Harbaugh issues statement regarding investigation
October 19th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
I would love to read the comments in this thread but can't as I keep getting this giant fucking TruStage ad. So annoying.
October 19th, 2023 at 7:34 PM ^
I wish he would tell the NCAA....
October 19th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
It sounds like NCAA already did its damage and that was the point who cares if none of this is true now.
October 19th, 2023 at 7:44 PM ^
Over/under for posters on College Gameday this Saturday with “Harbaugh stole my other sign” or some such BS is set at 3500
October 19th, 2023 at 11:44 PM ^
I'll hammer that over.
October 19th, 2023 at 7:45 PM ^
Seems like being able to pay analysts to watch game film has paid off and these other teams have decided it must be someone going to games.
These allegations make the team seem more feared by Big Ten opponents than I’d ever imagine.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:19 PM ^
Based on the B1Gs comments...they have video of someone in a stadium with their phone, trying to steal signs.
It's not just analysts doing their job.
Now, does that mean Harbaugh knew about it? No.
Does that even mean it's true? No.
But clearly they *think* they have hard evidence, based on their statement.
I just wonder, what does this look like...someone decked in all Michigan coaching gear shows up to a game and points a camera directly at the sidelines the entire game?
People are always on their phones, it's not even suspicious unless it's a disgruntled former employee who went to the NCAA to share this info and he or she had direct evidence of this happening and Harbaugh knowing about it.
It's not adding up... I'm not ready to take ANY side on this one. There just isn't enough information that has been released.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:33 PM ^
Or, they have a bunch of circumstantial evidence and they know Warde will open the front door to let them poke around and hopefully find something amiss.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:31 AM ^
Let's say they really did catch some analyst at some game and they were recording something on their phone. Do they have the video that shows clearly them recording coaching signals? Even if it's true, would they even be legally allowed to take this person's phone and video?
I feel like that's such a grey area that the analyst can say no and the conference and NCAA will just have to say ok, because there's no way they're getting a subpoena from a court to take someone's property to prove something like that.
Even if they did and they did find a recording, what if it's just a short video taping the experience of being at a stadium or something? How could you possibly prove the intent unless it was zoomed solely on the guys giving signals.
October 19th, 2023 at 7:54 PM ^
Cup is definitely half full.
Imagine being accused of unsolicited phone sex.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:27 PM ^
Imagine admitting it.
October 19th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^
Allegedly, the league office told MSU that they have video evidence that shows Michigan knew what play was coming beforehand. What kind of idiots are in the league office that haven't heard of scouting? 90% of every teams' fanbase does it every Saturday when they see the formations pre-snap, not to mention general football tendencies, like running on first down and passing on third and long.
Also, the teams trade game film, so how would the league know if it wasn't simply from watching tendencies on film?
What an absolute clown show.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:27 PM ^
You're over-estimating other fanbases. :)
October 19th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
@J. Redux - lol - that is fair.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
Evidence that we knew the play before it was run? How many times have I watched a college or pro game on the TeeVee machine when you can hear the D coaches on the sidelines hollering "DRAW" or "SCREEN"...and that's what the play was? Were all those dozens of teams cheating? All of them? Every time? Apparently.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:33 AM ^
I have video evidence that Georgia knew exactly what TCU was doing in their game last year. It was on ESPN and Georgia stuffed the supposedly second best team in the country in a locker, so they definitely had to be cheating too. /s
October 19th, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
In the words of Latino Heat, "If you ain't cheatin' you ain't trying."
Steal away Mgo Math Nerds!
October 19th, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
My biggest question is, and maybe I’m missing something, but How do you even investigate something like this? Is this something you can really prove? I feel like any proof would just be hearsay. I saw this staffer at a game, or a guy in Michigan gear taping plays, etc. unless there is actual photo evidence, or videos, I’m not sure how anything could come out of this. But I guess I wouldn’t put it beyond the NCAA.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:37 PM ^
The only thing I can think of is if you take what they are saying “vast network” then there has to be something provable (if true). Presumably, multiple people in a coordinated fashion that you could prove were breaking the rules. I mean vast network sound like a significant operation which would leave some sort of trail.
October 19th, 2023 at 9:22 PM ^
“Vast network” came from the Athletic article. No one knows if it’s in the allegation itself. I would doubt it is.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:21 AM ^
Let's say hypothetically they did send staffers to another game, it's not like the staffers would be wearing Michigan gear. I agree this seems next to impossible to enforce. I'm sure staffers at Michigan have friends and family connections to other big 10 schools. If they go to another game and take a selfie with the sideline in the background, is that a rule violation?
October 19th, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^
When u can’t win against a high performing coach, find corrupt ways to make him succumb. That’s what this is. And our AD is a moot spectator.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:11 PM ^
It does seem weird that the BIG is notifying teams and giving them an option to not play UM.
That would seek a really aggressive and beyond strange approach if there wasn’t something material, right or am I nuts?
that just caught me way off guard.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:20 PM ^
They're not giving them the option not to play Michigan.
