Some positive vibes today
There’s been a lot of buzz today about the meetings with the NCAA being positive overall and there are people breathing a sigh of relief. Seen from some different places there’s been to proof of other coaches involvement.
Here’s a paywalled discussion on the Fort if anyone is interested but it appears things have moved in a positive direction at least at this junction. There’s a long way to go, but rivals thinking that Michigan would be reduced to a smoking crater might be disappointed in the end. Let’s hope.
https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/last-post-of-the-day.1139527/page-2#…
October 26th, 2023 at 7:23 PM ^
OP should say been NO proof of other coaches involvement as of yet. Can we still not edit?
October 26th, 2023 at 7:45 PM ^
I used my signal decoder and figured that’s what you meant.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^
I asked stalions and after scouring his manifesto, agrees with you
October 26th, 2023 at 7:24 PM ^
Go blue :)
October 26th, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^
Here’s to hoping.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
In the thread linked in the OP, Balas hints that “one rival will be up in arms” from the leaks to come, but that he thinks that there is reason to be optimistic that there won’t be anything too additionally damaging from further revelations. Lots of rumors in the comments that Stalions did attend a game in person at MSU, and/or that Michigan somehow acquired OSU practice video. These are rumors, I want to emphasize.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
There may be no more couches left in EL if Wyld Stallyns was at the MSU v CMU game. The daily drip sucks but the initial timing would work out pretty well with (i) Sparty on full alert and going to the sideline for plays, (ii) no signs guru on the Michigan sideline and (iii) 49-0 defeat without any dignity.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:18 PM ^
I don't think the "rival up in arms" is MSU. They've got their own issues and don't even have a head coach at the moment. I'm assuming it's probably the same rival that paid for the investigation firm - OSU.
October 26th, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
My take as well. The Nuts are the ones going scorched earth right now, predicting vacated wins, playoff ineligibility, and thinking Harbaugh's coached his last game.
30 more days...
I believe we're going to crush them this year.
October 27th, 2023 at 8:36 AM ^
I think there is a clear trajectory here that shows how Stalions was getting bolder and more ambitious over time:
- 2017-2018: learns about sign stealing and how to do it
- 2019-2020: scouts TV copy for insights
- 2021: perfects TV copy scouting, adds in-person scouting of Michigan opponents
- 2022: grows in-person scouting operation to be more systematic and include potential CFP opponents
- 2023: grows in-person scouting operation to include more general game data. Starts data exchange with other teams?
You can see how he got caught as the operation become more sprawling. Teams probably caught onto Michigan being good at it in 2022, and caught wind of how they were doing it in 2023.
And my guess is that Harbaugh didn't catch onto him. I suspect we weren't a big sign stealing team in the 2015-2019 era. As we did more self-reflection in 2020, we probably decided to invest more in sign stealing after seeing the success Clemson had with the approach. This helped fuel Stalions's rise in the program from volunteer to full-time. Harbaugh/Minter probably assumed we were really good at doing it legally because #MichiganDifference and Stalions's grinder attitude. That would explain why we were supposedly blindsided.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Stalions did attend a game in person at MSU
So the poor guy's a masochist on top of everything else? Bloody hell.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
Going to an MSU game should be punishment enough.
October 26th, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
If they really want to be cruel, make him watch it again.
October 27th, 2023 at 1:26 AM ^
At this rate he might turn into one of their celebrity captains for a future home game hosted by Izzo
October 26th, 2023 at 8:18 PM ^
Those two things don't square. Video of practices would be extremely damaging, as that is clearly outside the rules.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:26 PM ^
My take would be OSU sent us the practice video anonymously so we would be caught with it red handed. Not our fault. I could justify anything we have if needed.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
Again, how many are there, how did they get there, who accessed them?
Say the CS google drive is real. Anybody with permissions for uploading videos of team signals could also upload anything else. Person who squeals to investigating firm, is paid by original investigator to make Michigan look worse, and has them upload those videos, completely unsolicited.
All speculation, but that’s what the majority of this whole ‘scandal’ is. Fully expect these rumors to come out true tomorrow given the slow drip smear campaign unfolding in front of us.
October 26th, 2023 at 9:21 PM ^
I gotta say the fan fiction stuff around all of this is my favorite part. I can't help thinking some of it too but some people have come up with some great scenarios.
October 26th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
This entire saga is all so ridiculously stupid. Michigan has kicked ass the last 2 seasons because of a great offensive line, a great quarterback, and A LOT of NFL players. It’s a pretty easy explanation.
The hit piece is out- and it’s successful if you’re not a fan of Michigan. If you’re a Michigan fan, who the fuck cares? I have ZERO care if an opposing fan approves of my team.
