Forde: How Clemson Football Mastered the (Totally Legal) Art of Signal Stealing
A 2020 article from Pat Forde for Sports Illustrated discusses Clemson's penchant for signal stealing (using techniques that the NCAA deems to be legal). A good read for context. One relevant excerpt:
Of greater insight might be the game that preceded the loss to LSU. That’s when Clemson eked past Ohio State in the CFP semifinals, 29–23. In that game, the Tigers fell behind 16–0 before slowing the Buckeyes down and rallying.
In Ohio State’s first five possessions, it produced four scoring drives and 290 offensive yards on 35 snaps, 8.29 yards per play. The next eight possessions led to one scoring drive, 243 total yards and 4.86 yards per play. Did Venables’s support staff crack the Buckeyes’ play-calling code during the game? A couple of staffers at other schools suggested it.
In a sport rife with espionage and intrigue, figuring out what’s coming before the snap—by any means necessary—is just part of the game.
Michigan, of course, is being accused of something that the NCAA deems illegal -- sending a staffer or friend in person to scout opponents' games.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
BTW here's a statement from a University of Michigan spokesman named Rick Fitzgerald:
The university has been notified by the NCAA, along with the Big Ten, that the NCAA is investigating allegations of play signal stealing by Michigan football.
The university is fully cooperating with the Big Ten and NCAA.
The investigation is ongoing and will not impact Saturday's game.
At the University of Michigan, we are committed to the highest ethical and integrity standards for all members of our community.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
"At the University of Michigan, we are committed to the highest ethical and integrity standards for all members of our community.
Furthermore, we will not insist that other programs be held to the same standards we are. We are committed to being the sacrificial lamb for the NCAA. It is our hair shirt and we wear it proudly."
October 19th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Excellent work, Don.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
Standing policy here for the last 50+ years.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Warde's fat ass cant even man up and speak for the Football program himself.
What a joke.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
I’m convinced Warde is an NCAA mole
October 19th, 2023 at 3:13 PM ^
100% that this is because Jim was about to get a contract, and it's not a vendetta against Michigan more broadly as much as a personal vendetta against Jim by somebody who couldn't care less if Michigan gets burned in the process.
That's got Warde's fingerprints all over it.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:01 PM ^
It's merely a pretext for the NCAA to vacate Michigan's wins.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:13 PM ^
Maybe they don't like the sign and want an asterisk added. (Or a cheeseburger.)
.
October 19th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
Respectfully, this is not true. The real reason is - The Brown Jug. Yes, in certain contexts it refers to an establish on South University in Ann Arbor. And, in other circles it refers to one of the oldest "trophy" games / prizes in the annals of college football.
So, it may be a cheeseburger or two - though, when they toured the Glick, they caught eye of that incomparable trophy, the brown jug.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
But why would Michigan do this with games against teams they knew cannot possibly hold a candle to them on the field. That really makes no sense. If they were going to do that, it would seem that they would only do that for 2 opponents.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
They were practicing. No, seriously, this is total bullshit and not to be believed.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
Investigating allegations of "play signal stealing" by Michigan football?? Sign stealing isn't illegal unless they're using electronic devices to do it... so that means they think Michigan was stealing signs electronically? Or is this a misstatement and the NCAA is only investigating the potential illegal scouting?
October 19th, 2023 at 4:51 PM ^
If you read the articles this seems to revolve around "the vast network" of Michigan related folk scouting other teams in person.
Like, what if Jim's dad went to watch OSU-PSU with a pen and paper in hand?
October 19th, 2023 at 5:14 PM ^
Apologies Comrades the OP doesn’t contain the correct link. Here it is: https://www.si.com/college/2020/11/06/clemson-signal-stealing-dabo-swinney-daily-cover
October 19th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
Your link to the article just links to this MGo post...
October 19th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
there was an attempt
October 19th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
All I'm asking for a little evidence of the wrong doing. Staffer at another game? Cool, easy to prove. Show me the photo of our precious little GA in the stands at Nebraska earlier this year with a telephoto lens pointed at the Nebby sideline. That's it. Not asking for much. "They knew our plays too well" is neither illegal, or something you should openly admit because it typically means you're an awful coach lol
October 19th, 2023 at 6:09 PM ^
Looks like you had a hell of a view!
October 19th, 2023 at 4:35 PM ^
Lol dude quit posting this over and over. Dude is memeing and you're posting one of the most low effort, embarrassing graphics repeatedly. Or is the joke the low effort part?
October 19th, 2023 at 5:10 PM ^
"Over and over"? This is the second time I've posted it - ever. It is a natural and valid response to a photo of Putin... who is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the past <2 years alone.
Maybe calm down and take a step back, friend.
