Has the B1G opened Pandora’s Box
I’m not a legal expert but going forward shouldn’t the B1G be legally obligated to suspend every coach in every sport that is suspected of cheating of any sort? It would seem they are now legally obligated with this action, if not, does JH have legal recourse against the B1G?
Cheating is cheating, the B1G shouldn’t be able to discern the level of cheating or the accusation of cheating. Going forward all coaches accused of or being investigated for cheating in any form MUST BE SUSPENDED, and yes, recruiting violations ARE cheating. In fact it’s a more egregious form of cheating than “in person scouting” because the “on field competitive advantage” is exponentially more impactful when a team is “cheating” to land a recruit.
I don’t know, maybe I’m reaching. 😂🥰
November 11th, 2023 at 10:12 PM ^
OSU beat a tough Wisconsin team earlier this year 24-10 while showing a lot of grit.
Northwestern beat that same Wisconsin team 24-10 today.
November 12th, 2023 at 3:19 AM ^
You notice how just recently Rutgers was a quality win? Cant put my finger on the exact week but it was recent.
Previously they were in the “aint played nobody pile”. Whats really crazy is a loss put Rutgers over the top to quality loss. Although, coming from OSU, where their biggest win last season was a loss to Georgia it kinda makes sense.
November 11th, 2023 at 8:33 PM ^
Nobody with more than 2 functioning brain cells believes M enjoys any further advantage. Stalions been gone, plus everybody knows about it and can adapt.
Unfortunately the bulk of the sports media-consuming audience, including a non-zero number of ADs and conference commissioners, does not meet that modest cognitive standard.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:13 PM ^
Petite is over his head. He will learn, but now Michigan will be open to other conferences. Not to say Michigan leaves, but I'm sure they will listen.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:28 PM ^
I'm not sure he is going to get time to learn. There's a lot of folks out there who think his punishment of Harbaugh was too light.
As divided as this league is, a motion to fire Petitti might pass 14-0.
I honestly feel sorry for the guy. The mob put him in an awful spot. But he has to go. Only question is when.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:37 PM ^
Don't feel sorry for the guy. The mob put him in a spot, but he was always free to make his choice in actions.
Anything professionally that happens to him will be due to those actions
November 11th, 2023 at 7:48 PM ^
He should have given them Poggi's answer. They'd have been pissed, but they would know he was right. This is lose, lose, lose.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
This is on him though! He showed weakness by not establishing that the B1G is going to do an investigation by the book. He was willing to succumb based on an emotional appeal which is not rooted in a sound foundation based on the league policy. He could have reinforced that there is a process for adjudicating these issues and the rules will dictate action. Then he would have been on firm ground and difficult to replace.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:54 PM ^
The mob got what they wanted. Why would they kill the golden goose? Once the precedent and exorbitant legal fees come to roost and an array of teams face undo suspensions and ridicule then maybe such a bad decision will force his ouster.
November 11th, 2023 at 11:25 PM ^
Never feel sorry for a loser that brought it upon himself. He had 3 weeks to be a leader. He instead chose to be a follower. And that is exactly what he is, and the 13 other conference foes know it. They have 2 fingers in his nostrils and he will always do their bidding. Time to leave.
November 12th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
If he was in an awful spot, it is only because he put himself there. He caved to the mob. It was his job to be the grown-up in the room.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
I doubt that he cares about Michigan leaving. He hasn’t been very diplomatic, unless you count the “offer “ to let us suspend coach for 2 games as diplomacy. He snagged some new schools and figured the money would work out, or he looked at the numbers and decided we wouldn’t leave. Or maybe something else, I don’t even care why, but I just don’t think he values Michigan as a member.
That’s ok, but now M has to figure out what is next. If we stay in the B1G and we are ever in this position again we have no one to blame but ourselves. We know exactly the type of conference we’re in. I don’t know anything about conferences so I don’t know what’s best for anything, but I sure hope something changes.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:50 PM ^
As I said in another thread, if Michigan stays in the Big Ten after this, I probably won’t watch another game in any sport. This is beyond disgusting and hypocritical. This is a witch-hunt of epic proportions. The relationship is irrevocably broken. Oh, and hang the fucking banners!!
November 11th, 2023 at 7:56 PM ^
4 new entries next year all saw how the B10 treats a founding member cash cow. Hope they have no skeletons.
