The Michigan football program is under investigation after allegations of sign stealing, according to a damning report by Dan Wetzel and Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.
Specifically, the team is under scrutiny for potential violations of NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 (page 29): “Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited, except as provided in Bylaws 11.6.1.1 and 11.6.1.2.”
In order to steal the signs used to transmit play calls to both offensive and defensive units, Michigan is suspected of deploying unknown persons to attend games of scheduled opponents and other prospective College Football Playoff candidates.
In the aftermath of this scandal, an old tweet of Jim Harbaugh’s has resurfaced.
The tweet is from 2016 and is in response to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart voicing his complaints about Harbaugh bringing his Michigan team down to Florida for part of its spring practice.
“If the Georgia coach is implying any intent on our part to break rules, he is barking up the wrong tree,” Harbaugh tweeted.
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That is what it looks like when a tweet does not age well.
Wetzel of Yahoo provided more information on Michigan’s situation in particular.
“Teams are normally provided extensive video footage to scout opponents. At issue, according to sources, is whether Michigan used unnamed individuals to attend games of both scheduled opponents and possible College Football Playoff opponents in an effort to gather information on the signs they use to call both offensive and defensive plays.
“Sign stealing is not technically prohibited and has a long and colorful history as part of the game. Scouting opponents in person has been prohibited since 1994. Whether the NCAA believes Michigan was using staffers or others who may be loyal to the program is unknown. So, too, is whether information was detailed via video or some other means or if head coach Jim Harbaugh is involved.”
Harbaugh denied having knowledge of any alleged sign-stealing in a statement:
The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn and Austin Meek later reported that after finding out about the investigation into its rival, Michigan State “warned” the Big Ten it would consider not playing Saturday’s game against Michigan “out of concern for health and safety for its players.”
However, they would make it clear on Thursday that they would play against the Wolverines.
