Even Pete Finebaum Himself is Defending Jim + OSU changed signs last year before game

Submitted by nickelsarcade on October 20th, 2023 at 11:19 AM

Caught this on ESPN today. When Finebaum is essentially arguing this is a NCAA witch-hunt, you can tell just how widespread whatever Michigan is being accused of doing is. 

Also, love this point buried in the newest Yahoo reporting on this situation:

Reading 11W, they are pinging between two equally goofy arguments: this explains Michigan's second-half dominance and this explains OSU's two losses last two years. The funniest thing is when one level-headed 11W points out the obvious (why would this lead to second-half gains rather than Michigan beating them from the jump), the 11W masses are responding that UM purposely didn't deploy the signs until second half to cover up the scheme. You gotta give it to them for idiocy. 

In the end, winning cures all.

Wolverine91

October 20th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^

I’ve had enough of this shit. Who fckin cares. Fuck the ncaa and their bullshit. This isnt some ground breaking news. It’s literally nothing and anyone who wants to tarnish this team bc of this can go suck a fat one

St Joe Blues

October 20th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^

I think the most obvious thing here is the brilliance of Stalions and and of Coach Harbaugh using his talents. This guy was trained by the Marines in "identifying the opponent's most likely course of action and most dangerous course of action" and "identifying and exploiting critical vulnerabilities and centers of gravity in the opponent scouting process." He would also "employ Marine Corps philosophies and tactics into the sport of football regarding strategies in staffing, recruiting, scouting, intelligence, planning and more." He then used that training to identify and exploit our opponent's weaknesses.

This is utterly brilliant! It makes you wonder if he also had training in code breaking.

charblue.

October 20th, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^

In the 2021 game, Ohio State let Michigan score late in the game in order to get the ball back. How do you rationalize quitting near the goal line, giving up a TD, then complaining you were a victim of cheating? 

In the final minutes of last year's game in Columbus, the Buckeyes gave up an 85 yard TD after Edwards broke a similar long scoring runn thru the same side and hole on two consecutive series. Go back and watch the tape, Michigan ran the same play four times in a row. The first two were stopped and the last two went for long TDs. 

This wasn't about stealing signals, it was about kicking ass on the LOS, and imposing physical will.  Michigan trailed at halftime in that game then won by outscoring OSU 27-3, a year after scoring 28 second half points. 

Blue Vet

October 20th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^

Conspiracy theories: there's either obvious evidence that proves it, albeit between the lines and in the shadows, OR the lack of evidence proves how deep the conspiracy goes.

bronxblue

October 20th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^

I've seen basically every fanbase who is commenting on this story - so OSU and MSU - have constantly tried to hand-wave away the fact that UM has struggled in the first quarter, relatively speaking, and then got better as the game progressed, which as noted would be weird if you had the signals.  Usually you'd try to take advantage of that benefit early on.  The analogy would be if you knew their right tackle had a bump leg that wasn't reported you'd try to overload that side and rush the QB early on, not wait a quarter to then bring the house.  

 

J. Redux

October 20th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^

Ah, but you see, that's just because Harbaugh is so crafty.  Of course I know you know that I know the signals, but if I pretend I don't know the signals then the iocaine powder must be in the cup in front of me!

Never go in against a Harbaugh when WINNING is on the line...

mGrowOld

October 20th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^

It’s pretty simple.  If pornstar name guy was at other teams games when Michigan wasn’t playing the accusations will probably stick given the NCAA’s hatred of Harbaugh.

if he wasn’t this is absolutely nothing.

Oh, and I truly hope we tell the NCAA to stick his computer up their ass.

jhayes1189

October 20th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^

I will say this…..

OSU has what’s coming to them. They aren’t going to get a half to pretend they are still in the game. 
 

Michigan will jump on them from the get-go, and jump on them hard. And they will make McCords day very very uncomfortable 

kyeblue

October 20th, 2023 at 12:58 PM ^

If Michigan staffers were not 100% sure if they had the code deciphered correctly, it would take some plays to validate the deciphered code before trusting it. 

JTP

October 20th, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^

Cry wine bitch and moan bottom line they couldn’t handle our oline or tackle Donovan Edwards! The numbers that matter 42-27 and 45-23

Boner Stabone

October 20th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^

The only take I have is that if Jim goes back to the NFL (which would not surprise me).  Warde needs to be fired the next day.  As far as I am concerned Warde should be fired now!  He is getting very close to David Brandon territory.

Perkis-Size Me

October 20th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^

Let's say this whole thing is actually true and Harbaugh and Co. were stealing signs. And let's say OSU found out about it. Then isn't in on you, OSU, to adapt and change up your f*****g signs? If you didn't, or didn't do it well enough, then that's on you. 

I'm with Brian on this one. "I'm not about to put on a hairshirt if Michigan is the best sign-stealing team in America. Change your signs, dumbass." 

mgoblue78

October 20th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^

In the Yahoo Sports story, the photos of Stalions "Obtained by Yahoo Sports from a Big Ten school staff member" show the team in all-whites, which means its Minnesota from this year, OSU from last year, or Nebraska from 2021. And it also means that they're busily photographing our sidelines from the pressbox.