November 11th, 2023 at 8:21 PM ^
They better decide to lose to OSU right now... Skeletons don't matter.
November 11th, 2023 at 10:30 PM ^
Why would he care?? He’s been part of the Big Ten for like 15 minutes. These high-paid administrators swoop in and make monumental decisions for organizations they have no history with. Harbaugh was raised by the Big Ten. Petitti knows or cares fuck all about the conference or college football
November 11th, 2023 at 7:14 PM ^
This is why I can't comprehend why all the coaches and ADs signed off on this bullshit.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:19 PM ^
I can understand coaches and to a great extent ADs (just one sequence off in the meathead genome, for the most part). I would expect, however, these schools presidents and their legal staffs to have more sense than to disrupt a gravy train. Guess not.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
They know the rules will change when their school is targeted.
November 11th, 2023 at 8:30 PM ^
Yep. It will change. But I am looking forward to UM fighting everyone of those decisions in the court. Make B1G life miserable. Even if they leave the conference, they should go after them. I want UM to be mean and petty.
November 11th, 2023 at 8:45 PM ^
This right here- “mean and petty”
I want pettiness on scale with the Frick Building, built next to and taller than a building owned by rival Carnegie to permanently block the sun from view. This is the way.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
Because they are all petty, small-minded fucks.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:15 PM ^
Yes and no - it's not quite that simple. They aren't technically suspending Harbaugh for 'cheating'. They're suspending Harbaugh under a rule that doesn't exist in the B1G, because they believe he should have known about an infraction of an NCAA bylaw that hasn't yet been proven nor determined.
i bet they thought they were being really cute with that tactic, but in my opinion, they're just making themselves look like clowns. Of course I'm biased, but i'll be mildly shocked if the Judge doesn't laugh Pettiti's team out of the courtroom on Friday.
Go Blue.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:59 PM ^
And I doubt they strengthened their case with the late suspension Friday holiday drop. And accompanying leak to the press so traveling Michigan found out through the press and not directly. I am sure that will impress a judge with a case about fairness and competitive advantage.
November 11th, 2023 at 8:13 PM ^
And the fact that the committee to approve the harsher penalty was extremely biased - 2 reps from PSU and 1 from OSU should not have power to suspend the coach from the team about to play them in the upcoming weeks. Massive conflict of interest and entirely "unfair", which is ironic considering Pettiti seems to be so focused on fair play and a level playing field.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:16 PM ^
Are there currently any Big Ten teams under investigation for any form of recruiting violations? Does anybody know? Correct me if I’m wrong but a recruiting violation is in fact cheating, correct?
November 11th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
Michigan is finding that most of the teams are very intent on making sure there is fairness and no competitive advantage for their students and I agree so UM should do all it can to rid the league of cheats and their overseers.
I wonder if they know of any malfeasance from over the years since others claim at least three years of harm is the worst transgression. Must proceed with the standard set. Gotta follow the rules!
November 11th, 2023 at 7:21 PM ^
Along with legal proceedings UM should fire up the PR cannon when allowed. It’s BS that the NCAA, Big 10, and ESPN have been allowed to control the entire narrative.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:26 PM ^
Everyone is piling on Pettiti today. Even Ari Wasserman wrote an article about how stupid this is.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:39 PM ^
Even Urban Meyer said it was lunacy
November 11th, 2023 at 7:52 PM ^
Fuck him. He’s probably behind this. I hope Woodson punches him one day.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:54 PM ^
Go two-hand touch on him, Charles.
November 11th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
Never trust a fart.
November 11th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
I just read the Wasserman article and it’s bullshit. He basically starts from the premise of “yea Harbaugh probably cheated and others probably did too, but let’s let the NCAA investigation conclude before we punish them,” even though the NCAA said there’s no evidence Harbaugh knew. Fuck that douchebag.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:28 PM ^
Oh, I CANNOT wait for one of these schools to slip up even a tiiiiiiiiiiiny bit. I think Michigan should demand the death penalty for everything.
Oh, you released your injury report 20 minutes too late? You tried to give yourself a competitive advantage and your HC knew and should have stopped it, you're suspended.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
Like when Purdue’s coaches wore Apple Watches in the press box last weekend? See post below…
November 11th, 2023 at 7:28 PM ^
Our conference commissioner has no athletic experience and is a TV exec. He is an absolute 🤡. It’s shameful that he leads this conference in any capacity.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
Please bring back....
