OT: Michigan under investigation for sign stealing
- Thread starter BigOHawk
- Start date
At his press conference today, Jim Harbaugh:
1. Recanted his long held opinion that quarterbacks shouldn't eat chicken because a chicken is a "nervous bird." Says he now owns some chickens and they are "low maintenance and high production."
2. Cited watching lots of "Judge Judy" in response to his upcoming legal hearing.
3. Said his raspy voice wasn't a sign of sickness because "I'm the iron wall that viruses bash against and shatter." Promised to do "more pushups and eat an apple" just in case.
So ... business as usual.
1. Recanted his long held opinion that quarterbacks shouldn't eat chicken because a chicken is a "nervous bird." Says he now owns some chickens and they are "low maintenance and high production."
2. Cited watching lots of "Judge Judy" in response to his upcoming legal hearing.
3. Said his raspy voice wasn't a sign of sickness because "I'm the iron wall that viruses bash against and shatter." Promised to do "more pushups and eat an apple" just in case.
So ... business as usual.
Can we just kick them and Nebraska out of the conference?
Jimmy at his press conference, "michigan is China's team!" They steal our technology we steal other teams signals illegally.
I hope if we get Michigan in the BTCG there is some way on this Earth we can deliver a massive nut punch to them all. We stopped the leading rusher in the Big Ten last weekend and we have faced Corum before. Indy will run dry that Saturday night if the victory is at hand.
Ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions did not file any expense reports, AP’s FOIA request finds
BY LARRY LAGE
Updated 2:22 PM CST, November 15, 2023
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Connor Stalions, the former Michigan staffer at the center of sign-stealing investigation by the NCAA, did not file any expense reports during the 17 months he was formally employed by the football program, according to the school.
The Associated Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Stalions’ expense reports while he was employed from May 2022 through Nov. 3, 2023. There are no responsive records, Patricia Sellinger, chief freedom of information officer at the school, replied in an email sent Wednesday.
The NCAA has documented plans and budget information outlining the scouting scheme of Michigan opponents and the Big Ten said has received those materials. The NCAA also shared evidence with the Big Ten and the university that showed Stalions purchased tickets to games and had people sit in those seats to obtain video of the sideline signals.
Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the regular season by the Big Ten, which said it didn’t have evidence that the coach knew about the scheme. He missed last week’s win over then-No. 9 Penn State.
A judge scheduled a hearing for Friday to hear the school’s attempt to at least temporarily lift the Big Ten’s penalty and allow Harbaugh to coach the second-ranked Wolverines (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 3 CFP) against Maryland (6-4, 3-4) on Saturday and against rival Ohio State next week.
Stalions had been employed by Michigan as a recruiting analyst an annual salary of approximately $55,000. He resigned earlier this month, two weeks after he was suspended by the university when the NCAA and Big Ten Conference acknowledged the school was being investigated.
The NCAA does not not directly ban the stealing of signs, but there are rules against using electronic equipment to record an opponent’s signals and in-person, advanced scouting of future opponents in season. There are also rules against unsportsmanlike or unethical activities by coaches.
Stalions, who has been identified on social media accounts as a graduate of the Naval Academy and a longtime Michigan football fan, has not commented publicly. He said through his lawyer that neither Harbaugh nor any member of his coaching staff told anyone to break any rules or were aware of improper conduct when it came to scouting.
Harbaugh has denied knowledge of any alleged scouting scheme in his program.
Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter watches against East Carolina as analytics assistant Connor Stalions looks on in Ann Arbor on Sep 2, 2023.
Jim Harbaugh watches against Rutgers as analytics assistant Connor Stalions looks on in Ann Arbor on Sep 23, 2023.
___
Ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions did not file any expense reports, AP's FOIA request finds
Connor Stalions, the former Michigan staffer at the center of sign-stealing investigation, did not file any expense reports, according to the school.
apnews.com
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Let me see if I got this right..... The Big Ten thought the accusation against Michigan and Harbaugh was so serious that they suspended him while they investigate, but now they've decided to not investigate. Which means Harbaugh and Michigan will face no real penalties or consequences. Is that correct?
All I can say is I hope the staff at Iowa isn't giving out too many mustard packets during recruiting visits or the Big Ten is going to throw the book at us.
So fat, it's just the B1G that's investigated.
I think the NCAA might get involved more now.
