I Got Your Sign
Various thoughts on scandal-type substance du jour.
Nothing important will happen. The #1 rule of 2023 college football is "the networks are in charge." The networks would have a conniption fit if Michigan was barred from the postseason at any point, this year or next. They would savagely eliminate any athletic department that had the cojones to not play Michigan because they may or may not have their signs. Michigan is the only football program in the country to support a completely independent college football blog that isn't mostly clickbait garbage. QED.
Sturm und drang; the only meaningful impact here is that the Michigan program will be inclined to bounce any rubble they come across. Michigan's play here should be the Kansas play: cooperate. Very, very slowly.
The most likely explanation. Pete Thamel has a name: Connor Stalions, an analyst with the team. A post on our message board is unconfirmed but comes from a guy who's been around here for 13 years and sounds like a plausible explanation:
The staffer recruited a bunch of non-Michigan affiliated 3rd parties to attend games and record sidelines of future Michigan opponents. That's the so-called "vast network." Wait until the story comes out of how he recruited the "scouts." It's Bud Fox level hustle that would make Gordon Gekko smile.
Obviously he'll lose his analyst gig at Michigan and probably have a show-cause if he ever wants to get near a college AD again but he's 100% going to land a plum job doing corporate espionage work eventually.
The Michigan Difference.
I bet a dollar this is substantially correct.
[After THE JUMP: meh!]
I fundamentally don't care. This isn't baseball, where some guys banging trash can lids is a Stain Upon The Game. This is football. A few years back ESPN ran a piece on Mike Leach—then the Oklahoma offensive coordinator—planting a fake playsheet on the sideline before the 1999 edition of the Red River Shootout:
"That game might've been the most bizarre experience I ever had as a college football player," said Ahmad Brooks, a starting defensive back for the Longhorns. "I can't tell you how wrong we were in the first three or four minutes with every playcall we had. I've never seen anything like it.
"It was complete pandemonium, and it was complete confusion."
Everyone thought this was awesome, because it was. One reason that college football has not adopted NFL-style radios in the helmets is that some coaches like stealing signals:
Another concern among some SEC coaches wasn’t expressed publicly but has been suspected privately: Headsets would eliminate the ability to steal signals. The concept of stealing signals is an open secret in coaching, and some programs have elaborate operations.
I'm not about to put on a hairshirt if Michigan is the best sign-stealing team in America. Change your signs, dumbass.
I've gotten bent out of shape about a bunch of things but they're all things that make people's lives worse: Alabama massively oversigning before transfers were free; Michigan State blithely ignoring all the red flags about Auston Robertson; being forced to watch Rutgers play football. Being better at calling football plays than other teams does not rise to that level. .The Astros doing whatever they were doing is great and I hope they win the next 200 World Series. Opsec is important.
Nobody else seems to care either. JJ Watt and RG3 both said this was a nothingburger…
Hey JJ Watt & RG3, what do you two think about this so called ncaa rule pic.twitter.com/CKVomVqiv8
— Dre Dre (@crispcorp1) October 20, 2023
…as did 247's Bud Elliott:
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) October 20, 2023
This idea that sending someone to steal signs at an opponent's game -- a game played in front of 80,000 people, is somehow unethical or immoral is .
It is only "illegal" because in the 90s a bunch of schools didn't want to PAY to send scouts on the road and passed a rule.
Paul Finebaum, of all people, asserted on ESPN this morning that "If this had been someone else, this investigation probably would not have gotten to this point." The parties that do care are reporters desperate for clicks and rival fanbases who would like to cling on to a reason Michigan caved their heads in.
This is the best kind of scandal because it is deeply funny and does not matter at all. I mean:
Upon learning of the pending investigation, Michigan State initially warned the Big Ten it might consider not playing Saturday’s game out of concern for health and safety for its players, according to two sources briefed on those conversations. On Thursday morning, MSU confirmed it will play the game.
If there's a program in the M-MSU rivalry that should be concerned about the health and safety of its players because of the other team, it's not MSU.