October 19th, 2023 at 6:07 PM ^
Oh wow. Seems more because it's such a low tier response. A natural and valid response is to also point out how pointless and low effort the graphic is.
I'm not sure why me laughing at that means I need to calm down. Oh well I guess 🤷
October 19th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
Hey, it's possible that Michigan is the only school with a certain illegal competitive advantage. How possible?
Think about how many people (in the "vast network") would need to keep quiet. Is that realistic? Does it make sense that Michigan would take that kind of risk when all it would take is one disgruntled staffer for the whole building to burn down?
October 19th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
Problem with the NCAA is that they'll launch investigations with no reasonable suspicion, much less probable cause. Unsubstantiated rumors? A salty vanquished opponent? Good enough for them. Then, they'll launch the investigation and demand documents, interviews, etc. And if you resist at all, they slap you with Level 1 non-compliance charges.
It's absurd and the inevitable breakaway cannot happen soon enough.
October 19th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
On the other hand, they may totally ignore apparently ironclad evidence of very serious violations. Could their action depend on what school is involved?
October 19th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
Don't even try. We're fucking cooked. We don't recover from this. There's never going to be an article that says "NCAA Drops Investigation. Michigan Proves Their Innocence". The season is over. I'll probably never watch college football again either. Why bother? Could have been the greatest season in Michigan history, but no. Even if we did survive this they would come up with something else.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
Jesus the chlamydia is really getting to your head, Joe.
October 19th, 2023 at 4:45 PM ^
Sounds like Fansville dialogue from the first episodic Dr. Pepper commercial this year, overreacting to the first play. What is the evolution of this case and allegation? Based on who's reporting?
October 20th, 2023 at 12:26 AM ^
I think you have a future in the Dr Pepper Fansville commercials.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:53 PM ^
We can haz links?
October 19th, 2023 at 2:52 PM ^
If Michigan sent a staff person to watch games of opponents in person and if that coach took video of the sidelines during those games which was then used by Michigan staff to analyze the opponents' signs..we broke the rules and need to accept the punishment for it.
But they better have evidence of exactly that happening. Evidence of Michigan seemingly knowing what the other team wants to do is no evidence at all of wrong-doing. Evidence of people known to Jim Harbaugh attending games of opponents is also no real evidence whatsoever.
The timing of it, the fact that MSU almost instantly shows up in the stories around it, the fact that the conference claims the NCAA made them aware of the investigation and yet the conference is supposedly conferring with Michigan's opponents about details of the probe that not even Michigan has been made aware of..make me strongly suspect that fuckery is very much afoot here.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^
Feels like a Rico Beard production.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:57 PM ^
Believe me they do. Probably every team does some version of it. The NCAA knows what technicalities they can bring up and use against any team they want at any time. That's how they maintain leverage and power. Most schools would tell them to pound sand, but Michigan will bend over for the NCAA every time to maintain their image. They know that. Plus they really don't like Harbaugh. So we're getting fucked. It is what it is. Season is over. No playoffs. Vacated games. Possibly no more Harbaugh. Book it.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
Um, they aren't even planning on doing any investigation until after this season there brochacho.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:05 PM ^
The other, larger context that needs to be considered is what degree someone stealing signs and can they prove an impact it has from one game to another.
Are teams stupid enough to use the same signs all season long and how do you determined that a team used the intel to their advantage? The reason this pseudo-rule is hard to enforce any violations on is that the game actually has to play. The optics look bad but let's say Michigan lost to ECU or UNLV!? Would they still bring this up in the news? Fact is whether the team had stole signs or not, can anyone actually confirm that the information gained was funneled back to the team and what help would that have if teams change their play calls or sideline signs week-to-week like they should. There's enough fake or dummy signs coming from the sidelines that who knows whether they helped a team or worked to their disadvantage.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
CBS caught footage of Jim, himself, stealing signs earlier this year while on "vacation".
October 19th, 2023 at 3:16 PM ^
It's definitely time for Michigan to leave the B1G. They should have years ago.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
And go where exactly? The PAC 12? Not sure if you've noticed, but there's exactly 2 relevant conferences left in college football
October 19th, 2023 at 4:21 PM ^
I would love to part of the Pac 2.
October 19th, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
I'm going to take a deep breath and put this one on the same pile that holds then entire Mel Tugger saga. I vowed to avoid that as much as possible and my life is much better for it.
October 19th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
What’s this have to do with what the NCAA is accusing Michigan of?
October 19th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Fucking idiot troll. Lol
October 19th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
I've compiled the RPS stats from UFRs this season. Maybe the NCAA believes we stole signs from the brand new OC at Indiana during their bye week.
ECU: +3
UNLV: +1
BG: +6
Rutgers: +4
Nebraska: -1
Minnesota: +7
Indiana: +11