I suspect that, eventually, the program will lose a couple schollies.
The Big Ten Admin/Prez is not the NCAA.
And the NCAA is still delving into the stuff related to his early season self-suspension. That's coming yet by them also. But its just about cheezburgers!
I am sure they will have a sternly worded report that will come out in 2025 while Jim is coaching the Bears. No penalty BUT a very tough talking report.
Detroit Free Press
Fri, November 17, 2023 at 5:14 AM CST·5 min read
135
A week ago, Jim Harbaugh’s suspension was “insulting,” not to mention “unethical.”
Those were the words of Michigan’s athletic director Warde Manuel, and they mirrored the mood on campus and wherever Wolverines congregated, including New York on Monday night.
There, in Madison Square Garden, as U-M's basketball team throttled St. John's, the maize and blue faithful serenaded the maize and blue football coach, Jim Harbaugh.
“Free Harbaugh,” they chanted, as if he were a political prisoner, or at least a man wronged by a cabal out to get him and, for that matter, everyone else with an affinity for the university. Michigan vs. Everybody, right?
Well how does the T-shirt look now? Now that the university dropped its court case against the Big Ten and suddenly accepted Harbaugh’s three-game suspension?
Is it still insulting? Unethical? Unfair? A conspiracy?
Cognitive dissonance being what it is for human beings — like flies to sugar water — the rationalizations will commence. Never mind that not once through all of this has U-M disputed an employee of the football program schemed for two-plus years to steal signs of opposing football teams by in-person scouting.
That’s a no-no, whether Connor Stalions’ rule-breaking recon mission helped the Wolverines win games or not.
U-M had the chance again Thursday to push back on what Stalions did when it released a statement announcing it had pulled its request for a temporary restraining order to stop Harbaugh’s suspension. It did not.
Instead, the university focused on Harbaugh, parroting that the Big Ten didn’t find a link between U-M's head football coach and Stalions’ alleged cheating.
“The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations,” the statement read. “The University continues to cooperate fully with the NCAA’s investigation.”
As for the Big Ten’s investigation? U-M said it agreed to table it, though it was unclear if the conference felt the same way.
“The Big Ten Conference’s commitment to student-athletes, sportsmanship and the Commissioner’s duty to protect the integrity of competition will never waver," the league’s statement began. "Today’s decision by the University of Michigan to withdraw its legal challenge against the Conference’s November 10th Notice of Disciplinary Action is indicative of the high standards and values that the Conference and the University seek to uphold.”
The Big Ten then added, as if it were in doubt, that “the University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big Ten Conference, and the Conference will continue to work cooperatively with the University and the NCAA during this process."
U-M spun the move as a resolution between the university, Harbaugh and the conference, and suggested that the decision was meant to flip the spotlight from the coach to the players.
That may well be true, but it does beg a question:
Why now?
Why, six days after rebuking the league's ruling, after filing a motion to stop the conference’s punishment, did it pull its legal missive?
Why is it suddenly copacetic with the suspension?
U-M didn’t say.
Did the school hear something uncomfortable about the NCAA’s investigation? Did it figure out something internally? Was there a public relations shift?
The last one is hard to figure considering how well the messaging had been going within the Wolverine universe.
Not only were T-shirts emblazoned with “Michigan vs. Everybody” flying off the rack but almost the entire maize and blue community seemed to be in lock step that it had been wronged, and that the university was doing the right thing, the noble thing, by fighting the Big Ten. So, to change course as a matter of spin doesn’t make much sense.
Another possibility is that the school got word — or got unnerved — by how the legal proceedings might go, and that Friday might not resolve the matter, and that it could only stretch out the distraction; it will still be a story as long as Harbaugh isn’t on the sideline, but his absence from a settled suspension reads differently than his absence pending a judge’s decision.
By making nice with the Big Ten, some of the attention should shift back to the team as it tries to beat Maryland on Saturday in College Park, which means maybe the school’s motivation was that simple.
RAINER SABIN: Jim Harbaugh drama has overshadowed his undefeated Michigan football team
Then again, the lack of explanation leaves the kind of vacuum in which speculation thrives. At the very least, the timing is odd. Another oddity is the inconsistency between the statements. U-M wrote that the Big Ten had "agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension.”
