Rittenberg - Big Ten considering fines
Notice the use of past tense when discussing the suspension.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
Could you imagine if a dump truck full of pennies showed up and just dumped it in front of B1G headquarters? It’s all there, assholes, but feel free to count it.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:31 PM ^
I'd be wary of accepting any penalty that could potentially be cited by the NCAA as an admission.
November 9th, 2023 at 4:42 PM ^
With all the high powered help, I'm pretty sure this will be covered.
November 9th, 2023 at 8:57 PM ^
You're not wrong but I think UWSBlue isn't saying that the attorneys would miss that but instead is saying it as a counterpoint to all the commenters in this thread falling over themselves to accept this fine. NCAA investigation remains open; B1G is retreating; this isn't the time to admit (or even imply) wrongdoing.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
the B1G is looking for a painless way to save face.
November 9th, 2023 at 3:48 PM ^
Do NOT make it painless for them.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
Prolly would save us money compared to legal costs lol
November 9th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
Rittenberg has no common sense or useful information…ever. He also thinks the rest of the conference stealing and sharing our signals is a non-issue.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
Isn’t the biggest fine $10,000.
But it’s an admission of guilt so like Lee Corso says “ not so fast”. Fine osu, Rutgers and Purdue and then I’d accept it. Mho
November 9th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Sorry doubleblue2, posted a similar message at the same time as you!
November 9th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Sorry doubleblue2, posted a similar message at the same time as you!
November 9th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
Paying a fine would be an admission of guilt. So, NO WAY!
November 9th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
I only think you accept the fine if they also fine Rutgers, OSU, and Purdue for last year's transgressions and the rest that we may have dirt on. Punishment needs to be uniform.
I'd rather pay the lawyers instead of the B1G.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Not fine.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
So we arrived at a reasonable penalty that didn't need a 2 week bullshit storm of pearl clutching and posturing designed to get a coach fired who you hate and take away the success that these young men have worked and bled for the past 3 years?
If the fine is too stiff I would still tell them to fuck themselves.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Now we're talking. This is a significant shift in the narrative.
But we should still do all we can to lay waste to Ohio State via leaking The Binder to the press and the conference/NCAA.
November 9th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
This doesn't justify leaking the whole binder. We might need that someday.
I think what we really need is some investigative journalism on just how this gaslighting operation was pulled off. Who hired whom, who did the actual snooping, how did they get the commissioner on board, who handled the PR campaign, were all the other 13 schools enthusiastic supporters or were there contrary views. Background on sign stealing and collusion that makes it clear Stalions was just trying to catch up. Whatever can be garnered from the journalists about how things went down in their back rooms. Get that out in the most public way possible, a book, a 30 for 30, whatever. There's lots of shame to be doled out.
And if there's any hint of any criminal activity along the way it gets pursued.
"OSU paid for recruits to visit," nobody cares and it looks like we're whining. "OSU hired PI firm to investigate rival, found essentially nothing in three years but coerced commissioner into acting anyway" makes them look bad. So does "ten big ten schools share signs in attempt to beat Michigan, Michigan wins conference anyway." "Grand jury indicts coach's brother, high school friend for cybercrimes" might actually turn the narrative altogether.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
The athletic department's budget is $215M.
What's the fine? $1M? Warde, pay the man. Let's get back to work.
Our legal defense bill might exceed the fine.
November 9th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
One million? With that logic… username checks out.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
I say they pay with Prussian monies,
November 9th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
Just arguing with everyone on youtube comments all day. tiring. this would be fine, but there's still a reputational issue. I'd almost welcome a lawsuit to get more info out publicly
November 9th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
If there is nothing more, expect another coordinated attack from ESPN regarding punishments.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
Commissioner, here is our offer: Nothing! And we would appreciate it if you would personally pay all of our legal fees.
Santa (Corleone) Ono
November 9th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
It would surprise me if the legal teams for the school and conference haven’t already communicated about possible outcomes.
We might be seeing a deliberate signal from the conference in the statements made via the media.
Might not, but I think it’s likely.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Holy shit, the backtracking from the B1G in the past 48 hours has been delicious
November 9th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
Let’s pay them with vacuum repair vouchers
November 9th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
I'm just thankful they didnt ask for an apology, or an admission of any sort, like the NCAA
November 9th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
Nope. No suspensions. No fines. Nothing.
