Update From Former AD Employee / Insider Buddy
Some quick updates from my buddy, the one who shared info on the "binders of dirt" on other programs.
- Has no confirmation on the supposed 6-9 other teams that were allegedly also in person scouting. He says it could just be a rumor. That said, UM has indeed hired 3 separate firms (one named Kroll?) to look into
- How UM's signs were obtained
- Who shared those signs
- How far the conspiracy went (how many teams shared the signs)
- Also of interest, was there indeed video tape of UM's practice circulating in 2018-2019 as has been alleged? And which teams had or have that tape.
- Was it OSU that hired a PI team to go after UM (AD is 90% certain it was)
- On the legal side, he has nothing to add that hasn't gone public. Most of the legal info is not really coming out of the AD at this point but is at the university / regents / President level rn.
- Of note, UM is not just looking at other conferences per leverage. There are actual convos going on, albeit very early. There is a deep, profound grievance that OSU in particular has been "getting away with murder" for 15 years (as the B1G flagship program) and UM is being railroaded in a clever PI / PR hit job here. Actual conversations (no idea how serious) have taken place with the SEC. Out of left field - Texas for some reason is in contact with UM and is in their ear and pushing hard for them to join SEC - no idea what that relationship is about.
That's all I got. Not too helpful in these crazy times, but felt I should share.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:46 PM ^
I want Ono to be President of the State of Michigan. I know that's not a thing, but dangit I love this guy!
November 10th, 2023 at 10:47 PM ^
Swoon.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:51 PM ^
Never thought a middle aged Asian man saying "Bet" on the internet would give me an erection, but here we are. I love this man.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:44 PM ^
I would for sure say OcryO state has somehow slipped its evil cronies into the powers that be (ncaa) (big10), and literally have planned out this entire assault upon UM premeditated style. I’m going to assume they began to devise something like this after Haskins ran it down their throats. Between the media the leaks everything has been deliberately thought out knowing UM can’t respond. Then petitty pulls such maneuver that he did earlier this afternoon. They knew how to control the public opinion with bs article after bs article it’s obvious knowing that once they get that UM literally is left defenseless. Now the narrative is automatically UM is supposedly guilty, and the public opinion will be even worse beyond rival fanbases. I still take shits bigger than Pete Thamel. I’d almost be willing to bet my entire funko pop collection that OSU is the culprit for sure.. they are afraid of THE MACHINE the legend Harbaugh has built.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:45 PM ^
I have a feeling that if a judge rules in our favor, this could give Michigan the leverage to leave the conference. I'm not a fan of it to be perfectly honest, but I do enjoy SEC fandom. Those schools have a certain level of crazy that I like. I love The Game, but I would love to tell Sparty to kick rocks and enjoy OSU, PSU and the West Coast schools.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:52 PM ^
Ohio State is behind all of this shit, and clearly no longer (if they ever truly had) respect for the rivalry. They can kick rocks too.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:52 PM ^
That (never playing MSU again until they have a civilized HC) is the one good thing of leaving the B1G. But would rather we just kick ass the rest of the year, w or w/o JH.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:53 PM ^
I only had one upvote, but I wish I had more.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:45 PM ^
Hold up, why would Michigan talk about all this dirt OSU has done but wants to join the sec?? That entire conference is full of dirt bag programs
November 10th, 2023 at 10:48 PM ^
Uhh because the sec doesn’t hire PIs to rat out other teams.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:56 PM ^
You are missing my point.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:51 PM ^
Slive, and now Sankey, keep that conference in line. I fully expect the SEC office has a massive dirt folder on each and every SEC program. Basically an insurance policy.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:55 PM ^
Because when was the last time an SEC team hired a PI to help tattle to the NCAA because they lost 2 games? Say what you will about the SEC, but they'd be properly embarrassed to do something that low.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
The SEC seems to understand the concept of mutually assured destruction.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:46 PM ^
Texas may be the messenger to Michigan to start preliminary talks of a superconference that detaches itself from the NCAA.
It would be based on the SEC as its initial core (it would be re-branded to be called something else) which would then adds teams from all regions of the country like Michigan, FSU, Miami, Clemson, ND and so on.
Equal strength Big Ten and SEC conferences keep this from happening now. But if the Big Ten loses Michigan to the SEC, that equality is gone. At that point the critical mass is with the SEC/superconference and programs will gravitate toward it.
Michigan is the olive that is pulled out of the jar. Once it comes out, the rest all start coming out.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:54 PM ^
The super-conference that's unattached to the NCAA is only a matter of time, and probably short time given the way things are evolving. The media contract for such a conference would be staggering.
I don't know if we'll see Michigan bolt to the SEC in this most recent turn of the crank, but I suspect things will look a lot different five years from now.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:59 PM ^
I'm on board with this, especially if we can black ball OSU.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:05 PM ^
We could not keep them out of a superconference, but what we could do as the price of our admission is to make sure that the superconference has sound checks and balances and a "bill of rights" so that a mob of conference members can not gang up on another conference member in a hissy fit.
This is what the Big Ten lacks now and does not appear interested in changing.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:24 PM ^
We go to the ACC and the SEC and tell them, we’ll jump to your conference but only if OSU is not allowed for the next 50 years. See who offers the best terms.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:02 PM ^
If the Big Ten collapses (i.e. Michigan leaving), the superconference would start from the SEC. But it would not be the SEC. The SEC would be re-branded and morph into the superconference, adding programs from all regions of the country.
