Pete ThamelESPN4 Minute Read
Finebaum rips Harbaugh for sign-stealing allegations
Paul Finebaum is disgusted by the sign-stealing allegations against Michigan and regrets giving Jim Harbaugh the benefit of the doubt.
A vast majority of the Big Ten coaches expressed their frustrations with the ongoing signal-stealing investigation at Michigan in a video call with commissioner Tony Petitti on Wednesday, sources told ESPN.
The call, which lasted 90 minutes, included nearly an hour without Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who abruptly left after the regular Big Ten business to allow the conference’s coaches to speak candidly about the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan.
According to five sources familiar with the call, a chorus of voices strongly urged Petitti to take immediate action against Michigan in a call that was described as both intense and emotional.
“Collectively, the coaches want the Big Ten to act — right now,” said a source familiar with the call. “What are we waiting for? We know what happened.”
The NCAA has been investigating Michigan for nearly two weeks, as the Big Ten confirmed the NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation on Oct. 19. Since then, ESPN has reported that Michigan staffer Connor Stalions emerged as a key figure in the investigation, having purchased tickets to the games of all but one Big Ten opponent over the past three years.
Overall, Stalions has attended more than 35 games in at least 17 stadiums over the same three-year period, according to ESPN. Michigan suspended Stalions on the same day ESPN reported he was the focus of the investigation. A former Division III coach also told ESPN that Stalions paid him to record games at multiple Big Ten schools.
The Big Ten coaches laid out to Petitti, who was hired in April, just how significant of a strategic advantage Michigan gained over the past three years by illicitly obtaining opposing team’s signals in advance, as alleged. Coaches used strong words like “tainted,” “fraudulent,” and “unprecedented” to describe Michigan’s signal-stealing scheme, as alleged. Both physically observing opponent practices and using electronic equipment to steal signals are prohibited by NCAA rules.
During the three years in which Stalions left a trail of ticket purchases to games of Michigan’s opponents, the Wolverines compiled a remarkable record of 33-3 overall and 22-1 in Big Ten play. By comparison, in the three seasons prior, they went 21-11 overall and 16-8 in league play.
“People don’t understand the seriousness of it,” said another source. “How it truly impacted the game plan. Knowing if it’s going to be a run or a pass, people don’t understand what a huge advantage that was for Michigan.”
Anger was palpable throughout the call, with one source describing the sentiment as: “Every game they played is tainted.”
The coaches acknowledged that the NCAA enforcement timeline will likely not affect Michigan this season, as the Wolverines are currently 8-0 and ranked No. 3 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. This is one of the reasons the Big Ten coaches called for action from the conference.
Sources described Petitti as attentively listening to the coaches, but not revealing any leanings as to which direction he might take. There was curiosity among the sources as to whether the Big Ten is genuinely interested in taking action or merely providing a platform for the coaches to voice their concerns.
Technically, the Big Ten has the authority under its Sportsmanship Policy to punish Michigan or members of the coaching staff.
However, it is considered unlikely that the league will take immediate action in this case, as it is unprecedented to have an NCAA case unfolding in real-time. While plenty of evidence has emerged in media reports, the league would likely be unable to use them as official facts for making a decision.
The league could launch its own investigation into potential violations of the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy. While Petitti has the power to impose disciplinary measures, if the severity goes beyond a certain level, it must be reviewed by an executive committee that can approve, reject, or modify the disciplinary action.
League officials did not respond to requests for comment as of late Wednesday.
“I don’t think the Big Ten understood how upset everyone was,” said another source. “The tone of the call was about asking the Big Ten to show leadership — both the conference and the presidents. An unprecedented violation of the rules warrants an unprecedented response from the Big Ten.”