Michigan's letter to the Conference makes it very clear. Petitti cannot go through the Sportsmanship policy and he can't act unilaterally until after the NCAA has finished.
Any sanction of consequence at this point will result in a well-deserved lawsuit.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
I concur. I noted in a reply above that $10,000 is the maximum fine the B1G commissioner can issue unilaterally (i.e., without committee approval) under the Agreement 10 Sportsmanship Policy. But Ghost of Fritz makes the more significant point: the B1G should not be operating under the Sportsmanship Policy at all here. It should be operating under Rule 32, which in this case requires deferral to the NCAA until it has finished its investigation. I think that yesterday's letter by Harbaugh attorney makes this argument even more effectively than the UM letter.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Exactly. Once they come forth with the proposed fine, we can sue them, and not have to worry about any suspensions. Because going to a suspension after the fact would look retaliatory.
And once the lawsuit has started, there’s no hurry, and we can take our time getting all the facts we want out there.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
Time for the MGoFundMe Cannon.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:38 PM ^
Michigan needs to go all in! If they agree to pay a big fine and none of the dirt on the rest of the big 10 gets brought to light, I think there will be another accusation next year against Harbaugh. They need to bring all of this to a head and deal with it now.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:39 PM ^
Finally, a good idea from the B1G... they *should* pay Michigan a significant fine as penalty for their ass-hattery in this matter!
November 9th, 2023 at 2:39 PM ^
Don’t accept any punishment before the NCAA concludes its investigation and renders judgement. Sue the Big Ten.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
Could they please de-fine what they actually mean to all of us Wolverines??? Please.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
As others have noted - would paying a fine be the equivalent of admitting a wrongdoing?
If so, I would contest it - and, simply state that Michigan disagrees that any violation occurred.
The other part seems to say - "let's call it a misunderstanding / misinterpretation" and move on.
My view is - there's no admission of guilt - or anything resembling that - and, put it all in the rear view mirror.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:52 PM ^
Paying a fine is not an admission of anything.
Parties often pay fines/settle cases to put things behind them.
I settle hundreds of cases a year and not once has the person paying the settlement ever admitted liability.
In fact, there is a clause in almost every single settlement agreement expressly stating they are not admitting anything.
November 9th, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
You are more experienced in this area than I am. If there’s no admission of wrongdoing / guilt - then, pay the fine and get it behind the program.
Hoping the team continues to show what they are about on the field.
Go Blue!
November 9th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
Here’s the thing. How does the commissioner have the authority to levy the fine? If they are using the “sportsmanship” clause and we pay, are we not ceding that the commissioner has such authority under said clause? That seems like a terrible precedent to me.
November 9th, 2023 at 3:52 PM ^
But this is not an announced settlement.
Michigan paying a Big Ten fine shows they were in violation of a Big ten rule.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
... and one more thing.
During halftime of The Game, Petitti has to walk to midfield, bend over, and kiss his own arse.
November 9th, 2023 at 6:07 PM ^
Been meaning to ask...does President Ono know that you are using his picture as your profile pic?
November 10th, 2023 at 12:05 AM ^
The Ononator.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
Don’t accept any punishment before the NCAA concludes its investigation and renders judgement. Sue the Big Ten.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
At least with a fine (vs. a suspension), we won't need a restraining order. But it can (and should) still be appealed.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
You ask what the amount of the fine is that the conference thinks is acceptable, and then you counter sue for 10 times that amount for libel and slander.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
Petitti has already made many mistakes. I hope makes another and issues a fine. That can be met with a lawsuit plus the slow leaking out of all of OSU's many violations over the years, from paying recruits, to sign stealing etc., etc.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
That would great for us, and here's why: it would come off as weak-ass move by the B1G. That would send a message that Petitti feels like he has to do *something* because he has 13 schools and a bunch of talking heads in the media screaming over this, but that he also knows he can't piss off the B1G's cash cow and its strongest brand in an era where every school is basically a free agent. So slapping the league's richest school with a fine would basically make it look like he's doing something without actually doing anything.
And if Petitti does go that route, then we should refuse to pay and continue to press the issue in court until the B1G capitulates. It would be the perfect opportunity to show Petitti and the 13 whiners who actually runs shit around here.
November 9th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
Pay them in pennies since they want to be petty