The Big Ten wrote no such thing. If anything, the league doubled down on its initial ruling, using the phrase “never waver” to describe its aim to keep integrity a part of competition, and then wrote that the school's choice to withdraw litigation was “indicative of the high standards that the conference and the University seek to uphold." That's not quite I-told-you-so but it is the conference arguing it was right from the start.
We may never know all the reasons U-M pulled its case as the school isn't likely to start talking. In the end, though, it may not matter as long as no connection is found between Stalions and others employed by the football program. Besides, pulling the case said plenty.
As for all the things still unsaid? Others will continue to fill in the blanks. And no amount of public relations will change that.
Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
Michigan accepting Jim Harbaugh's suspension leaves more questions than answers
Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free PressFri, November 17, 2023 at 5:14 AM CST·5 min read
135
A week ago, Jim Harbaugh’s suspension was “insulting,” not to mention “unethical.”
Those were the words of Michigan’s athletic director Warde Manuel, and they mirrored the mood on campus and wherever Wolverines congregated, including New York on Monday night.
There, in Madison Square Garden, as U-M's basketball team throttled St. John's, the maize and blue faithful serenaded the maize and blue football coach, Jim Harbaugh.
“Free Harbaugh,” they chanted, as if he were a political prisoner, or at least a man wronged by a cabal out to get him and, for that matter, everyone else with an affinity for the university. Michigan vs. Everybody, right?
Well how does the T-shirt look now? Now that the university dropped its court case against the Big Ten and suddenly accepted Harbaugh’s three-game suspension?
Is it still insulting? Unethical? Unfair? A conspiracy?
Cognitive dissonance being what it is for human beings — like flies to sugar water — the rationalizations will commence. Never mind that not once through all of this has U-M disputed an employee of the football program schemed for two-plus years to steal signs of opposing football teams by in-person scouting.
That’s a no-no, whether Connor Stalions’ rule-breaking recon mission helped the Wolverines win games or not.
U-M had the chance again Thursday to push back on what Stalions did when it released a statement announcing it had pulled its request for a temporary restraining order to stop Harbaugh’s suspension. It did not.
Instead, the university focused on Harbaugh, parroting that the Big Ten didn’t find a link between U-M's head football coach and Stalions’ alleged cheating.
“The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations,” the statement read. “The University continues to cooperate fully with the NCAA’s investigation.”
As for the Big Ten’s investigation? U-M said it agreed to table it, though it was unclear if the conference felt the same way.
“The Big Ten Conference’s commitment to student-athletes, sportsmanship and the Commissioner’s duty to protect the integrity of competition will never waver," the league’s statement began. "Today’s decision by the University of Michigan to withdraw its legal challenge against the Conference’s November 10th Notice of Disciplinary Action is indicative of the high standards and values that the Conference and the University seek to uphold.”
The Big Ten then added, as if it were in doubt, that “the University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big Ten Conference, and the Conference will continue to work cooperatively with the University and the NCAA during this process."
U-M spun the move as a resolution between the university, Harbaugh and the conference, and suggested that the decision was meant to flip the spotlight from the coach to the players.
That may well be true, but it does beg a question:
Why now?
Why, six days after rebuking the league's ruling, after filing a motion to stop the conference’s punishment, did it pull its legal missive?
Why is it suddenly copacetic with the suspension?
U-M didn’t say.
Did the school hear something uncomfortable about the NCAA’s investigation? Did it figure out something internally? Was there a public relations shift?
The last one is hard to figure considering how well the messaging had been going within the Wolverine universe.
Not only were T-shirts emblazoned with “Michigan vs. Everybody” flying off the rack but almost the entire maize and blue community seemed to be in lock step that it had been wronged, and that the university was doing the right thing, the noble thing, by fighting the Big Ten. So, to change course as a matter of spin doesn’t make much sense.
Another possibility is that the school got word — or got unnerved — by how the legal proceedings might go, and that Friday might not resolve the matter, and that it could only stretch out the distraction; it will still be a story as long as Harbaugh isn’t on the sideline, but his absence from a settled suspension reads differently than his absence pending a judge’s decision.
By making nice with the Big Ten, some of the attention should shift back to the team as it tries to beat Maryland on Saturday in College Park, which means maybe the school’s motivation was that simple.
