Sam Webb Clarifies the Current Situation
Sam Webb ($) has a Webblog up in which he describes Signgate as "at a crossroads." Details as always in the full article, but the core issue is that B1G commisar Tony Pettiti is new at his job, and therefore doesn't have the political standing (or interest) to push back agains the "majority" of other B1G schools that want Harbaugh's head on a platter. Ono, the Regents, and Warde Manuel are on Harbaugh's side, but the other schools don't buy the "rogue staffer" line and want Harbaugh fired.
The problem, from our standpoint, is that Pettiti and the other schools do have the power to unilaterally punish Harbaugh and Michigan over Michigan's opposition. So what happens next? (These are my deductions based on Webb's article, Balas' article, and others.)
- The Stalions statement exonerating Harbaugh is a welcome development in that it buttresses the rogue staffer argument. I wouldn't be surprised if this was something that Ono/M leadership persuaded Stalions' lawyer to put out.
- Michigan may agree to suspend Harbaugh for 2 games in order to appease the mob. But they would only do so, I suspect, if it would actually appease the mob. If the mob will only be satiated by Harbaugh being canned, then Michigan will fight that. But Michigan may not win the fight, because the other B1G schools, if united, could force an outcome upon Michigan.
- Michigan's passive PR strategy ("we can't comment on an ongoing investigation") has been a mistake. Michigan needed to use KGB-like tactics to leak countervailing information to support the rogue staffer argument. It has clearly taken hold among the opposition media and B1G opponents that the entire program was involved in illegal scouting, not just Stalions, and this narrative needs to be rebutted vigorously.
November 4th, 2023 at 7:54 AM ^
That just doesnt sound believable. Sounds like Buckeye message board dreaming since it doesnt jive with most of the rumors out there. If anyone had evidence of multiple coaches being involved it surely wouldve dropped by now
November 4th, 2023 at 8:11 AM ^
It is not believable because it is not remotely possible. The CFP already said it does not care. The BIG does not even have the authority to impose a post-season ban.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:11 AM ^
Username absolutely does not check out at all
November 4th, 2023 at 9:02 AM ^
That dude has been a closet Sparty for A LONG time now.
November 4th, 2023 at 9:08 AM ^
His posting history is troll-o-rama. He's consistent, at least. Here's one from earlier this year:
November 4th, 2023 at 8:43 AM ^
Your takes on this have been consistently shit. Arguably the most doom and gloom person on this site throughout.
November 4th, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
He’s a troll and should be banned
November 4th, 2023 at 10:48 AM ^
The "Jimmy" part is the giveaway. Michigan fans don't usually call Harbaugh "Jimmy". I usually see that as a demeaning name applied by MSU and OSU fans.
November 4th, 2023 at 7:49 AM ^
Don't let the terrorists win.
November 4th, 2023 at 7:52 AM ^
Maybe I’m in a minority and it’s extremely short sighted, but I’m comforted by the report that focused on punishing only harbaugh and not the players/team. Even if Harbaughs suspended I’ll take Michigan against anyone -so many players are elite and leaders i don’t think it would really matter
But the big ten and not the ncaa imposing a show cause or something is absurd without all the facts. If Harbaugh knew and someone can prove it then fine - show us and it’s an open and shut case. These folks as competitors are clearly trying to impose the most damage on an opponent to strengthen their standing in the conference.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:01 AM ^
That's the problem. It won't just stop with Harbaugh, because we don't even know when the drip will stop. We don't know what is being leaked.
With all said and done, this is a black mark against Michigan, the BIG 10, and CFB.
This is beyond unprecedented.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^
I’m sorry but, really? The ONLY thing here is advanced scouting. Which is NOT unprecedented. Connor Stallions attending games in person is the only issue and that’s happened before.
So?
Apply the proper penalties. Game suspensions, firing, etc. But he’s already resigned so I don’t know what much else is expected to be done?
