The OSU Dirt - Can It Even Be Weopnized

Submitted by Bo Harbaugh on November 17th, 2023 at 1:57 PM

Many of you will poo-poo this post and don't think I'm credible, but I know for a fact as do most folks that are actual insiders at Schembechler Hall (which I am not), that UM has binders and folders full of dirt on mainly OSU and other programs from just the past decade. Some has indeed been reported and the NCAA just ignored it. I would love for Brian or Sam Webb or others to confirm, but my buddy who was formerly employed by the AD is not a bullshitter, has shared just what he knows...and I'm certain it goes much deeper than what he - an assistant staffer -  knew.

I'm disgusted we capitulated give the PI investigation and PR hit job led by OSU.  And yes, it was OSU that hired the PI.  The entire situation is fucking absurd for a level 3 violation.

1) OSU has been playing players for years, well before NIL

2) OSU continues to pay players (just for recruiting visits - CHEATING!, even under NIL). I have 4 names of commits from this fucking cycle they paid for visits (illegal!) and then promised very nice packages (legal). Let's just say Larry Johnson wasn't pulling in the 5 stars this cycle until Ryan Day asked for $15mil more in NIL - which was misappropriated towards visits.

I absolutely guarantee what happened with SIGNGATE!!!! would make other programs look like serial killers if all cards were put on the table.  Anybody that knows the inner working of NCAA football, at places like Bama, UGA, OSU, and are saying anything about UM right now, are absurd hypocrites, projecting like crazy, or have an agenda to push (CLICKS!).

Further, this is so fucking absurd as the NCAA has had a hard-on for Harbaugh since the satellite camps and then his comments on rev share.  It doesn't take a genius to see what this is about.

The NCAA which is supposed to help and promote college athletes does everything in their power to limit their financial upside and optionality, then shit on a coach and label him a "cheater" based on what is at most a level 3 violation.  ESPN, Thamel, etc getting clicks for the outrage machine and rival fanbases with soft shit teams crying like bitches.

I know with 99% certainty that UM has a ton of dirt on OSU.

The question now is, how to weaponize it and leave or at least damage the B1G. UM was sooooo far behind on this in the PR war, that their intel is essentially useless at this point.  Anything that drips out now will still pale in comparison to SIGNGATE!, and that is what's most frustrating here.  

I know, for a fact, after the Rutgers, OSU, Purdue collusion was pushed out, and it barely moved the national media dialogue and narrative on UM, there was a sense of defeat in the athletic dept. about how leaking trash about OSU would help UM.  UM got beat off the field on this one, no other way to really spin it.  

Downvote me to hell, I'm sure many don't believe what my buddy has shared at this point, but I am steadfast in the amount of dirt UM has on OSU, and the firms that UM hired to investigate what happen - helped uncover the Don Brown stolen signals issue, the Rutgers - OSU - Purdue collusion, as well as the fact that OSU continues to break bagging rules (confirmed) even after NIL. One of the firms is also conducting an internal investigation on UM's own "signgate" fwiw - as they attempt to get all the facts to cleanse the situation as much as possible.

I wish a real "insider" or Brian or Webb would confirm what I'm saying and more importantly, wish UM could find a way to weaponize the info.

Downvote me to hell, shit on my credibility - but I know what's been shared to some level

And...Fuck the B1G, Fuck the NCAA.

brad

November 17th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^

The narrative did start to change after that one single leak came out.  The problem is that one leak was up against a waterfall of leaks from the other side.  The general approach is correct, we just need more of it.  One item at a time, multiple friendly media outlets simultaneously, repeat, repeat, repeat.

kwallace2386

January 23rd, 2024 at 3:56 PM ^

That’s why you leak it to the media, not the NCAA. Why does Michigan still give them so much credibility?! My god.

Michigan just doesn’t care about winning as much as OSU. If they had all this dirt while getting their butts kicked for a decade, why didn’t they come out with it?! What were they waiting for?!  As much as OSU leadership goes waaaay too far, the reason they do because of Michigan’s weak leadership, who can’t even fire Warde. It’s infuriating 

 

imdwalrus

November 17th, 2023 at 2:04 PM ^

Yeah, the idea that all of this is true and Michigan is just sitting on it twiddling their thumbs when it would have at a minimum distracted everyone from our own investigations is...not remotely plausible. Especially the bit about the program informing the NCAA because that would absolutely have left a paper trail. So either it's not true, or if it is true they can't actually prove any of it which means it's worthless.

Cubbieblue and BLUE

November 17th, 2023 at 5:41 PM ^

I am personally glad that people don't give a shit about players getting paid against the rules.  People have known about it for years and done nothing, because people believe players should be entitled to the money.  Without that attitude being so pervasive we would not have finally gotten players the NIL money they richly deserve.

(that said what happened to Wake is absurd.)

PNWBlue

November 17th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^

UM’s use of dirt needs to be coordinated and leaked to multiple outlets- NOT the NCAA or B1G. The regulatory bodies don’t give a shit. The targeted PR campaign-enabled hit job that has played out over the past several weeks was a masterclass in political opponent nullification. Follow that blueprint— or STFU and take your beatdown every time in the court of public opinion. 

BuckThaF_ckeyes

November 17th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^

Just sign Harbaugh to a lifetime contract and have boosters out bid OSU with NIL. Beat them on the field. They cheat? Of course they do, but ultimately if M keeps winning on the field that's all that matters.

Mattinboots

November 17th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^

At this point I doubt it. It would just be spun back against us as crybabies and we probably have done some of the same things in the past. No one should assume we haven’t paid for players pre-NIL. 

Perkis-Size Me

November 17th, 2023 at 2:47 PM ^

This is literally Michigan's only recourse right now. Win on the field. 

And fortunately for Michigan, THAT is where you can hurt OSU the most. You beat them on the field, and their whole world falls apart. We've seen it the last two years in a row. 

You beat them next Saturday, under all these circumstances? Their program might implode. There will be literally no excuse for them to hide behind.