The University of Michigan accused the NCAA of "overreach" in the investigation into the alleged sign-stealing of Michigan football according to a report from Ross Dellenger from Yahoo Sports.
Yahoo Sports obtained part of Michigan's response to the NCAA's notice of allegations relating to Connor Stalions and his alleged sign-stealing operation.
The school refutes many of the violations that Michigan football is accused of committing and said the NCAA was “grossly overreaching” and “wildly overcharging."
The NCAA charged the Michigan football program with 11 allegations. Six of those were level-1 violations but the university is pushing back on that, as it should. Here's an excerpt of Dellenger's reporting
"In its response, Michigan believes that the notice of allegations, sent to the school in August, makes “numerous factually unsupported infractions, exaggerates aggravating factors and ignores mitigating facts,” the document says. The school requests that the NCAA apply “common sense and commitment to fairness” and treat the case not as a serious Level I infractions case but a “Level II standard case.”
Asking the NCAA to apply common sense is wishful thinking. The organization had an axe to grind with Jim Harbaugh and it was clear with the way it handled this investigation. The evidence against Connor Stalions has always been flimsy.
At times, the only evidence was the purchase of tickets, which Michigan contends isn't proof of in-person scouting. Since the NCAA talked about how Stalions broke the spirit of the rule, in the notice of allegations it sent Michigan, it's clear there isn't much evidence.
Buying tickets for people isn't against any rules. It's also not against any rules for those people to record video at games, like almost every other fan does.
The NCAA was given access to numerous phones, computers, and other electronic devices of the coaching staff and there still hasn't been any evidence that Jim Harbaugh or any coaches knew or directed the scheme.
People also seem to forget that Stalions was hired to steal signs and that it was legal to steal signs. The Michigan football coaches knew he was stealing signs, but there is no proof they knew that he was going to the lengths that he did.
However, Stalions also did his best to skirt NCAA rules. He might have violated the spirit of the rule but the actual wording of the rule could be another debate. Michigan revealed that the NCAA was tipped off by someone who worked for the program and has requested a hearing to dig more into how that impacted the investigation.
I don't know what will happen next, but it feels like Michigan and the NCAA are digging in for a fight. If the NCAA softens its stance and is more reasonable, I think a deal could be had.
However, I'm glad to see Michigan football finally back. The school didn't throw Jim Harbaugh under the bus and it shouldn't.
We'll see what happens next. I don't think this is close to over and I also don't think the "hammer" that desperate Ohio State fans have wanted is ever coming.