Balas: After NCAA meetings, Michigan "99% sure" it won't face punishment this season
Chris Balas ($) posted an update based on conversations with his sources at Michigan about yesterday's discussions with the NCAA. As always, since this is paywalled, subscribe to On3 for the full article. But based on his comments and those from Isaiah Hole, who has spoken to dozens of people inside and outside of Michigan about this story, it appears that:
- Overall, Michigan feels good about the conversations that have taken place, and feels "99 percent sure" that neither Michigan nor Harbaugh will face sanctions this year, because of the "rogue staffer" facts to date.
- Michigan isn't using the "grey areas" defense, believing that if Stalions hired others to something that is forbidden, that is a rules violation by Stalions.
- 1-2 more articles will drop with news unflattering to Michigan related to this story, but they won't alter the fundamental framework we are already familiar with.
All in all, it appears that we may nearing the bottom of the curve related to this story, and that once those last few stories drop, we will have a nearly complete picture of the facts (i.e., no Harbaugh involvement, no sanctions this year, probably slaps on the wrist in the end).
And then we can go back to focusing on winning the Game.
October 27th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
I just got done golfing with 2 ohio state supporters. They believe anything and everything anti Michigan. I think they might even believe Harbaugh shot Kennedy.
October 27th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
That was Les Miles. He was eating grass on the knoll.
October 27th, 2023 at 4:45 PM ^
I literally laughed out loud at this. Classic.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:02 PM ^
Someone in another thread said they'll blame us for passing along the Russian Navy's signals to the Japanese at the Battle of Tsushima.
October 27th, 2023 at 4:07 PM ^
I want info on the Matt Weiss investigation. Anyone has anything of note?
October 27th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
The FBI, CIA, and KGB are all on it now.
October 27th, 2023 at 4:46 PM ^
A little good news goes along way. I hope Chris Balas is correct, he's a good reporter.
October 27th, 2023 at 5:37 PM ^
I know everyone thinks we pay too much for Blue Wall (TM) protection but it seem to be worth it.
October 27th, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^
Hopefully going forward our vetting process of athletic employees is a hell of a lot better than its been. This should include psychological testing. No creepers, no fan boys, racist, et al.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:18 PM ^
Doubt the FBI would waste time looking for NCAA violations on Weiss’ computer. They likely couldn’t care less and they sure as hell wouldn’t share or discuss evidence with the NCAA.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
I think we're chasing buckeye wet dreams.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:28 PM ^
Item 2 is infuriating. Michigan should absolutely bask in the gray for this one.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
Excellent, thanks for the update. My hate for the Bucknuts grows stronger by the day, not sure how since I saw Woody punch that Clemson’s Charlie Bauman on Dec 29, 1978 on live TV I’ve hated them so bad. I cannot wait to beat their asses next month.
October 27th, 2023 at 6:54 PM ^
I like the team being pissed off and the coaches bringing a great game plan to suffocate opposing team. Can't wait to watch psu and osu get destroyed.
October 27th, 2023 at 7:06 PM ^
Don't want to make this a post, but y'all . . . have you seen what people are saying on 11 Warriors? They have well and truly lost the fucking plot over there.
First, they're all about a theory (confirmed by an Unnamed Staffed Inside Schembechler Hall) that Weiss had child porn on a shared drive that Jaybaugh had a password to, and that also on that drive was 50 hours of tOSU practice film. And there's some kind of agreement under which Weiss (who's basically like a son to the Harbaugh family, obvs.) has agreed not to cooperate with law enforcement to emsure Jay doesn't go down, and in return Harbaugh is not going to cooperate with the police in the investigation of Weiss (nor the NCAA, I guess?). Oh, and everyone hates Jim inside the AD and hates Jay even more (not sure how that fits in or matters at all, but let's just admit it's *very* juicy, well-sourced sounding stuff and will probably be headlining Mandel's next piece). There are like 4 comments out of ~250 that are like "eh, that sounds a little far-fetched."
Beyond that airtight theory, so, so many of them are going full melodrama and saying things like "fuck Jim Harbaugh for ruining this rivalry, which may never be the same after this." Notwithstanding that in the same blog, there's a story about how Day tipped TCU off about sign stealing and TCU was thus able to neutralize the competitive advantage Michigan gained from Stalions. You know, the advantage so potent that The Game is ruined for a generation. And like, there's no WAY the Buckeyes could have also . . . changed their signs. Dawand Jones said it would be confusing!
Truly, losing to us two years in a row has broken many of them. It's bizarro world over there.
October 27th, 2023 at 7:35 PM ^
Careful, they eat lead paint chips over there.
October 28th, 2023 at 1:32 AM ^
Everyone knows OSU hasn’t practiced for 50 hours, as evidenced by the fact that their PR firm hits harder than any guy on their soft, soft team.
October 28th, 2023 at 9:53 AM ^
In a perfect world Stalions is found to be perfectly within the rules while on his own and now known to be a signals savant necessitating a raise. Jim then sits him down and tells him to get a life.
Tom Mars forces the NCAA to both apologize to Conor and Michigan to avoid a defamation suit. The compromised Jim Stapleton is then shamed further and removed from the NCAA as a whole. Minnesota buys him out.
The FBI pursues the "Firm" and those who paid the "Firm" for multi state federal crimes via computer hacking and those involved in releasing and disseminating same. Turns out its the same outfit that does trivia for MSU.
Tom Mars forces the NCAA to investigate all aspects of a member institution committing crimes against its rivals in the interest of "fairness"!
Michigan curb stomps their next opponents laying to rest advantage bleats from the unwashed.
As a Christmas present Ryan Day is run out on a rail from Columbus for being Ryan Day. 3 Days later film of his sobs making his Manscara run emerges causing him to lose his Just for Whiners endorsement. :)