SI confirms “Rivals” shared UM signals

Submitted by buckeyekiller1 on November 7th, 2023 at 1:14 AM

Sports Illustrated just posted via Instagram “Two single-page documents listing detailed breakdowns of Michigan's deciphered signals were shared last season with a Big Ten school set to face the Wolverines, Si's @bypatforde and @ri_cfb report.”

I’m guessing the NCAA and B10 may decide to back off since this is just the tip of the iceberg as to the information UM has on everyone. I almost hope they press their luck so we can go scorched earth on them all. Defamation suits all around! 

Bo Harbaugh

November 7th, 2023 at 10:22 AM ^

Yep. The dossier is real and it's spectacular, from what I hear.  The dirt focuses 90% on OSU -Urban era pay to play and still breaking today's NIL rules - paying recruits for visits.

My source claims there is a line item with amount paid to recruits families (those that committed elsewhere shared info) to visit vs. other school's averages per visit- and these are clearly well outside any norms- we're talking tens of thousands of dollars per recruit just to show up for campus recruiting events.

The sign sharing crap is nothing new and has been going on well before Harbaugh joined the conference, but it's basically been a war that has escalated since teams begain colluding on it.  2018 was peak sign stealing escalation with the Mattison-Brown affair, and it's been all out since then. 

There is supposedly a ton, and my buddy says just hundreds of obvious infractions specifically against OSU with receipts.  OSU makes up 90% of the Kompromat if you will.

There are older docs on PED use at MSU and OSU, but hard to substantiate this if not in real time, but they have the trainers/suppliers info, but not athlete tests.

PSU also paid under the table for recruits, but nowhere near the level of OSU. Supposedly, the dirt on PSU isn't even news worthy.  

Lastly, I will add this.  There is dead to rights evidence that after Day basically informed boosters that they need X $ more for "NIL", a number of incoming recruits closed as commits, even a few out of left field.  UM knows the players, the price, and the donors that made it happen.  This is NOT NIL $ linked to biz deals, but straight up $ under the table to close the deal.  I know the names of at least 4 recruits whom this is true with, but will not crap on players or their families and defame them for taking $ many others would.  It's about OSU cheating, not tearing down the 4 players.

TLDR:  Per my buddy that worked for the AD and still has contacts there, if UM goes scorched earth, it will be 90% on OSU and the stolen video/signs is nothing compared to what they have on that program over the past decade.  

Lastly, the likes of Isiah Hole, Sam Webb and others know all this and much much more than me, but won't share as they don't want to lose sources or defame anyone - specifically if they get something wrong. They can only hint at it. Unlike Thamel, they won't go all in on defamation - as you never know what you might get wrong.

Insert Popcorn gif

Bo Harbaugh

November 7th, 2023 at 10:42 AM ^

I will also add, this info is just what circulates amongst staff at the AD.  He and others at his level never actually see all the info.  The joke has always been..."In case of emergency, open binders"

So I'd imagine the info is much more detailed and news worthy.  

FWIW - UM did share some of the more egregious info with the B1G and NCAA over the years, who chose never to act.

Bo Harbaugh

November 7th, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^

Yes, there is actually PED use at all major programs, as individual players or groups of players look for an edge.  The allegation was that folks on MSU's staff and trainers were facilitating the acquisition of certain PED's as well as how to beat and/or avoid testing.  

Again, even with testimony from suppliers and/or staff, will be very hard to substantiate allegations going back to Dantonio era.

papabear16

November 7th, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^

This is a really good post—thank you.

I want to weigh in here only to correct one point that I see often but that is rather secondary to your point. Under most bodies of law (yes, MGoLawyer here), you could not "defame" recruits or families by saying that they took money in the circumstances that you describe so long as you were telling the truth. Similarly, Sam Webb, Isaiah Hole, and others would not "defame" anyone by printing the truth. Most places, truth is a defense to defamation.

When we say that Sam Webb (as an example) doesn't want to defame someone, we really mean something different. Of course, I'm sure that Sam doesn't want to defame someone because Sam doesn't want to print things that he knows aren't true. But what we really mean is that he doesn't want to be accused of defamation. That's a trickier calculation for any journalist—every time they publish, they run that risk—so many of the other factors you mention (access, sources, etc.) probably weigh more heavily in that calculation.

Again, thanks for letting me jump in with my nerdy lawyer thing, and thanks for the good substantive post.

1VaBlue1

November 7th, 2023 at 5:56 AM ^

I like the sentiment, but neither of those is the Michigan - the bottom one (with the splash) is the Dallas, a 686 (LA class) boat.  The top one might be a 637 class, but I’m not sure.  Either way, Michigan is an Ohio class (bleh) boomer converted to an SSGN (special ops) boat.  
 

we have to be accurate - this is Michigan, fer crissakes!!

M-Dog

November 7th, 2023 at 8:33 AM ^

This is awesome.  You can't post ANYTHING on MGoBlog, no matter how obscure, without somebody knowing the exact details and background of what you posted.

I could post a picture of my kindergarten teacher from decades ago and somebody here would know her middle name.