The provenance of this and reporting on it is sketch. The first person to allude to this investigation was Ohio State insider Bill Greene of Buckeye Scoop, the site that was blackballed by OSU for paying a walk-on to give them access to internal Ohio State information. The message board rumors that started up a couple of days ago also came from OSU sources, which point's a big ol' finger at Ryan Day as the primary complainer. I do not believe the message board rumor that Ryan Day hired a private investigator to get at all this… but I kind of do.
This is also extremely funny, especially because I've got the odd Buckeye fan in my twitter mentions making ominous references to how this all started in 2021. DO YOU REMEMBER THE 2021 GAME? Michigan passed four times in the second half. OSU couldn't move the ball because Aidan Hutchinson was beating the ass of whoever he lined up over. Signals intelligence did not matter. 2021 may have been the game least likely to be affected by playcalls in the history of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. Call whatever you want, Ryan. It doesn't matter because Aidan Hutchinson is going to be beating CJ Stroud to death with the dismembered arm of the left tackle.
Then we have the Ominous Quotes. I'm not sure why Pete Thamel printed this unsupported accusation, but he did:
The allegations have rattled coaches and administrators around the Big Ten.
"This is worse than both the Astros and the Patriots -- it's both use of technology for a competitive advantage and there's allegations that they are filming prior games, not just in-game," a Big Ten source said. "If it was just an in-game situation, that's different. Going and filming somewhere you're not supposed to be. It's illegal. It's too much of an advantage."
"Rattled." FOH. Thamel goes on to detail Stalion's LinkedIn page, because that's a thing you do when you have a thoroughly sourced article. Brendan Quinn also has a dubious quote:
One source who was briefed on the allegation said Michigan is being accused of using a “vast network” to steal opposing teams’ signs.
We are legion.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Hey Buckeye fan, we are going to hand off to Hassan Haskins right up the fucking middle. Here it comes and you can't stop it. Rinse, repeat until we land in the endzone. No signs needed for that.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
I have a bottle of Lubriderm at my desk at work. My response to MSU fans thus far today has been "Cool, lets talk about what our football coaches were doing over the past few months." (picks up and offers bottle of Lubriderm)
October 20th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
Is that the best one? Asking for a bald friend.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
who cares? winning cures all.
Look at Urban Fucking Meyer: he literally deleted like all the text messages on his phone when whatever that stupid scandal was going on, and no one cares, because he won and won and won.
They can have their stupid excuse when Michigan pounds them into the ground.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:44 PM ^
The beauty of this, though, is that it's self-defeating. If anyone didn't already know this, Michigan is adept at figuring out what other teams are trying to do. Now that this has been reported, other teams will now change how they communicate plays. Some teams, including OSU, have apparently been doing this already. The accusations make Michigan effectively immune to criticism that it won by "stealing" signs: Now that every opponent will or should have adjusted for this, it logically can't be a reason why Michigan wins.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
Awwwww, it's so cute that you think logic matters to Staee fans. New to the internet? ;)
October 20th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
That will go all the way down the league (except for our new West Coast colleagues.) I'm sure Illinois fans will point to it as a reason why their Sleeping Giant has never awoken.
October 20th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
This is the worst part, the taint on our success. Also knowing that the conference is willing and eager to fuck Michigan.
Although we stole OSU's sign, they bought players for years, so as long we dominate them for the next 10-15 years, then we'll be even.
MSU, come on guys, you have your shade to deal with.
October 20th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
Don't care.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
DO. NOT. CARE. AT. ALL. They can keep talking and keep taking Ls.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Nothing important will happen.
I would like to be confident about this, but I am not. Call it off-field BPONE. Even if nothing of substance happens, this can't be great for Michigan's chances of convincing Harbaugh to stick around in the NCAA when it's pretty clear he has a giant target on his back placed there by the NCAA itself.
And as inconsequential as this hopefully ends up being, I am definitely not looking forward to rival fanbases using this as a talking point for years, perhaps decades. I would just like to enjoy this potentially historic year Michigan is having.