RAINER SABIN: Jim Harbaugh drama has overshadowed his undefeated Michigan football team
Then again, the lack of explanation leaves the kind of vacuum in which speculation thrives. At the very least, the timing is odd. Another oddity is the inconsistency between the statements. U-M wrote that the Big Ten had "agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension.”
The Big Ten wrote no such thing. If anything, the league doubled down on its initial ruling, using the phrase “never waver” to describe its aim to keep integrity a part of competition, and then wrote that the school's choice to withdraw litigation was “indicative of the high standards that the conference and the University seek to uphold." That's not quite I-told-you-so but it is the conference arguing it was right from the start.
We may never know all the reasons U-M pulled its case as the school isn't likely to start talking. In the end, though, it may not matter as long as no connection is found between Stalions and others employed by the football program. Besides, pulling the case said plenty.
As for all the things still unsaid? Others will continue to fill in the blanks. And no amount of public relations will change that.
Contact Shawn Windsor: 313-222-6487 or swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
@ellobo
Thu, November 16, 2023 at 7:30 PM CST·5 min read
74
Michigan football cheated, according to the NCAA.
I didn’t write Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh cheated — there is no evidence he knew about Connor Stalions’ alleged sign-stealing scheme.
But Michigan cheated — or at the very least, Michigan has not refuted it and the NCAA calls it “uncontroverted” — and that is why Harbaugh must sit out the final two games of the regular season.
Because he’s the leader of the program. And this is a program penalty for violating the Big Ten's sportsmanship policy.
Now, hopefully, Harbaugh can turn this into a life lesson for his players.
Instead of talking about “speaking truth to power,” he can use this situation to speak truth to his players, teaching them a lesson about accountability and true leadership.
Hopefully, Harbaugh will tell his players: "Listen, I love your support. I appreciate it but put away those “Free Harbaugh” T-shirts. No more “Michigan vs. Everybody” sweatshirts. Don’t wear them in pregame warmups, and not on the plane. This shouldn’t be about me. Sometimes, a leader must take responsibility for what those under them do. Focus on the team. Focus on the mission. Focus on beating Maryland. Then, focus on beating Ohio State and winning a national title.”
Because when I see those shirts, I don’t see a helpless victim.
I am reminded that Harbaugh is serving his second three-game suspension in one year.
Do you remember what the first one was?
It was school-imposed, for allegedly failing to cooperate with NCAA investigators over minor recruiting violations.
And this whole situation is just crazy when you think about it: Michigan is having a magical season and could win 12 games for just the fourth time in program history — that's covering 144 seasons — but Harbaugh will have coached in only half of them.
The second-ranked Wolverines headed into a fateful week with a court hearing, a road trip to Maryland and a swagger built on their growing belief that it’s them against the world. The school is preparing for its legal battle fight to free Jim Harbaugh from a Big Ten suspension.More
On Oct. 18, something extraordinary happened. The NCAA called Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and told him it had gathered evidence about a sign-stealing scheme at Michigan. This wasn’t low-level NCAA staff. This reportedly came from NCAA president Charlie Baker: “It was also extraordinary that the NCAA President arranged for and participated in the call, underscoring not only the severity of the allegations but the immediate impacts,” the Big Ten wrote in its notice of allegation to Michigan.
Over the next few weeks, the NCAA shared more evidence with the Big Ten, including a “master spreadsheet” that Stalions allegedly used in the scheme.
The NCAA uncovered so much evidence that it got to the point where the NCAA was saying it “knew and could prove” the scheme, dropping words such as “uncontroverted” to describe the scheme.
Michigan, by the way, has never attempted to deny any of this. (For those who keep sending me emails saying there is no evidence, well, just read the notice of allegations.)
“The University’s November 8 response does not deny that the impermissible scheme occurred,” the Big Ten wrote. “Instead, it offers only procedural and technical arguments designed to delay accountability.”
MORE FROM JEFF SEIDEL: Michigan hasn't disputed anything about Connor Stalions: Where's the shame?
Everybody — school president Santa Ono, trustees, players, students, alumni, and fans — seemed united in the fight.
They screamed loud and clear: This is unfair!
Michigan claimed it was a rush to judgment and attempted to get an injunction stopping the suspension; the case was scheduled to go to court in Washtenaw County Circuit Court on Friday.
But on Thursday afternoon, Harbaugh, the university and the Big Ten announced that they all agreed the punishment would stand.
