Michigan football’s sign-stealing scandal: latest details, developments and what’s next

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

The University of Michigan’s football team is embroiled in a practice that’s as old as college football itself: sign-stealing.

A Michigan staffer has been accused of buying tickets to games against the team’s conference and possible future College Football Playoff opponents with the sole purpose of sign stealing and scouting so the Wolverines could have an advantage in games.

That staffer, Connor Stalions, has resigned and the NCAA is also investigating. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has denied any involvement in the sign-stealing scheme. Harbaugh’s words didn’t protect him from discipline, as he was handed a suspension from the Big Ten in the aftermath of the investigation.

Harbaugh says he found out about suspension via social media

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

The Michigan head coach avoided making any statements on the ongoing investigation, but did offer some insight about how the suspension came down.

During a press conference on Nov. 13, Harbaugh says that he didn’t find out through official means that he had been given a suspension. Rather, he found out via social media.

“Just, somebody showed me their phone,” Harbaugh said, saying that he wasn’t contacted by the Big Ten. He added that Michigan AD Warde Manuel also found out about the suspension via social media.

Harbaugh reiterates that the upcoming Friday hearing should clarify his standing with the school moving forward, but that he’s still undecided as to whether or not he will testify.

Harbaugh won’t coach against Penn State

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will not coach in Saturday’s game against Penn State after there was no ruling on the temporary restraining order the school filed late Friday.

The Big Ten Conference suspended Harbaugh for the rest of the regular season after the team violated the conference’s sportsmanship policy. Harbaugh had asked a judge to stop the Big Ten from disciplining him so he could coach against the Nittany Lions.

A hearing is next scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. to discuss the temporary restraining order.

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyers weighs in

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

When asked about Jim Harbaugh’s suspension Friday and the past 24 hours for Michigan football, former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer could only find one word to use: “Insanity.”

“This is insanity,” Meyer said on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff.” “You have two teams playing for a conference championship, potentially a national championship. Your head coach is eight miles away.”

As for Michigan’s “sign-stealing scheme,” Meyer said he’s “never heard of that” in his head coaching career.

Michigan prepared to take conference to court if punished without full investigation

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

Michigan says it is prepared to take legal action against the Big Ten Conference if the team is disciplined in any fashion, especially if sanctions come down without a full investigation, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The news comes in the backdrop of Michigan still being in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. The third-ranked Wolverines take off Penn State on Saturday.

The conference can impose suspensions of two games and fines up to $10,000 according to its by-laws and more severe punishment can be levied if approved by an executive committee.

Michigan is cooperating with the NCAA in its investigation, which could drag out far past this season.

Blake Corum says he has no relationship with Connor Stalions

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

Michigan running back Blake Corum said there is no business relationship between him and ex-football staff member Connor Stalions, who is accused of sign-stealing and off-campus scouting. Corum made the statement after records showed him and Stalions as co-owners of a limited liability company based in Wyoming.

Wyoming Secretary of State records show that Corum, Stalions, and a third person, Connor O’Dea, as organizers of BC2 Housing LLC. Corum says he has his lawyers trying to find out how his name appeared on those documents.

“I don’t have any businesses with Connor or anything like that,” Corum said to reporters. “But I’m glad whoever found it, whoever searched the web, was able to find that, I appreciate you. My attorneys are on it. Definitely get that figured out right away, get my name taken off of whatever it is.”

Report: Michigan sends ‘documents’ allegedly showing signal-sharing between other Big Ten teams to league

Jim Harbaugh, set to return to sideline, wonders who could have it better than the No. 2 Wolverines – KXAN Austin

Michigan believes that Purdue received the Wolverines’ offensive signals from Ohio State and defensive signals from Rutgers prior to the 2022 Big Ten title game between the Wolverines and Boilermakers and has sent “documents” to the Big Ten to support its claims, ESPN reports

According to ESPN’s report, the Big Ten is sending the information Michigan sent along to the NCAA. ESPN also noted that it’s “unknown whether the signal sharing between league teams violates the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy or any NCAA rules.”

The AP reported Monday that “a former employee at a Big Ten football program said 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.”

Michigan football served notice of potential disciplinary action from Big Ten

The Big Ten sent a formal notice to Michigan athletics notifying it of potential disciplinary action related to Michigan football’s alleged illegal sign-stealing scheme.

