Embarrassing detail emerges about Michigan’s sign-stealing operation
Nov 16, 2019; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
An embarrassing detail about Michigan’s sign-stealing operation emerged on Tuesday.
The Big Ten and NCAA are investigating the Michigan Wolverines football team over allegations that the program violated NCAA rules with the way they were stealing opponents’ signs. Michigan is alleged to have scouted opponents in-person, which is against NCAA rules. There also reportedly is evidence that Michigan used electronic means to help them steal signs of opponents, which is also against NCAA rules.
On Monday, ESPN released a report that was full of damning evidence against Michigan and their suspended employee Connor Stalions, who was said to have been in charge of the sign-stealing operation.
On Tuesday, ESPN reported new information: that Stalions purchased tickets for games involving College Football Playoff contenders.
NEW: From ESPN sources:
*Connor Stalions bought tickets to four different campus games of four CFP contenders last year.
*There’s record of purchases of SEC title game tickets in 2021 and 2022
*Twelve of 13 B10 schools have record of him buying tickets. https://t.co/UJCbpMz0bz— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 24, 2023
That nugget of information is where the embarrassment comes in.
When the allegations about Michigan’s sign-stealing were publicized last week, some people figured that the Wolverines were so successful in the regular season because they knew whom they would be playing and could scout them in advance, but they were unsuccessful in bowl games because they didn’t know who they would be playing in those games. This latest piece of information eliminates that excuse.
According to the report, Stalions purchased tickets for the SEC championship game in both 2021 and 2022. Two years ago, Michigan played the winner of the SEC championship game in the College Football Playoff semifinal and lost to Georgia 34-11.
We don’t know for which CFP contenders Stalions bought tickets to potentially scout, but Michigan lost 51-45 to TCU in the CFP semifinal last season.
The information may be explained by what Deion Sanders said: you can know what is coming, but you still have to stop it. Maybe Michigan knew what was coming in those CFP games and still couldn’t stop it. Or maybe they didn’t know.