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Deion Sanders brushed off the sign stealing allegations surrounding the Michigan Wolverines in a recent press conference. Coach Prime believes you can have an opponent’s entire gameplan, but you still have to go out and execute.
He explained his stance on the scandal in Ann Arbor this week, but he doesn’t seem to be putting much stock into the notion that it’s helped UM make a jump on the field.
Prime was asked about his time on the baseball diamond, where sign stealing is often a celebrated nuance of the game. Here’s what he had to say about how it translates to the gridiron.
“Everyone’s trying to get an edge,” Sanders said. “You can have someone’s whole gameplan. They can mail you it to you, you’ve still got to stop it… In football, it’s not as pronounced as baseball. If I know a curveball is coming, I’ve got you.
“With football, I don’t give a dern if you know a sweep is coming, you’ve still got to stop it, physically. It’s a physical game, so that’s tough. I don’t buy into a lot of that stuff… You’ve still got to play the game.”
Earlier this year, it was actually suggested that Colorado was on the wrong end of this type of information exchange. Former NFL wideout Keyshawn Johnson claimed that Oregon received some outside help to land a 42-6 win over the Buffs late last month, trading insights with other coaches around the country.
Deion Sanders seems to put that “insider info” in the same boat as this sign stealing saga in Ann Arbor. It’s just about getting an edge.
Many around the nation disagree with that take, saying Michigan went a step too far in its operation. They reportedly sent plants to Big Ten venues to record the sidelines during those contests.
One staff member’s Venmo history might actually verify the supposed ticket purchases.
It’s clear that many around the sport hold differing opinions on the situation. In Coach Prime’s case, he says that the best players are usually going to get the ball, and you still have to line it up on the field.
The college football world will continue to question the morality of the scandal, but time will tell if the Wolverines are ultimately punished for any wrongdoing.