“The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension,” Michigan said in a statement. “Coach Harbaugh, with the University's support, decided to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their performance on the field. The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations.”
So, Harbaugh will miss Saturday’s game at Maryland as well as the humongous Nov. 25 game against rival (and No. 3 in the coaches poll and No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings) Ohio State in Ann Arbor.
You can argue that this opens up a massive Pandora’s Box — and you wouldn’t be wrong.
But you have to acknowledge something else: Petitti got what he wanted.
He was bashed by many saying he handled this poorly. But think about it from his perspective: The NCAA came to him in an extraordinary move. They laid out evidence. He decided something must be done now and he acted.
It might have been messy and the whole thing became incredibly controversial, just from all the screaming from all sides, but in the end — right or wrong — he got what he wanted. He was able to punish Michigan in-season, instead of waiting for the winter.
Could that action get complicated in the future? Heck, yes. This sets a precedent with potential ramifications we don't even know about.
Harbaugh will still be able to coach the team during the week, which is not insignificant. I have argued the team has been prepared to handle this situation because of his earlier suspension, in which offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, special teams coach Jay Harbaugh and running backs coach Mike Hart took turns leading the Wolverines. Moore (who is also the offensive line coach) will again be the acting head coach; he already has a win over Penn State (and Bowling Green).
But there's one more thing to consider. There was something else significant in that Big Ten letter: “The NCAA indicated that it was continuing its investigation to determine, among other things, who else knew about and/or was involved in the scheme.”
And that shouldn’t be forgotten or dismissed.
Even though the Big Ten is ending its investigation, the NCAA’s investigation is continuing.
Was this the act of a lone wolf — as many U-M fans insist — or did other coaches on staff know? We don’t know right now, and depending on what else is uncovered, the NCAA could bring down more punishment in the future. (The NCAA also closed the loophole of suspended coaches being allowed to work during the week, beginning next season.)
So while the immediate question has been answered — Harbaugh will miss the next two games — that doesn't mean this is over.
Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.
Find everything you need to know about the Michigan football sign-stealing scandal with our weekly Wolverines insider podcast, "Hail Yes," found wherever podcasts are available (Apple, Spotify) and on-demand at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football needs to learn a lesson from Jim Harbaugh suspension
Jim Harbaugh has the chance to step up and teach us all a lesson while suspended
Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free PressThu, November 16, 2023 at 7:30 PM CST·5 min read
74
Michigan football cheated, according to the NCAA.
I didn’t write Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh cheated — there is no evidence he knew about Connor Stalions’ alleged sign-stealing scheme.
But Michigan cheated — or at the very least, Michigan has not refuted it and the NCAA calls it “uncontroverted” — and that is why Harbaugh must sit out the final two games of the regular season.
Because he’s the leader of the program. And this is a program penalty for violating the Big Ten's sportsmanship policy.
Now, hopefully, Harbaugh can turn this into a life lesson for his players.
Instead of talking about “speaking truth to power,” he can use this situation to speak truth to his players, teaching them a lesson about accountability and true leadership.
Hopefully, Harbaugh will tell his players: "Listen, I love your support. I appreciate it but put away those “Free Harbaugh” T-shirts. No more “Michigan vs. Everybody” sweatshirts. Don’t wear them in pregame warmups, and not on the plane. This shouldn’t be about me. Sometimes, a leader must take responsibility for what those under them do. Focus on the team. Focus on the mission. Focus on beating Maryland. Then, focus on beating Ohio State and winning a national title.”
Because when I see those shirts, I don’t see a helpless victim.
I am reminded that Harbaugh is serving his second three-game suspension in one year.
Do you remember what the first one was?
It was school-imposed, for allegedly failing to cooperate with NCAA investigators over minor recruiting violations.
And this whole situation is just crazy when you think about it: Michigan is having a magical season and could win 12 games for just the fourth time in program history — that's covering 144 seasons — but Harbaugh will have coached in only half of them.
