Per Balas, Michigan, media gathering evidence on PIs

Submitted by GoBlueDenver on November 3rd, 2023 at 1:12 PM

Article not paywalled

"Several sources at Michigan and in the media tell TheWolverine.com they are gathering evidence on two private investigators they believe are behind the investigation into U-M’s alleged illegal on-site scouting. The same sources also believe the two are responsible for the media leaks that have kept the story in the news for weeks"

Didn't see this on the board. Haven't posted in many years. Please be gentle
 

Bo Harbaugh

November 3rd, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^

Good

Fight back

And let the fucking narrative that "sign stealing" is illegal get fucking debunked.

Sign stealing in a certain way, which the NCAA specifically told one Ryan Karen Day was OK for the playoff, is what is in question.

It's a fucking infraction based on bylaws details at worst, not the crime of the century.

Maizinator

November 3rd, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^

In addition, other sources at Michigan allege some of the evidence — specifically, a spreadsheet provided to the Washington Post with analyst Connor Stalions’ travel plans and budget for his operation in which he allegedly paid people to video opposing teams’ signs — was obtained by gaining access to his computer illegally. Upon investigation, more sources indicated law enforcement has begun looking into the source of the information as a result. 

On3 also saying there is chatter that a computer crime might have been committed.


EDIT:  On3 now also reporting...
 

According to Balas, Michigan “is currently in possession of documents that could link one of the alleged investigators” to Timothy Day.



Report: Michigan launches investigation into PIs allegedly connected to family of Ohio State HC Ryan Day (on3.com)

 

 

BlueTimesTwo

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^

Day's little bro says that he has broken windows when OSU loses, and that because he was a DEA agent he knows how to protect them.  It is probably not him, but not because he wouldn't do it.  Just because OSU has far more experience at covering up rule breaking and would insulate themselves better.

Yeoman

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^

Serious question: what does Chris Day's investigative firm do? Do they have any employees? Do they have any customers? He filed the papers to create the company a few months before he quit his DEA job, but he's got two other active and apparently unrelated gigs listed on his linkedin profile and they both come ahead of "private investigator", which by the way doesn't list the name of the firm. It's as if it's a one-man sideshow. (Or maybe two.)

If he didn't spend his last three years investigating Michigan, what was he doing and what's the firm for?

FreddieMercuryHayes

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^

Ok, let me amend my statement.  I highly doubt a legit PI firm would break the law with the intention of then handing that evidence over to another body who will use it publicly.  I can totally see them breaking the law if the information gathered never goes beyond their client.  But clearly the intention was to hand this stuff over to a third party.

Clarence Beeks

November 3rd, 2023 at 4:35 PM ^

Right. After all, a huge chunk of the narrative people are running with is the arrogance and hubris by Stalions. Not to mention the "how could Michigan be that dumb?"  For consistency's sake, people that are saying that, then also must be able to at least consider "how could Ohio State be that dumb?"

FSUBulldog

November 3rd, 2023 at 3:47 PM ^

If it were something like a PI trying to find out if some poor schmuck’s spouse cheated yeah there is no reason to commit a crime. In this case where a family is hell bent to bring down a rival. Yes, I could see someone committing a crime to get ahead of the competition. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was true or if it wasn’t but let’s not pretend it’s far fetched.

J. Redux

November 3rd, 2023 at 1:43 PM ^

I'm on the record as saying that I'd be shocked if files had been accessed illegally.  Obviously, someone disagrees, and I'll own it if I was wrong.  Life goes on, and it would be amusing if this were true. :) (Not so amusing for whoever ends up in jail as a result, though).

But I'm not comfortable with the double standard toward anonymous sources that I'm seeing here.  If we're going to call out the national media for using anonymous sources, we should do the same when the source says something we like -- or, on the flip side, if we're going to celebrate leaks from anonymous Michigan sources, we shouldn't condemn links from anonymous, presumably Buckeye sources.

Maizinator

November 3rd, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^

There are some key differences.

1.  Michigan is constrained from commenting publicly by the NCAA Investigation.   There was nothing preventing the sources of the hit job pieces from going on the record.

2.  We're not calling for action against Day or OSU (yet) based on reporting of anonymous sources.   Many of the hit job pieces have been doing exactly that.

Hensons Mobile…

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^

No double standard. Skeptical of Thamel's bullshit, cautious with this. But the reason I applaud it is because we may as well fight fire with fire in what is currently a PR war. A PR war which could lead to real consequences, because Petitti went from no interest in doing anything to getting berated by 13 other schools. Need to fight back ASAP.

Also, FTR, I agreed with you that it seemed very implausible that a PI firm would be that dumb. I guess if it really was just his brothers fake PI firms, then they were that dumb. Still don't know, I guess. But I'm certainly more primed for believing it now.

MeanJoe07

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:18 PM ^

Adhering to some meek holy standard when your opponent is out for blood punching below the belt with reckless abandon isn't noble. It's pathetic.  Fuck Ryan Day. The double standard only exists if we refuse to play the game according to the standards they've decided to play by.  We should return the favor in kind.  Prepare your anus Ryan Day and get your beard dye ready.

rice4114

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^

We arent going to ask OSU to vacate 2 years of wins and fire their coach. We arent on a conference call with 12 other teams coaches trying to ruin a program. All chat boards are idiots (we are no exception to the rule) the problem is with the "so called" adults in the room -coaches and administrators. 

goblu330

November 3rd, 2023 at 2:38 PM ^

No, not unless Day had knowledge of and conspired to commit the crime, or knowingly took receipt of material or proceeds resulting from the crime, knowingly that they were obtained illegally.  
 

Hiring somebody to do a legal thing that they do illegally, or by way of illegal action outside the scope of why you hired them, without your knowledge, would not be a crime.

I mean it makes him charmin soft, but just not a criminal.

 

UMForLife

November 3rd, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^

Ha, the irony. B1G coaches want to destroy UM and Harbaugh for some rogue analysts' activities and NCAA wants to hold Harbaugh accountable even if he didn't know. You are telling me that is not true in a court of law. NCAA Bylaws are dumb and the ADs who agree to this are dumb.