The notice is required by Big Ten bylaws, which states: “In the event that it becomes clear that an institution is likely to be subjected to disciplinary action, the Commissioner shall notify that institution or individual at the earliest reasonable opportunity. Under no circumstances shall the Commissioner comment publicly regarding either an investigation or disciplinary action without first providing notice to any involved institution or individual.”

Michigan could be punished based on the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy. The investigation centers on whether Michigan was scouting future opponents in-person and using video recordings to decipher coaches’ signals from the sideline. Both actions are against NCAA rules.

Connor Stalions says Jim Harbaugh had no knowledge of wrongdoing

Connor Stalions released a statement to The Athletic, the first public comments by the former Michigan football staffer since the controversy was revealed.

“I love the University of Michigan and its football program,” Stallions said. “And I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with the incredible student athletes, coach Harbaugh and the other coaches that have been a part of the Michigan football family during my tenure. I do not want to be a distraction from what I hope to be a championship run for the team, and I will continue to cheer them on.”

A statement by Stalions’ agent, Brad Beckworth, said no one on Michigan’s staff, including Harbaugh, was aware of any wrongdoing.

“(Stalions) hopes his resignation will help the team and coaching staff focus on (Saturday’s) game and the remainder of the season,” Beckworth said. “Connor also wants to make it clear that, to his knowledge, neither Coach Harbaugh, nor any other coach or staff member, told anyone to break any rules or were aware of improper conduct regarding the recent allegations of advanced scouting.”

Connor Stalions resigns

Connor Stalions, the Michigan Wolverines football staffer at the center of the program’s sign-stealing scandal, has resigned, according to a statement from the school.

“Connor Stalions resigned his position with Michigan Athletics this afternoon. We are unable to comment further regarding this personnel matter,” Michigan said in a Friday night statement.

Prior to Michigan’s statement, multiple reports suggested that Stalions was fired.

According to The Athletic, Stalions “refused to cooperate with any internal or external investigations or discussions.” Per the Associated Press, Stalions “failed to show up for a scheduled hearing Friday and informed the school through his attorney he would not participate in any internal or external investigations.”

Big Ten coaches ready to take action

As Michigan finds itself in the thick of the College Football Playoff race, coaches in the Big Ten are wondering why conference commissioner Tony Petitti has not dealt out punishment to the team. The Wolverines are third in the first CFP rankings and could very well appear in another Final Four if they win out.

According to reports, “a vast majority” of Big Ten coaches encouraged Petitti to “take action against Michigan.”

Purdue football coach Ryan Walters was much more blunt about his assessment of the situation.

“It’s unfortunate,” Walters said on his weekly radio show. “What’s crazy is they aren’t allegations. It happened.

“There’s video evidence. There’s ticket purchases and sales that you can track back. We know for a fact that they were at a number of our games.”

What did Urban Meyer say about Michigan’s sign-stealing allegations?

Former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer has been silent on the Michigan sign-stealing allegations – until now.

“I’ve been asked over 100 times to comment on it and I just won’t,” Meyer said this week on his podcast, “Urban’s Take with Tim May.”

“But I am going to, I’ll tell you my thoughts: First of all I’m very skeptical of reporters’ reporting. My experience is they’re wrong most of the time. And that’s not a shot at the media, that’s reality. People say things that they’re reporting that’s just not true. So I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt saying, first of all it’s hard for me to believe that is true.”

But Meyer, who went 4-0 against Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, also pushed back on the idea that every program does things like what Michigan has been accused of, and said the allegations, if true, are “egregious.”

“I also heard people say that ‘Well, everyone does that.’ And Tim, no one does that,” Meyer continued. “I’ve never heard of that in 40 years of being around the game.” — Gabriela Carroll, USA TODAY Network

Investigation widens after Connor Stalions suspected on Central Michigan sidelines

Central Michigan athletic director Amy Folan said the school is in the process of fact-finding after someone resembling Stalions was seen in a photo on the sidelines of CMU’s season-opening football game against Michigan State.

The man is seen standing alongside several Central Michigan coaches, in team attire, wearing a bench credential.

In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, Folan said the school became aware of the photos late Monday.

“We became aware of these photos late yesterday and we are in the process of determining the facts surrounding them,” Folan said. “As this process is ongoing, we have no further comment at this time.”

A Michigan spokesperson said “that is not something that I can comment on” via a text to the Free Press.