The second-ranked Wolverines headed into a fateful week with a court hearing, a road trip to Maryland and a swagger built on their growing belief that it’s them against the world. The school is preparing for its legal battle fight to free Jim Harbaugh from a Big Ten suspension.More
NCAA: 'Knew and could prove' scheme
How we got to this stage is messy and muddy, full of heated emotions and future consequences.On Oct. 18, something extraordinary happened. The NCAA called Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and told him it had gathered evidence about a sign-stealing scheme at Michigan. This wasn’t low-level NCAA staff. This reportedly came from NCAA president Charlie Baker: “It was also extraordinary that the NCAA President arranged for and participated in the call, underscoring not only the severity of the allegations but the immediate impacts,” the Big Ten wrote in its notice of allegation to Michigan.
Over the next few weeks, the NCAA shared more evidence with the Big Ten, including a “master spreadsheet” that Stalions allegedly used in the scheme.
The NCAA uncovered so much evidence that it got to the point where the NCAA was saying it “knew and could prove” the scheme, dropping words such as “uncontroverted” to describe the scheme.
Michigan, by the way, has never attempted to deny any of this. (For those who keep sending me emails saying there is no evidence, well, just read the notice of allegations.)
“The University’s November 8 response does not deny that the impermissible scheme occurred,” the Big Ten wrote. “Instead, it offers only procedural and technical arguments designed to delay accountability.”
MORE FROM JEFF SEIDEL: Michigan hasn't disputed anything about Connor Stalions: Where's the shame?
Michigan backs down
After the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for three games last week, Michigan pushed back with all its might.Everybody — school president Santa Ono, trustees, players, students, alumni, and fans — seemed united in the fight.
They screamed loud and clear: This is unfair!
Michigan claimed it was a rush to judgment and attempted to get an injunction stopping the suspension; the case was scheduled to go to court in Washtenaw County Circuit Court on Friday.
But on Thursday afternoon, Harbaugh, the university and the Big Ten announced that they all agreed the punishment would stand.
“The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension,” Michigan said in a statement. “Coach Harbaugh, with the University's support, decided to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their performance on the field. The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations.”
So, Harbaugh will miss Saturday’s game at Maryland as well as the humongous Nov. 25 game against rival (and No. 3 in the coaches poll and No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings) Ohio State in Ann Arbor.
You can argue that this opens up a massive Pandora’s Box — and you wouldn’t be wrong.
But you have to acknowledge something else: Petitti got what he wanted.
He was bashed by many saying he handled this poorly. But think about it from his perspective: The NCAA came to him in an extraordinary move. They laid out evidence. He decided something must be done now and he acted.
It might have been messy and the whole thing became incredibly controversial, just from all the screaming from all sides, but in the end — right or wrong — he got what he wanted. He was able to punish Michigan in-season, instead of waiting for the winter.
Could that action get complicated in the future? Heck, yes. This sets a precedent with potential ramifications we don't even know about.
Harbaugh will still be able to coach the team during the week, which is not insignificant. I have argued the team has been prepared to handle this situation because of his earlier suspension, in which offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, special teams coach Jay Harbaugh and running backs coach Mike Hart took turns leading the Wolverines. Moore (who is also the offensive line coach) will again be the acting head coach; he already has a win over Penn State (and Bowling Green).
But there's one more thing to consider. There was something else significant in that Big Ten letter: “The NCAA indicated that it was continuing its investigation to determine, among other things, who else knew about and/or was involved in the scheme.”
And that shouldn’t be forgotten or dismissed.
Even though the Big Ten is ending its investigation, the NCAA’s investigation is continuing.
Was this the act of a lone wolf — as many U-M fans insist — or did other coaches on staff know? We don’t know right now, and depending on what else is uncovered, the NCAA could bring down more punishment in the future. (The NCAA also closed the loophole of suspended coaches being allowed to work during the week, beginning next season.)
So while the immediate question has been answered — Harbaugh will miss the next two games — that doesn't mean this is over.
Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.
Find everything you need to know about the Michigan football sign-stealing scandal with our weekly Wolverines insider podcast, "Hail Yes," found wherever podcasts are available (Apple, Spotify) and on-demand at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football needs to learn a lesson from Jim Harbaugh suspension
Hmmmmmmmm.......
Fri, November 17, 2023 at 10:36 AM CST·1 min read
16
Michigan football has fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge, the program announced in a statement Friday morning.
"Effective today, Chris Partridge has been relieved of his duties as a member of the Michigan Football staff," read a message from team spokesman Dave Ablauf. "Rick Minter will serve as the team’s linebackers coach."
