Crain's Editorial: For the Big Ten, a tale of two scandals
Paywalled, but an interesting take I haven't heard before, comparing Petitti's response to this vs. Northwestern's scandal. LINK
Obviously the difference is the supposed "competitive advantage" gained by our actions, but this is the money shot:
And yet, beyond some mild statements of concern, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti seemed satisfied to allow Northwestern to conduct its own investigation into the hazing allegations and to stay out of the way. Not much outrage beyond that seemed to emanate from the Big Ten’s Rosemont headquarters — certainly nothing on par with the conference’s rapid response to the charges against Michigan. No doubt the reactions of other conference members had something to do with the divergence in intensity and magnitude. Sexual abuse is one thing, apparently — but sign-stealing is another entirely, and one which evidently cannot be tolerated.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:40 AM ^
Meh. Im over it after this weekend. The powers that be figured without Stallions and Harbaugh we were dead in the water, the team proved diferrently.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Seriously this win may have been more important than the others.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
In one fell swoop, Michigan nuked the sign stealing narrative and shoved Cryin Day and the Bucknuts in a body bag. No Harbaugh, no Stalions, and it didn't change a damn thing at Penn State, at Maryland, or in Ann Arbor last Saturday.
The biggest "competitive advantage" in The Game was JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Colston Loveland, Will Johnson, Mason Graham, Jaylen Harrell, Rod Moore, Donovan Edwards, etc. etc.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
... and the men who coached them.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
That's why this win was existential. Brian nailed it in last week's post-Maryland write-up: only 1 of these 2 teams was playing (almost literally) for their lives. Michigan has been told for the last 2 months that they aren't legitimate, and the only way to vindicate themselves was to Just. Keep. Winning.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
I still don't think Michigan is going to allow Petiti to just walk away with doing this before all is said and done. They'll lean hard on others to realize that Petiti was wrong that he's gotta go.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
Which others? If reports are correct, the majority of the big ten pushed Pettiti to make that decision. Doubt they change their minds.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
This does not pertain to the NW scandal v. the Michigan stuff, but one thing that really confuses me is that people are constantly saying "the sign stealing is different than just paying players under the table or keeping them falsely eligible." To which I say, how? How do they reason it is different? I am not saying that either is alright, but everybody seems to have concluded that one manner of competitive advantage is OK when another one isn't. Why? What is their rationale?
November 27th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
THANK YOU - this has been bugging me, too.
I understand the in-game competitive advantage vs overall competitive advantage argument... but it's a myopic way to view things, and I don't think there IS a logical rationale, once it's teased out.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
It's insane that there are thousands of people who think that having signs more easily (if it actually is easier; I think buying already-decoded signs, like OSU does, is both easier and more clearly illegal) is a greater advantage than a couple extra 5* and several extra 4* per class.
But we live in an insane world.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
Yeah, you could lose your marbles trying to explain the difference between "letter" and "spirit" to an OSU fan. Case in point: If you've never heard Tim May (whose associations include the Columbus Dispatch and 97.1 FM down there) speak, wow, he's amazing. He's in the "belligerent hillbilly" class and seems like a good representative of that fan base.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
We'll look into the allegations about Maurice Clarett after the National Championship game. We promise.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
People think that 'sign stealing' means its like when you're playing JV mode in a video game where all of Michigans players know exactly where the ball is gonna go at any point in time because the routes and plays are painted on the field. Thats why some people think this is the most heinous scandal in the world. Because they have no clue what theyre even arguing for
November 27th, 2023 at 10:49 AM ^
Jim will shake his hand and ask him “What’s your deal”?
November 27th, 2023 at 10:52 AM ^
give this Crain a raise
More seriously, Tony P got gaslighted by the others in the conference. At some point, he will figure this out, because he can't be that dumb. Can he?
November 27th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Ehh, this is a sports integrity issue. Said it from the beginning. we think its stupid, and we don't think there's much there. we just do what others do, better.. but the OPTICS are that we are cheating. in the sports world, that's forbidden.
Also, doing an internal investigation is a joke. I agree... but, they're not the same thing. They also immediately dumped everyone involved.
All that said, I really think Jim should stare that f-er down on the podium. He should have a planned comment... like... I saw the sign, bitch, it said BIG TEN CHAMPS.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Will he even be on the podium? The last two years, it’s been Archie Griffin handing Harbaugh the trophy. I’d still love to see him booed mercilessly.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
Petitti Garden Centers are a large greenhouse/plant and supply retailer in ohio.... wonder if tony is in the family.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
I really hope Pettiti has to hand Jim Harbaugh the Big Ten Championship trophy in front the of the whole teams and thousands of screaming Michigan fans. Dudes a dolt and he earned the humiliation
November 27th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
Smile and jokingly say, "Here's your sign, Tony."
