private investigator that shows that the student-athlete who lied to the NCAA about Partridge is the same student-athlete who recorded a phone call with Stalions without his consent. The private investigator also informed CBS News Detroit that the student-athlete and the campus source are the same individual, who is a former player on the team."
"The private investigator presented evidence that the same student-athlete who lied to the NCAA regarding Partridge – and who recorded a phone call with Stalions – took videos from the former Michigan staffer's personal computer in an unauthorized manner, and handed the videos over to the unnamed private investigation firm, which turned them over to the NCAA within 24 hours to start the NCAA investigation."
CBS Detroit also quoted a Dearborn, Michigan, lawyer about the ramifications of this if Michigan takes this to state court.
"It's been alleged there has been some evidence that was illegally obtained in this matter … that does matter in state court," said Odey K. Meroueh, an attorney at Meroueh & Hallman LLP.
The NCAA gave Jim Harbaugh a 14-year show cause for not cooperating to their liking, yet the NCAA is so worried about the perception of its investigation, it won't reveal where it got any of its so-called evidence.
Sure sounds above board, doesn't it?