John U. Bacon: The Leaking comes from Jim Stapleton

It just seems so irrational on so many levels. This isn't some Liam Neeson 'Taken' level vendetta...this is seriously about Ron freaking English? And how he didn't get the HC job in 2007? After his defense was coming off getting roasted by OSU, USC, App St, and Oregon??? How exactly did Harbaugh have anything to do with that? In 2007 Harbaugh was coming off of his first year as Stanford's coach, and Harbaugh had just recently made negative comments about Michigan's "lax" admissions for athletes (turns out later he found out the hard way it wasn't as lax as he stated).

We went through 2 coaches before hiring Harbaugh. Was Ron English an attractive candidate in 2011 when he was currently 2-22 at EMU? What about in 2014 when he was fired after going 11-41 at EMU and didn't even coach in 2014?

This is just irrational of the highest order if THIS is what is driving Stapelton to go on this vendetta. For someone who has achieved a pretty high degree of success in his field, this seems so far outside the box that it borders on insane. Not saying it isn't the case (it seems more and more like it is), but like what the actual F?

I make a motion to Fire Warde immediately for even allowing this guy on campus let alone have dinner with him.

I make a second motion to hire Jim Hackett immediately. 

We, Michigan, practically begged Jim Harbaugh to come here and fix our program. How Jim Stapleton could not see this and fall in line is one of life's great mysteries. Jim could have left in 2020 and used his talents to forward another program but he stayed and took a pay cut. Jim Harbaugh then proceeded to lead Michigan in a three year stretch that is one of its best in program history.

Stapleton should have been outted and dealt with much sooner than this. 

All well and good but still need to have the ncaa scumbags verify what Jim said … that the coaching staff did not receive or request video of sign stealing ! Jim said NOOOO and I believe that !!! 

Then we must sue him immediately.

Calm down guys its all an elaborate plan to smoke out and expose all the cheating other Big Ten programs are doing.

"Its hard to beat the cheaters"  - Jim harbaugh

trust the process

/s

Get ready for the mods to pull down this post. It is truly weird how they are selectively protecting this guy but allow any and all others to be exposed. Somebody please explain why they are choosing to protect this guy on this site.

I just listened to the ~10 min. radio interview w/JUB via the link provided in OP. Bacon is, as always, measured and clear about what he knows and what doesn't know. What stands out is his use of the word "guarantee" to describe his confidence that Stapleton is the leaker.

I'm not sure what to make of that but I think JUB is a very thoughtful guy and, while it might seem ironic that he made these comments on a Columbus radio show, it means more than that. Certainly this guy Stapleton--who I had never heard of until a day or two ago via the now deleted posts on this blog--has a longstanding axe to grind.

But how does that axe and his position on the NCAA infractions committee effect the investigation and subsequent consequences going forward? On the surface it seems like an obvious conflict of interest, although as Bacon said in the interview, if Michigan did what they are alleged to have done there will be consequences.

Given that it's the NCAA, however, trying to predict what those consequences might be is impossible. And their process will defy logic too.

It's not a small thing to be on 97.1 with Bobby Carpenter. He co-hosts a show on SiriusXM College Sports in the afternoon with Jacob Hester and I would be shocked if this is not mentioned on the show.

I don't know why mods would take this down when a Michigan "news source" is reporting it. It's going to be all over other media anyway. The people running this website just had gotten cold feet over potential legal ramifications if it's perceived as some kind of crusade created on this forum. With Bacon's name attached to it, no-one can claim that anymore (whether it's true or not).

I didn't even know of Stapleton's role, but I already said in one of my initial posts on this last week that the group of people involved with this at the NCAA is small and personal feelings on part of one or more individuals could play a big role in how these investigations go. If Stapleton hates Harbaugh - for whatever reason - that's obviously going to be a factor no matter what anyone says.

It's very Michigan though that the person viewed as 'hostile' on the committee is a Michigan grad, not one of the two people with Ohio State degrees on it.

Regardless of whether this is Stapleton's alma mater, you should be able to trust that the NCAA won't leak information about a pending investigation, or anything at all really. Shouldn't that be the bare minimum members should expect? How are are we supposed to take them seriously as a credible arbiter of justice? 