November 27th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
Pretty sure Jim won’t have to say anything as the fans will be screaming F_ _ _ Pet-TEE-TEE during the exchange. Personally I would rather just hear a chorus of boos when his name is announced.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
"You tried, didn't you"
November 27th, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
Just take the trophy and ask him…
“Who told you that you could work with men”
November 27th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
Pettiti won't be handing over the trophy. He'll send Archie Griffin or some other OSU dude to do that.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
Petitti will be there. He will be booed just like we booed Delaney. He won't care. It is part of the job description.
Harbaugh will take the trophy as if nothing happened and say something inconsequential.
Worst thing he will do is what Connor Cook did to Archie Griffin.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
Crain's weighing in. Who's next, Mad Magazine?
November 27th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
Jim should say “what’s your deal?” to Petite D.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
Interesting take. The worst thing is NU is like a 25 minute car ride so it wouldn't even have been out of his way.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
ehhhh, I could understand the Big Ten viewing these as completely different and separate situations. Northwestern's hazing incident doesn't "involve" the other members of the league. It was completely internal, therefore, let them handle it internally.
Scalions was a dumbass who conjured up an elaborate scheme that he wasn't smart enough to cover his tracks, nor realize he was putting the very team he claims to love at risk. Sorry I'm not one of the "Scalions is a hero" brigade. All of this is his fault. Fuck him.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:13 PM ^
I didn’t know there was a brigade. Everyone I’ve read & chatted with said that what he did was stupid. And not “stupid, yet heroic.” Just stupid.
November 27th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
Several layers of nonsense in this. Hazing is awful, but there isn't a specific NCAA or Big Ten rule about it. So it’s appropriate that the school handled it internally.
In contrast, Connor Stalions was violating a specific NCAA rule, in a way intended to give Michigan a concrete advantage over its opponents. Opinions vary about how much of an advantage Michigan actually received, but there's no doubt about what Stalions was trying to do.
And given that Stalions kept doing this over a long period of time, I would guess he derived some benefit, even if it was slight. Otherwise, why did he keep doing it?
When you break the rules, there is a penalty. For instance, if an offensive lineman holds and the official sees it, there is a flag. The official doesn’t say, “I think the team didn’t get much benefit, so I won’t call a penalty.” The penalty is for what you did, not whether it worked.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
"Connor Stalions was violating a specific NCAA rule" - that has not yet been conclusively proven; nor has the rule been definitively stated to outlaw what Stalions is alleged to have done.
"Otherwise, why did he keep doing it?" - the guy ran a badly-reviewed unlicensed internet vacuum repair business out of his house, he obviously has difficulties with risk/reward calculations.
"The penalty is for what you did, not whether it worked." - Refs routinely decline to throw flags on PIs when the pass is ruled uncatchable.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:07 PM ^
Michigan has not contested that Stalions broke the rule. If you look at Michigan's response to the Big Ten, it is clear they are acknowledging that he did what is alleged.
Yeah, Stalions ran a crappy vacuum repair business. But Michigan actually employed Stalions, which means they must have felt he was performing a useful service, even if his colleagues didn't know how he did it.
Your analogy to PI is misplaced. The rule itself states that it is not applicable if the pass was uncatchable. The referee doesn't just decide on his own to let it go: the rule says they have to. The rule Stalions broke has no such exception.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
My preference would be similar to the “how do you like that, Ricky!” (Neuheisel) handshake or the Jim Schwartz handshake from back in the day. I doubt he does either but a man can dream. Ultimately, win with grace and act like you’ve been there before. All of his negative energy should remain focused on the mouth breathers in Columbus.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
If you aren’t digging into rules and precedent, etc., then the conference does look like an asshole when comparing NW & M. And although I agree that the 2 “scandals” have completely different contexts, I’m fine with the conference looking like an asshole. It takes an asshole to roll out that suspension when & how they did.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
This take is one I also overlooked. And the shame in this doesn't rest on Petitti alone. Every program that stayed on the phone to rail on UM and Harbaugh is just as culpable. If the B1G wants to dole out punishment before the NCAA has fully investigated, then do so with equality for all issues. This article just another reminder that football is business over people, and that just makes me sad.
November 27th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^
Sandusky, Nassar, Anderson, and Strauss.