Nothing Burger
Here it is. A low level staffer — not even on the coaching staff — breaks down video of opposing teams. Gasp.
‘The article does make clear that doing so is not illegal, yet it spends several paragraphs addressing Harbaugh’s potential punishment and concludes — for some reason — that this is worse that the Astros and Patriots.
The issue is this: did this staffer go to games of opponents and tape them. The NCAA has nothing and they know it. (That’s why they are asking for his computer).
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38700739/michigan-staf…
October 20th, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
If Conor visits this site which I am sure he has then voila "vast network". The line forms to the right to turn in your computers.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
When Big Pete is defending Jim you know the ncaa is reaching and behaving with vengeance.
One thing I’m looking forward to tomorrow on the Fox Pre Game show is Brady Quinn’s take on all this. His countless eye rolls and ability to arrogantly laugh at and smack down Urban and Matt’s stupid and exaggerated takes is a constant source of comedy. See how it rolls but I’m banking on a pretty even keeled common sense response from him in the face of Urban’s claims of terror
October 20th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
Well, if we are reading signs and know our opponent's play I wish someone would include Colson in the process.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
"It's hard for me to imagine that [the NCAA] will be able to make a solid case ... I sense that there's some piling on here to Jim Harbaugh ... If this had been someone else, the investigation probably would not have gotten to this point." -- Paul Finebaum (yeah, you read that correctly)
October 20th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
The NCAA is a petty, vindictive bunch. Just look at the Tez Walker situation. The NCAA was clearly in the wrong and it took the threat of a class action lawsuit for them to change their stance, and even then they put the blame on North Carolina.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
Can't wait for OSU and sparty deplorables to post the Hutch image
October 20th, 2023 at 11:19 AM ^
Paul Finebaum of all people was on Get Up this morning defending Harbaugh and suggesting that this appears to be a NCAA witchhunt.
Paul. Finebaum.
Yes, this is a Nothing Burger.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
Very sad when Pete has to be the voice of reason…
October 20th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Does that make Finebaum a Nothing Croque Monsieur?
October 20th, 2023 at 11:26 AM ^
Do we think that Harbaugh is the equivalent of a well known political figure that is always in the news for violations (which many are egregious) crimes and misdemeanors? Not intended to be political but as I see how everything that JH does that pushes the line from sleeping at recruits houses, satellite camps to questionable calls against OSU, to the NFL, Burgergate and now this. It seems EVERYTHING is front page nonsense. The political fiasco that is playing out in front of us seems to be mirrored with our FB program. I’ve become apolitical and now to see us in the news again is just tiring. Wish JH and Warde and Ono would go nuclear here and just tell the NCAA to kick rocks.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
https://twitter.com/MJoeBean/status/1715364513992548794/photo/1
seems urban had a staffer just to scout michigan all year…
October 20th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
If that dude got people he knows to attend these games and record them..I don't have any problem with that. The rule is B.S. to begin with and this is 'grey area' stuff.
Maybe the desirable outcome here is that the NCAA gets rid of an asinine rule banning in-person scouting that is completely out of touch with the realities of the 21st century and FBS football.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
Are they going to get him for violating the copyright of having unauthorized recorded games in his possession?
October 20th, 2023 at 1:48 PM ^
So it's just this one dude? Not a "vast network" like was reported yesterday?
October 20th, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^
2022 - MSU PLAYERS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER A BIG LOSS TO MICHIGAN, ASSAULT AND INJURE 2 MICHIGAN PLAYERS [ON VIDEO] WHILE THEIR COACHES LOOK AWAY. NCAA- (Crickets) - NO STATEMENT, NO INVESTIGATION, NO PUNISHMENTS.
2023 - 2 COACHES ALLEGEDLY COMPLAIN ABOUT MICHIGAN READING SIGNS DURING GAMES. NCAA - INITIATES INVESTIGATION, NOTIFIES BIG TEN WHICH NOTIFIES TEAMS AND STORY GETS OUT IN MIDDLE OF SEASON BEFORE ANY OBVIOUS FACTS OTHER THAN MICHIGAN KICKING BIG TEN ASS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY GOING ON 3 YEARS IN A ROW. C’MONNNNN…..
Apologies for the CAPS, just going crazy over NCAA crap.
October 21st, 2023 at 6:00 PM ^
I do not think it is very likely that Michigan will receive any punishment from the NCAA. Maybe this point has been made already, but I personally haven’t seen it articulated specifically so wanted to lay it out here:
1. Sign stealing is legal
2. However NCAA bylaws suggest an institution may not send a staff member (key word is staff member) to scout teams in person at opponent games
3. This means that even if the most serious allegations ARE TRUE (I.e. we had a “vast network of folks at games doing in person scouting”) - as long as they were NOT ON STAFF for Michigan then it is not illegal
4. The actual staff member who is suspended is frequently pictured on Michigan sidelines during games - it does not seem like he was the individual actually physically going to opponent games.
Therefore, unless the NCAA can prove this “vast network” was on Michigan payroll, I do not see any way they can pass along legitimate punishment. I’d imagine they will instead write more specific rules to eliminate this gray area in the future.
I think this is just a Harbaugh special - operating within the rules in a gray area - kind of like satellite camps - in order to give us an advantage.