Michigan is currently being investigated for a significant sign-stealing scandal that has quickly become one of the most-entertaining storylines in college football history. A hilarious new detail seems to be discovered with each new day.
At the center of the controversy is Connor Stalions. The Wolverines staffer is accused of leading a nationwide operation that involves recording, archiving, learning and translating the signals of Big Ten and possible College Football Playoff opponents.
As the story goes, Stalions would either attend games himself or pay someone to attend games for him. Either he or his undercover agent sat in view of both sidelines and used a recording device to film the coaches calling plays from the sideline.
Stalions took those videos back to the lab and learned what they meant. He then relayed his learnings to Michigan football coaches during games — which allowed them to know what their in-game opponent was going to run on the next play.
It gave defensive coaches a greater knowledge of what was coming, which allowed them to set a certain coverage to stop it. Offensive coaches were able to adjust their play-calling to fit the defensive schematics.
All of this is alleged, as of now, but more and more evidence continues to mount against Stalions. The university is likely to paint him as a rouge staffer.
Michigan’s success is tainted.
The Wolverines sit third in the first College Football Playoff rankings. They are undefeated at 8-0. Jim Harbaugh and company have reached the Playoff in each of the last two years.
Unfortunately, no matter how good that Michigan might be as a team, the sign-stealing scandal clouds its shine.
Were any of their wins legitimate?! Were the Wolverines only winning because they were cheating?!
Big Ten coaches say no to the former and yes to the latter.
A (literal) conference call took place on Wednesday. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti spoke with all of the head football coaches in the conference, which led to a very specific call for action.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, they did not hold back. Coaches proceeded to rip into Harbaugh and the Michigan program with words like “fraudulent” and “unprecedented.”
People don’t understand the seriousness of it. How it truly impacted the game plan. To truly know if it’s a run or a pass, people don’t understand how much of an advantage that was for Michigan.
— Anonymous source to Pete Thamel
Anger was tangible.
Every game they play is tainted.
— Anonymous source to Pete Thamel
There is still a long way to go in the ongoing investigation. Coaches want something to be done sooner than later. Petitti is weighing his options before he moves forward.
No matter what ends up happening, Big Ten coaches are furious. Every single game since Stalions first arrived in Ann Arbor will be looked at differently.