A former Big-Ten staffer has revealed that he was once tasked with stealing signs from Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines.
The NCAA is investigating allegations that Harbaugh’s Wolverines have engaged in a sign-stealing scandal. The allegations of the scandal date back to the 2021 season. Harbaugh served a three-game suspension earlier this year for violating NCAA recruiting rules.
Michigan staffer, Connor Stallions, the centerpiece of the alleged scandal, resigned from the university last Friday.
Larry Lage of the Associated Press spoke to a former Big Ten team employee who stated that he was once tasked with stealing signs from the Wolverines.
The school that the former employee worked for was not disclosed. The ex-staffer also spoke to the Wolverines about it because he feels as though Harbaugh and his assistant coaches are receiving unfair “blame” over the scandal:
“A former employee at a Big Ten football program said Monday it was his job to steal signs and he was given details from multiple league schools to compile a spreadsheet of play-calling signals used by Michigan last year.
The employee said he recently shared the documents, which showed the Wolverines’ signs and corresponding plays — as well as screenshots of text-message exchanges with staffers at other Big Ten schools — with Michigan. He spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he feared the disclosures could impact his coaching career.
The spreadsheet was compiled with details from a handful of coaches and programs across the Big Ten, the person said. He also said he gave the details to Michigan last week because he hoped it would help Jim Harbaugh’s embattled program and that he believes Harbaugh and his coaches are being unfairly blamed for the actions of a rogue staffer.”
Per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, the Big Ten submitted a notice to the Wolverines about possible discipline for the scandal.
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There is speculation that Harbaugh could be let go from the Wolverines’ program, depending on what the investigation finds. After all, a second violation of NCAA rules in a short period of time is an ugly look for any program.
The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, behind only the archrival Ohio State Buckeyes. Those two teams will meet in the regular season finale on Nov. 25.
