AP: Big Ten programs collaborated to decode and share Michigan's signs, potentially violating Big Ten sportsmanship policy
https://apnews.com/article/michigan-sign-stealing-452b6a83bb0d0a3707f633af72fe92ac
"A former employee at a Big Ten football program said Monday it was his job to steal signs and he was given details from multiple league schools to compile a spreadsheet of play-calling signals used by Michigan last year.
The employee said he recently shared the documents, which showed the Wolverines’ signs and corresponding plays — as well as screenshots of text-message exchanges with staffers at other Big Ten schools — with Michigan. He spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he feared the disclosures could impact his coaching career.
The spreadsheet was compiled with details from a handful of coaches and programs across the Big Ten, the person said. He also said gave the details to Michigan last week because he hoped it would help Jim Harbaugh’s embattled program and he believes Harbaugh and his coaches are being unfairly blamed for the actions of a rogue staffer.
The alleged actions by conference schools potentially violate the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy, which could lead to punishment by the commissioner’s office."
November 6th, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^
And isn't it arguably worse to have a trained analyst from another team collude with a team than having some third party just record on a phone?
November 6th, 2023 at 4:59 PM ^
Probably a bridge too far but does the fact that these teams obtained, compiled, and shared this information constitute both advance scouting and the use of electronics to do so?
November 6th, 2023 at 7:36 PM ^
It doesn't even have to. The NCAA and the Big Ten are all about ambiguous "sportsmanship" and "spirit of the rule" interpretations.
Well this certainly fits that.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^
This really is a soap opera, isn't it?
November 6th, 2023 at 8:15 PM ^
The Ryan Days of our lives.
-A tragedy for OSU fans to endure
November 6th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^
this whole "nothing burger" gonna turn into a big 'ol SHIT SANDWICH for the rest of the B1G and ESPN
November 6th, 2023 at 4:57 PM ^
I'd like to hang around and see if we can give 'em all a nice big shitburger to eat.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:26 PM ^
Hello cauldron, I'm kettle!!! I see we both use Just for Men, except for Franklin.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^
Wow! Worked so well that we went 13-0 against the B1G last year. Maybe knowing signals and executing are not one in the same.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^
About got-dang time!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:27 PM ^
They wanted a war. They got one
November 6th, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^
ESPN 30 for 30 : Death Penalty for the B1G
November 6th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
To: Ryan Walters
From: Illinois staffer
Just calling a spade a spade. ;-)
November 6th, 2023 at 4:29 PM ^
Honestly, what's the difference between multiple teams sharing signs and a team using a third party for advanced scouting? Isn't it actually exactly the same thing?
This whole situation is absurd.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
It sounds much worse to me.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
It sounds worse to me, too, because it's teams colluding against another team -- kind of like they did in a certain meeting with the B1G commissioner. But ultimately it's still teams relying on third parties (other team staff) to scout a future opponent's signs.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^
And if they had all of our signs, then they had at least as much of an advantage as we allegedly did. So all of the CS nonsense provided did not put us in an unfair position, and we straight up whooped the other teams fair and square.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
Honestly, what's the difference between multiple teams sharing signs and a team using a third party for advanced scouting? Isn't it actually exactly the same thing?
That's a great point! And they didn't have to pay for anyone's ticket!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:42 PM ^
Continuing down that rabbit hole, and it's obviously a stretch, but if you squint a little it's basically a team using multiple coaching staffs/analysts to compete against a single coaching staff. That seems like it should be against at least the spirit of any NCAA coach/analyst staffing limits. :)
November 6th, 2023 at 4:52 PM ^
I am willing to bet a fair amount of money that each of our remaining opposing coaches is likely to be receiving a lot of assistance from the rest of the B1G prior to those games. I think it happens a lot already, but the level of collusion going on is probably off the charts.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
I'm sure ay kay ## will explain the difference.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:29 PM ^
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK!!!!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:29 PM ^
Fight’s on!!!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:29 PM ^
Hey, I forget -- how did Michigan do against the Big Ten last year? 'Cause I have it on good authority that knowing the opposition's signs is worth like 21 points a game.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
Huge can of worms has been opened by our enemies.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
I think I know who the employee is.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
Hope it is not a Russian spy
November 6th, 2023 at 4:51 PM ^
We'll find out after he drinks his plutonium tea
November 6th, 2023 at 6:22 PM ^
it's polonium, but either way, politely decline....
November 6th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
Fuck them… fuck them all!
Win with brutality!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
I always figured firing an entire cannonade's worth of stones in a glass McMansion had possible downsides.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
If there were ever a more appropriate Bania moment gif...this is it.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
GAME ON MOTHER FUCKERS!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
THE CHILDREN!!!!!! OH LORDY LORDY!!!!!
THE GAMES HAVE BEEN TAINTED!!!!
JUSTICE MUST BE SWIFT. SUSPEND ALL THE COACHES!!!!!
TAKETH MY PEARLS AND CLUTCH THEM TIGHT!!!! IM FEELING FAINT!!!
November 6th, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
My favorite comment of the last three weeks. Love it.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:48 PM ^
I read this in Holly Anderson's (from the internet's only college football podcast, the Shutdown Fullcast) overly dramatic southern lady accent. It's amazing.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
I'd rather UM not hire an investigative team like other loser programs. But keep our vast network moving on to the spider webs of ties within these athletic departments, figure out who was involved. And expose them. Let the UM legal team take publicly available info forward in their potential lawsuit should the Commish/NCAA decide to penalize us unjustly/untimely.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
Maybe. But there is an alternative scenario here.
One must admit ---- there's a non-zero chance this "Former employee at a Big Ten football program" has (1) a first name that starts with the letter C, (2) a last name that starts with the letter S, (3) would be crazy enough to dummy up a spreadsheet with evidence, and (4) has no idea what "metadata" is.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^
Might want to sit this one out this week… Not in any mood for trolls.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:55 PM ^
I didn't say it was "likely."
If it's a smoking gun that shows others' guilt, well the B1G has it. We'll find out soon enough.
----
(if I'm Larry Lage at the AP, who's been around forever and is a good reporter - absolutely I try to give CS a call over the weekend. If he answers and talks, I'd word the story that way too)
November 6th, 2023 at 5:22 PM ^
Are you doing this because it's Hate Week?
And you called Seth's theory about CMU batshit?
November 6th, 2023 at 5:41 PM ^
No, I don't subscribe to "hate."
My "particular theory" was somewhat in jest - but I'll own it, that wasn't my best effort.
A reminder: I never called Seth's theory "batshit" (or "crazy", or any other synonym).
November 6th, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^
You deserve better than James Franklin.
We deserve better than your post.
November 6th, 2023 at 8:51 PM ^
There is zero chance. Read the details in the actual article:
"ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A former employee at a Big Ten football program said Monday it was his job to steal signs and he was given details from multiple conference schools before his team played Michigan..."
November 7th, 2023 at 8:29 AM ^
You are consistently annoying AF.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
Far dumber things have happened, but it's hard to imagine the reporter simply ignoring that fact. Also, why would Stalions "compile a spreadsheet of play-calling signals used by Michigan last year"?
November 6th, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
That would be the same guy who was apparently forced to resign. Would UM feel comfortable relying on him? To your third and fourth questions, sure, yes.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Ahh poor little lion not fun when it’s your team being dragged through the mud you’re fucking pathetic