Ah well.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
I agree. If this proves to be a sliding doors moment that could either solidify Harbaugh's tenure for another decade or abruptly end it, then it very may well be significant.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
I've never met him, but Harbaugh strikes me as the kind of guy that would be spiteful towards this kind of thing. As in, oh yeah, let me beat you so far into the ground that you can't use this as a excuse kind of approach.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
Amen, brother.
Anyone as competitive as Harbaugh thinks this way.
"You want to try and force me to leave? Now I'm most assuredly staying and I will assemble a juggernaut so awesome that your grandchildren will feel the aftershocks of the beatings we dispense"
October 20th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
The fact that the Big Ten is doing stuff is what concerns me more than the NCAA getting involved. I'm just glad that this news came out before all our most important games so now they will have no excuse if we win.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
When we win. You have an autocorrect error sir.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^
I root for roughly 10 different sports teams. Of the 10, the only one that is even remotely good right now is Michigan football. I've pinned so much emotional hope on Michigan that it really sucks that this has become a thing. That said, we just have to tune out the noise and watching Michigan keep doing their thing.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
Come on! For years?
It's not like Sparties and Buckeyes are still complaining about where Charles Woodson got his suit for the Heisman ceremony 25 years ago!
Oh, wait.
Nevermind.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
And for the 2022 game, if you know the signs why let them take a halftime lead? If you are Day and you think they stole your signs in 2021, why aren’t you prepping a set of signs for the Michigan game only?
Going after Stalions cause of his LinkedIn and Airbnb history is so weird. The story of what happened is plausible because making it in coaching is so hard if you don’t have a family member that was a coach. So this guy could have done this all on his own, then in team meetings he looks like a fucking genius every time they start watching film. Puts him on the fast track to promotion.
Also I bet before this season is over the NCAA approves microphones in the QBs helmet. Anything that potentially helps Michigan must be stopped.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
Day's counter-espionage unit worked better in 2022. We only stole their signs on five plays.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Our coaching staff must've been so pumped when they saw the sign for the "Let Cornelius Johnson run screamingly wide open" play
October 20th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
#Jim Harbaugh Stole Five Signs
#JHS5S
October 20th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
*Allegedly
October 20th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Beaten by Hank
October 20th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
Ouch!
October 20th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
Maybe it’s like in that movie about Alan Turing breaking the Enigma codes, where they had to still let some of the U-Boat attacks succeed so that the Nazis wouldn’t realize their code had been cracked?
October 20th, 2023 at 10:56 AM ^
Michigan isn't "pure", they never were pure, and I don't want them to be pure.
I don't want Michigan driving 55 mph when everybody else is driving 75 mph, and nobody cares because the rule is capricious and arbitrary and even the people that are supposed to enforce the rule don't actually care.
And then to make matters worse, Michigan does not actually drive 55 mph, they drive 60 mph. They sort of half-assed cheat but not fully cheat so they can claim a moral high ground . . . while still doing some cheating.
If the NCAA is not universally and consistently serious about a rule then don't have the rule. And Michigan shouldn't be the only one following that rule.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
i can't take credit for the idea, but we are indeed house atreides
sparty, ohio, etc, may thy knife chip and shatter!
October 20th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
You know, this comp has legs. That Bucknut fan dude does look like Baron Harkkonen.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
Let's fucking go. Amen Brian. I think the NCAA ain't quitting till they get us, but fuck em. The reporting on this is so bad. People need to be sued or held accountable or something. Also, Ryan Day is a big fat hair dye stained PUSSY. That term is probably not allowed here. I'm sorry mods. I'm not talking literally about the vagina that I have mad respect for, is legit more durable than a penis anyway, and can amazingly bring life into this world in spectacular fashion. Not literally that or anything to do with women. Ryan Day is more pathetic than any woman or man. I mean Ryan Day the pussy A spineless, pathetic, insecure creature who so desperately wants the world to think he's tough, yet his self worth is directly tied to how much black hair dye is stocked within a 10 mile radius of him. The piece of shit that can't accept a loss like a man because he's a dickless amorphous ball of insecurity. OHIO AGAINST THE WOORRLLLDD!!!! WE'RE TOUGH EVERYONE!!! I feel bad for him. I hope he gets the help he needs to become a real man. Unfortunately, for him Michigan is in the ass kicking business and business be booming. Harbaugh's never forget. The vast network shall prevail!! The vast network knows no limits!!!!!! We're vast and we're fast and we're gonna outlast.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
Your, um, apology was way worse than your original statement.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
I don't know what words are acceptable anymore. I'm trying to make it clear what I mean goddammit. I've seen with my own eyes babies borned. It's beautiful and terrifying and and that body part doesn't deserve to be associated with weakness or Ryan Day so I'm making it clear. I'm trying to turn over a new leaf and be more respectful when I call people pussies.