Now, if any of the assistant coaches knew about it then okay, apply the proper penalties for advanced scouting to them. But we’re gonna need to see actual evidence of that first.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
It’s also a stupid rule to fire someone over. I could get a suspension and short scholarship reduction/probation. But jeez, my high school basketball coach advanced scouted and all the good it did our 5-11 team.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^
Yep, it will be fire Harbaugh, then forfeit games, then post season bans. The rivals will feast on us.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
I definitely don't want the players punished but wanting Harbaugh's head smacks of just wanting Harbaugh out of the way for their own benefits, as opposed to thinking the program should be punished. It feels very vindictive and vengeful and not truly punitive. Bad vibes all around.
November 4th, 2023 at 7:53 AM ^
With point #3...I've said it a few times now.
If Stalions is this crazy, how do we (or they) know he doesn't have incriminating stuff on Michigan?
I don't think you can isolate him until you know he can't go nuclear and blow everything up on his way out.
Similar to how Michigan fans blame that ops guy whose name slips my mind (he went to Mississippi St. before getting fired there...it was the Worthy debacle when he was at Michigan). Everyone says he's the one who snitched to the NCAA about the things that got Harbaugh suspended the first time.
I've seen multiple people say that Michigan needs to go on the offensive with Stalions and if he was capable of doing all this stuff we know about...what does he have (if anything) that we don't know about? Does he have an "insurance plan" as they would call it in the movies?
Point? I'd be careful with him. And I think it is telling they corrected the record yesterday and kept him "happy." (That he resigned and wasn't fired)
November 4th, 2023 at 8:02 AM ^
They seemed to be keeping him “in the tent” until he refused to attend a meeting yesterday, likely at the request of his legal council. I’m hoping he is not an angry former employee at this point, because there is no question he could offer little tid bits, and possibly more, that would keep the anti-Michigan PR machine rolling.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:21 AM ^
Lol. You are telling me a guy who paid his own way for years to go to games will be disgruntled? Not a chance. He isn’t going to say anything other than it was all him.
November 4th, 2023 at 9:25 AM ^
But "the jilted lover" is literally the most over-used plot device in the history of literature, theater, and film. Everyone hide your daughter's pet rabbit.
November 4th, 2023 at 7:56 AM ^
If Michigan fires Harbaugh or if he leaves in any manner over this situation I'm done with Michigan football. In 40 plus years I have never missed a game so it would clearly be devastating to me but I'm already completely sick over this so stepping away would be a welcome.
There's no doubt in my mind that Fickell took the Wisconsin job to be another voice in the room with his butt buddies Day and Shiano. Everyone that goes to OSU or coaches there or lives in that state belongs to a weird ass cult. I envision all these weirdo's wearing batting gloves while they watch OSU games cuddling a nerf football.
It's simple leave the conference and go independent then we keep our coach. If we lose our coach say hello to 9-3 because Michigan is Michigan and we won't change.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:01 AM ^
Agreed. I am done supporting Michigan football if Harbaugh is fired or forced out.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:12 AM ^
Word. I’ve been a lifelong fan had season tickets since I was a freshman in 89. I will either drop the tickets or buy them and not go so my seats are empty each week.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:23 AM ^
Let’s not forget Jim tried to leave the last two years
November 4th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
So? Coaches do that.
This is bigger than Jim Harbaugh. OSU, MSU, PSU, et al are trying to dictate who our coach is because they do not want a successful football program at Michigan. This is a fight for the future of Michigan Athletics.
November 4th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
November 4th, 2023 at 9:03 AM ^
Same - season tickets since 1997 and I will be done with college sports in general.
November 4th, 2023 at 9:10 AM ^
It'll be OK. Stapleton and his supporters will get Scot Loeffler from BGSU and all will be well. Terry Malone for OC, Ron English for DC.
November 4th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
November 4th, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
He was a big Brady Hoke supporter. (I'm being silly, by the way.)
There's a common theme with most of the coaches we've listed here.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:39 AM ^
Same. I was hesitant to bring this up, but bending to mob rule is an embarrassment. I'm less concerned about the product on the field under those circumstances and more about the priorities and character of our athletic department and school in general. We handle things in house. We don't let other schools dictate how we manage our business.