November 11th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
Also, if there are ongoing investigations of programs of any type in the Big Ten in which the coach that is being investigated, is no longer a part of that institution, it should not be relevant. The Big Ten has made it perfectly clear. This suspension is not a suspension of Jim Harbaugh, but the University. So with that in mind, the head coach of any program whether or not they were involved in the in fractions or alleged in fractions, must be suspended
November 11th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
I am not sure if they opened Pandora’s box but they certainly opened Michigan’s Coaching box. Today proves this team has multiple head coaches that can win big games. This PSU defense was legit! Moore made the decision that we will ground and pound until PSU stopped it. I absolutely love Jim Harbaugh and hope he stays for life but this coaching staff is a house full of studs.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^
They also didn't tell Michigan before they told Thamel. Regent Acker is pissed about that too.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^
The problem with what the B1G has done, is they're fucking with a more powerful institution in the University, and they're fucking with a whole lot of the universities money. They can do whatever they want, even implode the conference, but it will cost them dearly.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:36 PM ^
well I finally had way too much to drink and it may be time to go to bed, so my South Harmon Institute of Technology knowledge is all flowing out now.
But I still think the only way to win a lawsuit is to file for voiding Michigan's contract and GOR with the B1G, instead of arguing that the punishment is unfair and getting the punishment thrown out. With the way the Deflategate ruling went I just don't think that's a viable argument. Go scorched earth or go home. We'll see on Friday if the Regents were serious about willing to leave the conference. If not, I think the lawsuit is largely performative.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:37 PM ^
I'm no lawyer myself - and I'm sure we'll have some professionals that will weigh in - but I think the premise you're referring to would be precedent, and so the league would only find themselves in a situation where precedent would need to be evaluated if they find themselves in civil court.
Any future mediation the league finds themselves in outside of the legal system would not need to establish precedent, unless it is explicitly stated somewhere in the league rulebook that precedent will be used as the basis for delegation.
Now I'll let a lawyer redline my assertion much like I do Monday/Friday 9-to-5 lol
November 11th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
Tiny Tony is trying to move an unmoveable object by force. Trying to push or move Coach Jim against his will is a baaaad move. I hope he burns over this.
November 11th, 2023 at 7:39 PM ^
No. There's no binding precedent set. The commissioner's letter argues that this is an extraordinary situation requiring immediate action based on a reading of the Sportsmanship Policy that grants the commissioner extremely broad latitude to levy punishments as long as the Joint Group Executive Committee approves (whose "decisions are final and not subject to appeal").
November 11th, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
That might be the case if the Big Ten was acting rationally and would apply precedents without bias. But of course neither of those things are the case so I don’t expect the league will treat any other program the same way.
The only precedent I expect them to follow is to try and fuck Michigan at every turn. Which is exactly why we need to leave this shithole conference ASAP
November 11th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
I’d kind of think players have a legal recourse? Court filing say stealing signs puts players health and safety and risk. We know teams have stolen signs without punishment so the big ten is admitting it’s putting players at risk, no?
November 11th, 2023 at 9:08 PM ^
I was just about to post about this. Tipetti has opened up a huge area of liability for himself and the conference.
numerous coaches and athletic directors from other member institutions expressed concerns tome about the increased risks of injury to student-athletes resulting from the scheme. I have a responsibility to give serious consideration to those concerns. I find it credible that impermissible advance scouting increases the risk of injury to student athletes because if you know what play your opponent is running, then you also know where your opponents’ players will be on the field. Although the University attempted to downplay and disregard these safety concerns in its response, I am not willing to do so. (p. 12)
Tipetti is arguing that any team successfully attempting to discover "what play your opponent is running" creates a risk of injury for the players of the other team player. He admits that he knows this, and yet takes (and never has taken) necessary steps to prohibit teams from learning what play the other team is to run. That makes any future injuries to players from opponents discovering the play to be run the direct fault of a conference that knew of the risk and did nothing to mitigate it. The potential liability here dwarfs every other consideration in this letter. It is a moronic admission and I look forward to seeing an injured player use this boneheaded belief to shove a stick up Tipetti's ass and breaking it off.
November 11th, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
The part that really gets my goat is "I find it credible that"... Of course you do, Tony, you're a credulous moron with no football experience.