Didn't Jim Stapleton help Craig James kill 5 hookers back when they were fraternity brothers at SMU?

Why is Michigan its own worst enemy?  The petty country club member mentality appears to be alive and well.

Good on JUB for outing this clown, man, you got some soul searching to do Mr.   


What's to say this guy won't sabotage any M head coach going forward?  Seems like he has a lot of power and will do whatever to manipulate a situation to his benefit.  

People suck, well most people.  A lot of you guys and gals are cool 

If this is true and this guy is leaking information and damaging Michigan in the court of public opinion (as well as its brand/ image, recruiting, and other things of real value), it would seem that at a minimum Michigan could play hardball and leverage that fact to negotiate down any potential consequences that would otherwise come of this. There has been a clear bias in how this story has been covered which has certainly been impacted by the timing and nature of the leaks. This would especially be true if the leaks were not 100% accurate. 

Ban him from campus for life. 

Anyone ever ask Ron English about any of this jackoff's nonsense over the years?

Maybe Stapleton isn’t so bad of a guy. Maybe he’s playing 4-D chess. Hear me out:

He finds out his alma mater is under investigation. He INTENTIONALLY leaks to the media. The NCAA Infractions Committee just broke their own rule. Since they broke their own rule, UM is now in a position to sue…

So UM and NCAA agree to go easy on each other. Stapleton just got his alma mater outta big trouble…

Thoughts?

This all just Leaders and Best.

Stapleton got his spot on the infractions committee so he could initiate a pre-planned prejudiced investigation in coordination with Harbs which will result in the destruction of the NCAA as a regulatory body when the plot is uncovered.

The plot:

"Prejudiced" member of the infractions committee (Stapleton) leaks information to initiate a prejudiced investigation against a known "enemy" (Harbs).

The NCAA initiates an investigation which causes much disruption, chaos, and prejudicial treatment against Harbs and M.

Then, it is discovered the leak and the investigation are prejudiced when hard evidence reveals a member of the infractions committee was behind it all - and the NCAA is using their authority to pursue personal vendettas - and the NCAA's entire case is compromised. The organization is revealed so dangerous and incompetent it cannot be trusted as an enforcement agency by anyone anymore.

Finally, Michigan and Harbs leads the charge towards creating a new, competent governing organization and receives $5 and a national apology from the NCAA for their actions.

Harbs and Stapleton got this!

That... or Palpatine's behind it all..

If you think Valenti and Rico are not in contacts with this guy.

Well, if OSU was the “investigator,” they just gave Michigan even more motivation for the Game this year.  We shall see how it goes, but that approach seems, shall we say, unwise.  MSU would certainly agree with that assessment 

some of y'all need to just.  stop.  talking.  none of your yammering is even slightly relevant, useful, or interesting.

Excuse my ignorance, but why is JUB on Columbus radio shows?

I just sent this email to Warde with a cc to Ono:

Hi Warde, I've heard some of the background on Jim's efforts to damage Coach Harbaugh and the Michigan Football Team (which apparently started with him targeting an earlier coach, Rodriquez).

A trusted source confirmed that Jim Singleton has been leaking information to the press about "signalgate"

While Jim Singleton may have some fine qualities, I think you show bad judgement in remaining close to him to the detriment of Michigan's reputation and success.  From what I've read, Jim Singleton is a toxic person who holds a grudge over Ron English not being chosen for football head coach.  BTW- Ron English was not a great coach.  English's record as a head coach is 11-46!

As an AD you've been blessed by having one of the best college football coaches of all time.  Harbaugh is an outstanding coach and has built a great program with high character young men.   

I urge you to finish negotiations with Jim Harbaugh to remain Michigan's football coach.  I think you should also re-examine your relationship with Jim SIngleton.  It sounds like he's using you for access and working to damage the University of Michigan.  It is my understanding that his sideline pass has been revoked.  I find it strange that you remain close to Jim Singleton including recent dinners at the Chop House despite the fact that the program had to pull his sideline pass.

Thanks,

94 MBA