November 4th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
Yaup that’s where I’m at. If anything serious happens before the investigation is over , that will be it for me as long as M is still in B1G. They should absolutely tell B1G to piss off and say “we are out”.
Bill Self got caught by the fuckin feds and no one even batted an eye, and he just won a title…and no one cares. Yet OSU can hire GD PI firm and that is ok by eveyone ?
Give me a break. Coaches want Harbaugh out because he is mercking teams and he is a weird dude. They can’t handle his awkwardness and the domination.
CFB is driven on fear and money…. and that’s it.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:03 AM ^
We need to leave the conference. Seriously, if they can make us fire our most successful coach in 25 years then we need to move on.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:04 AM ^
How can other schools force a member school to fire their coach? Without all the facts. Without a full investigation. And without due process.
This is insane.
Saddle up the lawyers and bring the pain.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:10 AM ^
There are no clear limitations to the B1G’s power to punish us if the Board of X (I can’t remember the official title) votes to do it.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^
They can't force another University to fire their coach. The worst they can do is indefinitely suspend, which UM will fight back and hopefully threaten to leave the conference.
November 4th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
Good post. I would remove the words “hopefully threaten to.”
November 4th, 2023 at 8:06 AM ^
So when they say; Ono refused to suspend harbaugh or does that mean they asked UM to do it on their own, they refused and now we wait to see if the BIG will do it themselves? Is this like a thing that woulD happen by game time or not at all?
November 4th, 2023 at 8:11 AM ^
It was reported that Petitti suggested that M suspend Harbaugh, and was implied that if M didn’t, the B1G could act to impose a punishment.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:20 AM ^
And I recall Michigan threatened an immediate lawsuit if the Big Ten acted without an investigation and due process.
November 4th, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
Yep they will get turbo sued.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:07 AM ^
So when they say; Ono refused to suspend harbaugh or does that mean they asked UM to do it on their own, they refused and now we wait to see if the BIG will do it themselves? Is this like a thing that woulD happen by game time or not at all?
November 4th, 2023 at 8:09 AM ^
Until Vegas starts moving lines there is nothing to worry about. It may be cynical, but Vegas know all!
November 4th, 2023 at 8:33 AM ^
This is the clearest evidence that the sign scandal means nothing. No one got their money back fro last year’s games. Lines are moving up, if anything, for the remainder of the season.
November 4th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
Since Stalions is a 21 (or whatever) point advantage according to anonymous Big 10 coach, I assume Vegas adjusted the lines accordingly
Oh wait
Hmmmm. Maybe they are saying Michigan would be a ~28 point favorite with Stalions
November 4th, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
That's funny that some asshole coach said that, because guess which big game's result would have been the same? Which scumbag, beard-dye-using coach's team still would have lost to Michigan?
Of course, we all know the coach who said that is full of shit anyway, but that's beside the point.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:10 AM ^
Until the B1G and/or NCAA show proof that a rule was broken, Michigan has to tell both to pound sand. If any punishment is handed down without that, the rest of the B1G programs better have their houses in immaculate order because it's mob rule going forward and the conference is going to become a spy and snitch outfit.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:13 AM ^
Fuck off B1G welcome the biggest independent football program in America … no reason to stay if they allow coaches and ADs to hand out suspensions !!!
November 4th, 2023 at 8:14 AM ^
I’m in the camp of NOT appeasing the mob. I think the deeper this goes, the better we will look. Getting to the bottom of the PI firms, the leaks, the idiot rogue staffer, and Harbaugh not at all knowing about this should be reason not to internally suspend him just to please the media and B1G coaches. Michigan should go on the offensive against those that have publicly cast their guilty verdict.
November 4th, 2023 at 8:14 AM ^
So OHIO ST and the Day family ILLEGALY accessed UM computers..No nothing Illegal here right? so they can beat us so they have to find other ways...What will the Commish do about THIS?
November 4th, 2023 at 8:14 AM ^
If Michigan doesn't fight this with every blood-sucking law grad we have, I'm done with this university and college sports in general.