The Michigan Wolverines are still under investigation by the NCAA. This is due to sign-stealing being done by Michigan staffer Connor Stalions. The search began to take place on October 19th after an outside source provided video footage of Stalions.
It dates back to the Covid year, though the Michigan staffer was not officially hired until the spring of last year (2022). One former coach for the Wolverines, Matt Weiss, was released from the University earlier this year.
On Wednesday, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that some Big Ten coaches had a phone conversation with the commissioner of the conference about the actions that they feel should take place against the Michigan Wolverines.
Sources: On a Big Ten coaches call on Thursday, a vast majority of the league’s coaches encouraged commissioner Tony Petitti to punish Michigan amid its NCAA sign-stealing investigation. “Collectively, the coaches want the Big Ten to act,” per ESPN source. https://t.co/H4O9iEYeDA
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 2, 2023
Michigan Wolverines Sign-Stealing Investigation
According to sources, Michigan Wolverines staffer Connor Stalions bought tickets to 35 games in 17 college stadiums. This included 12-13 Big Ten opponents, plus SEC title games. Also, a former Division III coach admitted he was paid to record Big Ten Games within the last two seasons. The former coach was given $1,000 for travel expenses to those conference matchups.
Since the beginning of the investigation, Stalions has been suspended with pay from the football program and University. That has been for the last two weeks.
Sports Analysts Call For Action Against Michigan
On Wednesday, the media discussed the trending topic on shows such as Get Up and First Take. Everyone knows Paul Finebaum, who has been against Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh since he was hired in 2015. At first, he believed that the Michigan head man had no idea of the actions taking place or that a punishment should be given.
As of Wednesday morning, his stance on the investigation changed, stating:
"Two weeks ago I sat here with you and made the biggest mistake of my professional career. I gave Jim Harbaugh the benefit of the doubt. Never again. … The fact that the Big Ten has not done anything yet is inexcusable."
—@finebaum pic.twitter.com/IZBp4ui2y1
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 1, 2023
Also, media personality Stephen A. Smith commented on what he thought the Big Ten should do to Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines.
.@stephenasmith on Michigan's investigation of sign stealing:
"You need to bring the momentum, the heavy hand of the conference down upon that program. … If they don't give you answers to your liking, you make moves to make sure they don't represent the conference in the CFP." pic.twitter.com/9trMCbitBT
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 1, 2023
These sports analysts were not the only ones who called for action against Michigan; but Big Ten coaches did as well. Head coach Jim Harbaugh was on a call with the conference commissioner on Wednesday. After that conversation, other Big Ten coaches voiced their opinions on the actions that they think should occur to the Wolverines.
Some of the coaches mentioned that what had taken place was an “advantage” to Michigan or that the actions were “tainted” and “fraudulent.” Since 2021, the Wolverines have a 33-3 record, going 22-1 in the Big Ten. But with the investigation not being completed as of yet, it is hard to say what really went on, if anything at all!
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