MSU did that on their own. It wasn't an option from the B1G.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^
Ahh got it ok that makes more sense. Something still seems weird about how the BIG is addressing this and I’m actually starting to give them as much of a side eye as the ncaa.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:38 AM ^
It's beyond stupid that the conference would literally tell other people in the conference that they think Michigan is cheating, while at the same time, doing nothing prevent said cheating.
This conference is stupid and a fucking joke.
If this turns out to be a nothing burger, Michigan should turn right back and say we want a public apology from the B1G. They should put the conference on blast publicly and just be a thorn in their side for everything going forward. Michigan should bitch about the schedules for every sport, vote against things constantly, whatever they can do to punish the conference.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:23 PM ^
Good shit Jim, when it's over we laugh about being so good this happened
October 19th, 2023 at 8:32 PM ^
I am pretty angry about this. The national media is going to do more damage than this nothingburger of an investigation. What did Harbaugh do to piss the NCAA off? Where the fuck is Warde and why is he allowing this? Who are the coaches bitching about their shit offenses? If you are going to accuse someone of breaking rules, come out publicly.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
Something else to consider is that teams will chart their opponents tendencies. If they seemed to know exactly what you were going to do, perhaps it's because you have a tendency to do the same thing in certain situations! Michigan is continually changing up what they do offensively. They run lots of different stuff so no one can get a handle on what they're going to do. Some teams are really one-dimensional, so of course you know what they're going to do. Look at yourself instead of claiming the other team is cheating because they're stopping you...
October 19th, 2023 at 8:37 PM ^
OSU has Meyer in-person scouting Michigan games whenever we’re on Big Noon. The guy is still involved with the OSU football program, there’s zero chance he’s not in Day’s ear about Michigan.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:41 PM ^
This 100% Urban seems to be at many of our games. I believe he scripted the opening drive for OSU last year.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:52 PM ^
Vance Bedford even claimed the first series was drawn up by Urban in the Ohio state film study with Sam webb.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:49 PM ^
Urban too.
October 19th, 2023 at 9:16 PM ^
I said the same thing a few posts below...how is that not what JH is being accused of? It is literally on video
October 20th, 2023 at 12:40 AM ^
Yet the conference does nothing. They don't seem to be whispering to other members of the B1G that OSU is cheating.
It's all stupid.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:41 PM ^
Let's see if anyone hears his denial. Every sports "journalist" on YouTube has been aghast at an allegation from vanquished foe.
Funny how a smear works. The act of defending yourself is seen as not cooperating and if found innocent as you emerge from this years long stain the retraction gets the back page and no apology is forthcoming.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:45 PM ^
So. there’s a video someone took during a football ball and, it includes the signs a team is showing to their side.
Once again, my sincere apologies - my wife was using her phone to capture the crowd singing Mr.Brightside - and, the video carried over to the first play after it ended.. My wife feels terrible…
October 19th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
Didn't Roger Goodell have to hand the Super Bowl trophy to Tom Brady's team?
October 19th, 2023 at 8:57 PM ^
The NCAA rules say you can't have a staffer scouting teams. The NCAA alleges there is a vast network scouting signs for Michigan. Harbaugh categorically denies breaking the rules. It seems pretty unlikely he would deny it that strongly if he weren't innocent.
It seems like a logical conclusion would be Michigan is stealing signs with people who aren't staffers and who aren't paid by the university. That would make the most sense and wouldn't violate the letter of the law.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
Let's just say, for awhile, I knew Michigan was gonna run it up the middle on 1st and 2nd down. I must be cheating
No but seriously, unless there's a Mole in the program, this is almost impossible to prove
October 19th, 2023 at 9:17 PM ^
Probably Dudek still...or maybe Weiss is pissed and talking shit
October 19th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
This fuckin shit is so stupid and very convenient following the other lame ass investigation
Jfc
October 19th, 2023 at 9:05 PM ^
So shouldnt OSU be in trouble for this since Urban works for Foxsports and OSU (he does, does'nt he) and is at a game every week...is he not scouting in person?
We all know he is talking to the chipmunk every week
October 19th, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^
this whole thing reeks of Mork . Shenanigans right before the game to distract and confuse, and provide an excuse should there be an ass kicking.
October 19th, 2023 at 9:16 PM ^
With no bye week so far, Harbaugh and Moore were suspended and we’re not with the team. Maybe they traveled to scout Rutgers and UNLV week one. Harbaugh overlooked BG to check out Nebraska and Minnesota. Just sayin.
Not sure what we will do vs. Sparty.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:04 PM ^
RGIII is a good presence in the booth and on the field. I’d go as far to say that he’s the only good personality left at espn. Give him a raise or bring him to one of the networks who now cover M games
October 19th, 2023 at 11:50 PM ^
Totally a rockstar on the rise. Love his fun energy and positivity, coupled with good football insights.
October 19th, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
This is what happens when you’re really good at what you do and other people can’t seem to believe it. We have a ton of analysts. Chances are they figured out some signs and they weren’t changed sufficiently for our game. Big whoop. Move on.
October 19th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Fuck yeah! Sign that contract! Fuck then all Michigan vs the world!