Partridge is in his fifth year as a member of U-M's coaching staff overall; he was brought back on February 8, 2023 to begin his second tenure with the Wolverines when he was hired to coach the linebackers. Partridge previously served as the team's special teams coordinator for four seasons (2016-19), before he became defensive coordinator at Ole Miss for three seasons (2020-22)
Rick Minter is a longtime coach at Cincinnati (1994-2003) and father of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He has served as a defensive analyst for the Wolverines since 2022.
Michigan football fires linebackers coach Chris Partridge
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free PressFri, November 17, 2023 at 10:36 AM CST·1 min read
16
Michigan football has fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge, the program announced in a statement Friday morning.
"Effective today, Chris Partridge has been relieved of his duties as a member of the Michigan Football staff," read a message from team spokesman Dave Ablauf. "Rick Minter will serve as the team’s linebackers coach."
Partridge is in his fifth year as a member of U-M's coaching staff overall; he was brought back on February 8, 2023 to begin his second tenure with the Wolverines when he was hired to coach the linebackers. Partridge previously served as the team's special teams coordinator for four seasons (2016-19), before he became defensive coordinator at Ole Miss for three seasons (2020-22)
Rick Minter is a longtime coach at Cincinnati (1994-2003) and father of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He has served as a defensive analyst for the Wolverines since 2022.
Ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions did not file any expense reports, AP’s FOIA request finds
BY LARRY LAGE
Updated 2:22 PM CST, November 15, 2023
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Connor Stalions, the former Michigan staffer at the center of sign-stealing investigation by the NCAA, did not file any expense reports during the 17 months he was formally employed by the football program, according to the school.
The Associated Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Stalions’ expense reports while he was employed from May 2022 through Nov. 3, 2023. There are no responsive records, Patricia Sellinger, chief freedom of information officer at the school, replied in an email sent Wednesday.
The NCAA has documented plans and budget information outlining the scouting scheme of Michigan opponents and the Big Ten said has received those materials. The NCAA also shared evidence with the Big Ten and the university that showed Stalions purchased tickets to games and had people sit in those seats to obtain video of the sideline signals.
Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the regular season by the Big Ten, which said it didn’t have evidence that the coach knew about the scheme. He missed last week’s win over then-No. 9 Penn State.
A judge scheduled a hearing for Friday to hear the school’s attempt to at least temporarily lift the Big Ten’s penalty and allow Harbaugh to coach the second-ranked Wolverines (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 3 CFP) against Maryland (6-4, 3-4) on Saturday and against rival Ohio State next week.
Stalions had been employed by Michigan as a recruiting analyst an annual salary of approximately $55,000. He resigned earlier this month, two weeks after he was suspended by the university when the NCAA and Big Ten Conference acknowledged the school was being investigated.
The NCAA does not not directly ban the stealing of signs, but there are rules against using electronic equipment to record an opponent’s signals and in-person, advanced scouting of future opponents in season. There are also rules against unsportsmanlike or unethical activities by coaches.
Stalions, who has been identified on social media accounts as a graduate of the Naval Academy and a longtime Michigan football fan, has not commented publicly. He said through his lawyer that neither Harbaugh nor any member of his coaching staff told anyone to break any rules or were aware of improper conduct when it came to scouting.
Harbaugh has denied knowledge of any alleged scouting scheme in his program.
Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter watches against East Carolina as analytics assistant Connor Stalions looks on in Ann Arbor on Sep 2, 2023.
Jim Harbaugh watches against Rutgers as analytics assistant Connor Stalions looks on in Ann Arbor on Sep 23, 2023.
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Ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions did not file any expense reports, AP's FOIA request finds
Connor Stalions, the former Michigan staffer at the center of sign-stealing investigation, did not file any expense reports, according to the school.
What follows helps explain why Stalions never filed any expense reports. And there's a running joke that "Uncle T" might be Tom Brady.
Also explains why LB coach Chris Partridge has been fired.
Uncle T gonna buy off Connor now since he was a good soldier?
the story keeps getting crazier and crazier
and don't forget: apparently it was Ohio State connected individuals who funded the private investigation, where that firm then turned over the evidence to the NCAA
I still say that what Michigan did affected over/unders, point spreads and potentially the outcome of games. There was a lot of pressure on Harbaugh to not only win but to beat Ohio State. Now they are winning and beating Ohio State. Hmmmmm.....And think of all the money involved in bets involving Michigan over the last couple years. And Noah Shannon places ONE BET and gets suspended for a year.
