NCAA Investigating University Of Michigan Football For Sign Stealing

The University of Michigan football team and the Big Ten Conference announced on Thursday that the NCAA was looking into allegations of sign-stealing.

NCAA Investigating University Of Michigan Football For Sign Stealing

Unless electronic communication is intercepted during a game, “sign-stealing,” or the process of acquiring information on the signs a team employs to designate offensive and defensive plays, is legally allowed under NCAA regulations. However, the rule book expressly states that in-person scouting is prohibited.

“Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited,” according to NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1.

The claims were verified by a statement the Big Ten tweeted on Thursday. According to the statement:

“Late Wednesday afternoon, the Big Ten Conference and University of Michigan were notified by the NCAA the the NCAA was investigating allegations of sign stealing by the Michigan football program. The Big Ten Conference has notified Michigan State and future opponents. The Big Ten Conference considers the integrity of competition to be of the utmost importance and will continue to monitor the investigation. The conference will have no further comment at this time.”

On Saturday, No. 2 Michigan (6-0) travels to Michigan State, but until the specifics of that inquiry are known, this story will undoubtedly garner attention. A Michigan spokesperson reacted to the news, via ESPN’s Heather Dinich:

“The university is fully cooperating with the Big Ten and NCAA. The investigation is ongoing and will not impact Saturday’s game. At the University of Michigan, we are committed to the highest ethical and integrity standards for all members of our community.”

Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of the Wolverines, refuted claims that the program had unlawfully stolen signals and stated that he and his coaching staff would assist the inquiry into the problem to the fullest.

“I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against the NCAA rules,” Harbaugh said. “No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules.”

According to reports, the NCAA contacted Michigan State University on Wednesday, presenting what it called “credible evidence” that the Wolverines had pilfered signs from the coaches of rival schools this year.

The league declined to comment on the specific investigation but said it “will continue to collaborate with member schools and conferences on any possible  issues that could impact fair competition.”

There have been previous instances of “sign stealing” in college football. In reality, the game versus Northwestern when student managers alerted previous coach Lloyd Carr to the Wildcats’ sign-stealing is what makes Michigan’s 1997 national championship squad memorable. During his time with the Tigers, Brent Venables, the current head coach at Oklahoma, was charged with numerous counts of sign theft while the defensive coordinator at Clemson.

For a number of Level II rule infractions, including Harbaugh meeting with prospects during a COVID blackout time, utilizing too many coaches during practice, and viewing player workouts on Zoom, Michigan is already under NCAA investigation. After a negotiated settlement between the school and the NCAA for a four-game ban broke down, the school suspended Harbaugh for the first three games of the season. After the 2023 season, the lawsuit is anticipated to be heard.

The NCAA most likely won’t sanction in-game sign theft. But scouting rivals in person may be a another matter. If it turns out to be accurate, it may result in additional sanctions from the NCAA; however, the inquiry has no deadline, so it’s likely to take longer than the  2023 season.

 

 

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