October 21st, 2023 at 5:54 AM ^
I don’t know. I rather liked it.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
I knew you would come around, Joe.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:46 PM ^
This would make for a crazy Tshirt...
October 20th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
You make it happen. I'll buy it.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
I'm trying to look at this impartially. Not as a UM fan, not as a UM hater, but as a regular old CFB fan, of like Oklahoma or something.
I think my first reaction would be: oh look, another Harbaugh scandal. My second reaction would be: oh look, another "scandal" that seems like a big bag of nothing. Recruiting during dead season, scouting opponents' tendencies and signs ... do we think that any competent CFB program in the country is not doing this?
That said, I don't necessarily buy the NCAA-against-Harbaugh conspiracy. I sort of think we might just be not very good at concealing our gray area tendencies
October 20th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
I sort of think we might just be not very good at concealing our gray area tendencies
Eh, more like we have rivals tattling on Michigan because they can't stand that they're kicking their asses.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
Speculation on the board is that this is all payback from Matt Dudek. <shrug>
If this is the best you've got, Matty, you're even more pathetic than that stupid Simpsons wave GIF you used to post in social media ....
October 20th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
I'm trying the same. If a rival got busted would I absolutely clown them for it? Yes, of course. But if I found out Oregon or OU or UNC were masters of figuring out their opponents signals I just can't imagine clutching my pearls at it. People keep calling it 'stealing' signs to make it sound morally reprehensible. Your signs are right out in the open. It doesn't quite sound so shocking when you just say 'Michigan figured out their signs'
I still think this reeks of Dudek or some other disgruntled staffer sticking it to Jim again. How did this escalate from lots of coaches being suspicious to suddenly we've got a dudes name, his job, what he did, where, etc.? Probably someone caught wind there were complaints and someone like Dudek saw an opportunity to be a tattle tale again
October 20th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
Print the Vast Network shirt and support mgoblog for the next 200 world series.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
It is way, way past time to lawyer up and deal with the NCAA appropriately.
Warde is handling this far worse than Dave quit-drinking-and-go-to-bed Brandon.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Much as it pains me to say it, Brandon would probably handle this BS way better than Warde. He was absolutely the type to tell the NCAA to go fuck themselves in private while pledging cooperation in public.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Sad but absolutely true.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:19 PM ^
Absolutely ! Warde can go ANYTIME. He has failed miserably when it comes to sports in general. Fired hockey and baseball coaches for perceived "behavior". Warde should NOT be addressing Coach Harbaugh or Coach Howard as Jim and Juwan. He was LOUD and clear in 2020 when he cut Coach Harbaugh's contract .... since then Warde has been a sniveling pussy. He somehow creates a GUILTY Harbaugh by suspending him this year - when the NCAA only had allegations NOT proof.
I've been hoping that President Ono would move forward and fire Warde ... it is TIME.
Go Blue!
October 20th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
Because Brandon was good at talking $$$. They listen to that.
Harbaugh just talks about stupid sappy shit - like love of the game - that they don't give a rat's hairy ass about.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
I would 100% support wheeling Brandon in on a Silence-of-the-Lambs cart for this.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
OMG LOL!!
October 20th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
Lessons from this whole saga . . .
- There is 100% agreement amongst fans and media that the NCAA is a trash organization and should not be taken seriously.
- If the NCAA goes after a team I hate, then I can ignore #1
- If the NCAA being the NCAA gets our site clicks, then we can ignore #1
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