This would not be a college football conference, it would be college football. At least big-time college football. Be left out of it at your own risk.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:20 PM ^
Yeah Texas is probably the university hoping for a semi pro league the most. They love football and want to spend cash. They’ve been down so long they probably want to blow up the system and try something else.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:49 PM ^
Honestly this whole situation might end up the next chapter in the destruction of the status quo. If one of the flagship Big Ten programs defects to the SEC there’s really nothing sacred anymore. Big Ten would then try to rebound by grabbing an FSU or someone of that stature which could unravel the ACC, etc etc
November 10th, 2023 at 10:49 PM ^
Michigan joining the SEC is not gonna happen. Just not. But I sure would love for Petitti's legacy to be cemented less than a year in, as the guy who broke the Big Ten.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:52 PM ^
And you know this how?
November 10th, 2023 at 10:53 PM ^
Call it something other than "SEC", bring in programs from the rest of the country to make it a truly national "superconference", and ditch the NCAA (and the programs that are just leeches).
I'd join it.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:53 PM ^
Call it something other than "SEC", bring in programs from the rest of the country to make it a truly national "superconference", and ditch the NCAA (and the programs that are just leeches).
I'd join it.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:54 PM ^
Two years ago what would your thoughts on USC to the Big Ten have been?
November 10th, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
Fair point.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:50 PM ^
I know Warde isn't much of a favorite here and, yes, I have my doubts about him.
However, this rigorous defense of JH in a completely BS situation by a B1G commish so fricking out of his fish tank may actually get EVERYONE, including Warde, fully rallied around JH and have him back for life with the biggest contract in B1G.
I"m not at all for leaving B1G but would consider B12 or ACC since we'd easily dominate those leagues with JH. FSU is not that good every year and Dabo seems to be waining a bit.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:54 PM ^
We're glad you'll consider b12 and acc. We, the fans, will await your decision.
November 11th, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^
Warde is a non-contributing zero. Santa Ono is doing the job of the University President and AD right now.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:50 PM ^
I don't remember the exact reason Texas and big 12 fell apart but is it possible Texas is talking to Michigan about a similar situation they were in at the time?
November 10th, 2023 at 10:51 PM ^
Earlier today I thought leaving the B1G was just lashing out.
But the more, and angrier, I think about it, us going to the SEC makes good sense for us. They do not knee-cap their programs there.
Its a growing part of the country. We'll be different there (like Texas and OU) and can use that as part of our identity.
tOSU can have dominance of the conference they seem to have maneuvered for themselves.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:04 PM ^
It would make recruiting the south easier because the recruit and their families would know UM would probably be playing 4-5 games a year in the south. Granted the SEC footprint is pretty big (Gainesville to Austin/Norman) but playing 4-5 games a year in the south is a much better sell then probably only playing bowl games and/or playoff games in the south.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
Well, Ann Arbor is in southeastern Michigan. So being in the South Eastern Conference makes sense. More sense than a Big Ten with 18 teams and a total dipshit as a commissioner.
November 10th, 2023 at 10:57 PM ^
So, if we move to the SEC, we would replace our last game of the season with our new rival Texas. Sounds interesting and with the new 12 team playoff, you know up to 5 SEC teams will make the playoffs every season.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:07 PM ^
No, not the SEC.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:20 PM ^
I’m making the call to ND. I’m contacting networks. I’m looking at anyway possible to get out of the grant of rights.
November 11th, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
With a 12 team playoff, conference affiliation is no longer needed. Michigan could go the independent route and be perfectly fine. Notre Dame’s strategy is so antiquated that it has become correct again.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:22 PM ^
If we leave the B10 why would we partner with Fox/ESPN etc.
This is 2023. How about a super conference that creates and owns its own content. Offers streaming subscriptions with or without commercials. The schools own the revenue. No sharing with low revenue teams.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:30 PM ^
This is absolutely correct. All of the top programs in college football would generate incredible revenue.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:29 PM ^
How nervous do all the other Big Ten sign stealer guys have to be right now that their dirty laundry is about to be aired?
*insert monkey looking away pic or Jordan Peele sweating gif*
November 10th, 2023 at 11:32 PM ^
I would be fine joining the SEC if we were in a division with:
Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Missouri, Vandy, Kentucky, Tennessee and say Pitt or West Virginia or whoever joins with us to keep the number of teams even. That’s a tough division, but it’s not traditional SEC teams like Bama, Georgia and LSU, basically the Deep South teams.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:33 PM ^
I wonder what Fox thinks about the possibility of Michigan leaving. Fox/CBS paying $7 billion over 7 years has to be able to influence someone. They must have some level of concern.
November 11th, 2023 at 12:38 AM ^
They are delighted at the ratings boost for our last 3 games with Harbaugh on the sidelines per the TRO.
November 10th, 2023 at 11:35 PM ^
If Michigan did join the SEC, I want Ohio State to piss off. No special non-conference rivalry game. We'll play you home and home every decade. I don't care if they spend the rest of time crying that Michigan chickened out of the rivalry, deal with it. Go be rivals with Purdue or something.
November 11th, 2023 at 12:13 AM ^
I just want to leave. My emotional attachment is over. Not the same, but "spurned lover" is close enough. Way to go Tony. Fuck You. 53 years.
November 11th, 2023 at 12:15 AM ^
I'm glad Michigan is hiring PIs to investigate everything and everyone and getting as much evidence as possible.
I'd honestly be cool with them hiring the mafia at this point to get some dirt.
November 11th, 2023 at 12:36 AM ^
Maybe Texas is talking with us about forming a new conference…..there are some pretty bright people in Austin.🤔
November 11th, 2023 at 1:05 AM ^
Won’t be happy until Toledo is back in Michigan.