SO maybe you can tell me, you think Brady finally told Harbaugh to just shut up and serve his damn sentence?
This was good comedy too ................
“All of the Head Coaches in the Big Ten (some who have been accused of actively participating in the trading of signals of opponents) and my Big Ten AD colleagues can rejoice today that someone was ‘held accountable,’ but they should be worried about the new standard of judgment (without complete investigation) that has been unleashed in this conference,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manual said in a statement.
“All of the Head Coaches in the Big Ten (some who have been accused of actively participating in the trading of signals of opponents) and my Big Ten AD colleagues can rejoice today that someone was ‘held accountable,’ but they should be worried about the new standard of judgment (without complete investigation) that has been unleashed in this conference,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manual said in a statement.
2 heads have rolled so far and Jim has been suspended.
But what happens to a program when you have a booster paying for an illegal scheme? Complete institutional control and nothing to see there, if you ask me.
A reminder of the timeline on how quickly things have played out:
* On Nov 3, Connor Stalions the low-level Michigan football staffer who is at the center of the NCAA investigation into sign stealing and alleged scouting improprieties, resigned.
* In its Nov 10 letter to Michigan, the Big Ten confirmed that NCAA president Charlie Baker called the conference himself to deliver the news of the investigation, something the Big Ten called "extraordinary."
* Yesterday, Nov 16, Michigan & Jim Harbaugh accepted Harbaugh's 3 game suspension that came from the B1G Conference.
* Yesterday, Nov 16, the B1G agreed to close its investigation.
* Today, Nov 17, Michigan fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge. Evidence points to Partridge destroying a computer or at least computer files documenting the in-person scouting scheme.
* Today, Nov 17, the NCAA presented Michigan with evidence that points to a UM booster - “Uncle T” - as having partially funded the scouting scheme.
But what happens to a program when you have a booster paying for an illegal scheme? Complete institutional control and nothing to see there, if you ask me.
A reminder of the timeline on how quickly things have played out:
* On Nov 3, Connor Stalions the low-level Michigan football staffer who is at the center of the NCAA investigation into sign stealing and alleged scouting improprieties, resigned.
* In its Nov 10 letter to Michigan, the Big Ten confirmed that NCAA president Charlie Baker called the conference himself to deliver the news of the investigation, something the Big Ten called "extraordinary."
* Yesterday, Nov 16, Michigan & Jim Harbaugh accepted Harbaugh's 3 game suspension that came from the B1G Conference.
* Yesterday, Nov 16, the B1G agreed to close its investigation.
* Today, Nov 17, Michigan fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge. Evidence points to Partridge destroying a computer or at least computer files documenting the in-person scouting scheme.
* Today, Nov 17, the NCAA presented Michigan with evidence that points to a UM booster - “Uncle T” - as having partially funded the scouting scheme.
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I read another article where a big booster (I think name is Tim Smith and is rumored to be Uncle T) says Connor told him he sold his house and paid for it all by himself. Lol.2 heads have rolled so far and Jim has been suspended.
But what happens to a program when you have a booster paying for an illegal scheme? Complete institutional control and nothing to see there, if you ask me.
A reminder of the timeline on how quickly things have played out:
* On Nov 3, Connor Stalions the low-level Michigan football staffer who is at the center of the NCAA investigation into sign stealing and alleged scouting improprieties, resigned.
* In its Nov 10 letter to Michigan, the Big Ten confirmed that NCAA president Charlie Baker called the conference himself to deliver the news of the investigation, something the Big Ten called "extraordinary."
* Yesterday, Nov 16, Michigan & Jim Harbaugh accepted Harbaugh's 3 game suspension that came from the B1G Conference.
* Yesterday, Nov 16, the B1G agreed to close its investigation.
* Today, Nov 17, Michigan fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge. Evidence points to Partridge destroying a computer or at least computer files documenting the in-person scouting scheme.
* Today, Nov 17, the NCAA presented Michigan with evidence that points to a UM booster - “Uncle T” - as having partially funded the scouting scheme.
How do you know college football is a mess/ rigged? A team that had a twice suspended coach this season is in the national title game and it's like the national talking heads could care less.