The only thing that concerns me is the NCAA can do whatever the hell they want being judge/jury/executioner- regardless if evidence is there or not. Can always just drop a ‘more likely than not’ à la the NFL did with Brady.
October 26th, 2023 at 9:55 PM ^
Haven't you ever played Tecmo Bowl? If you did, you would know that when a defense picks your play, all the defenders become completely unlockable, and perfectly cover every receiver for an easy interception. Come on man
October 26th, 2023 at 7:26 PM ^
Go Blue. Beat Ohio.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:27 PM ^
Weird that on the MGoBlog Roundtable today all 4 said they’d heard nothing about an NCAA meeting scheduled for today.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:28 PM ^
Sam Webb reported that no meetings with coaches happened today, which I would think are the meetings that would matter most for the investigation. If today was positive, that would suggest to me that NCAA is not pushing hard to meet with coaches. That would be surprising but ok why not.
https://x.com/samwebb77/status/1717648639483387913?s=46&t=biL3oZdWSwtxC2WoIJaaCQ
October 26th, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
He said no meetings with coaches, could still be meetings with staff.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:34 PM ^
Right. I edited after I realized the distinction.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:36 PM ^
Beat me to it
October 26th, 2023 at 7:44 PM ^
Also, coaches are out of town recruiting.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
Yes, Nicole Auerbach tweeted that NCAA met with staff today.
So either that is an important distinction, or someone is getting facts wrong.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:29 PM ^
Well, thats a promising step in the direction of sanity
October 26th, 2023 at 7:30 PM ^
Balas is saying impeccable sources say they did happen. And that they were positive.
edit: just as a clarification he said there was some zoom meetings with coaches and they interviewed some staff. Not trying to give away any more payrolled info but just noting a few different places have reported a little more positive news today. Could change with more evidence. And it sounds like there might be more to come out.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:34 PM ^
you mean its not time for hari-kari?
October 26th, 2023 at 9:24 PM ^
Dammit! Anyone know how to stuff all of this back in?
October 26th, 2023 at 7:35 PM ^
I think in these initial meetings whenever they occur, there just needs to be enough doubt or lack of irrefutable evidence to delay any action that the B1G feels like it has to take. I don't know that they would ever actually do it, but in my opinion they are the bigger threat to anything impacting this season than the NCAA.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:53 PM ^
Like the B1G is going to do anything to their best chance to win a national title in years. Not happening.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:02 PM ^
I don't think it would happen either, but this thing went from 0 to 100 in a hurry and if they do something knee jerk to appease people, who knows?
I wouldn't expect them to do that, but this is a B1G commissioner we're talking about.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:28 PM ^
If Michigan boat-races Penn and Ohio nobody is keeping them from the playoff.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:54 PM ^
Once again, winning überalles
October 26th, 2023 at 8:04 PM ^
Not to mention their TV cash cow. Fox, NBC and CBS didn't belly up all that cash to broadcast Rutgers vs. Indiana.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:31 PM ^
I don’t know whether the idiots in the big 10 office believe mich is their best chance at a championship. They may believe osu is their bellcow
October 26th, 2023 at 8:43 PM ^
Is the B1G running it's own investigation? I would think they will wait for the NCAA to do something. Unless the B1G has irrefutable evidence Michigan would probably sue the crap out of the conference.
October 26th, 2023 at 9:19 PM ^
If/ When the Big10 comes calling I would immediately interrupt him before he got a word out his mouth “ Hold on Tony can I call you back later I’ve got Greg Sanky on the other line “
October 26th, 2023 at 11:05 PM ^
I doubt the B1G wants to destroy perhaps their best shot at a NC in years.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:37 PM ^
I like what you wrote, so I'm going to believe it.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:59 PM ^
Lawyers, Phones and Money.
October 26th, 2023 at 8:03 PM ^
Coke too. Lots of coke..
October 26th, 2023 at 8:44 PM ^
Don't forget the hookers...
October 27th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
Can I still get a free ticket with the coke?
October 26th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Hey, maybe the shit hasn't hit the fan.
October 26th, 2023 at 7:39 PM ^
Well that's nice. The second Michigan gets a chance to breath from this stuff, they should go full scorch earth on the rest of the conference. They should tell the NCAA every single bit of dirt they know on other teams.
They should leak the names of as many schools and individuals involved in this issue. They should also try to undermine the conference however they can because boy does the B1G fucking suck.
Pretty much we should approach this Eminem style in 8 Mile, "But I know something about you (OSU)".
October 26th, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
Snitches get stitches. I’d say nothing to show they have honor whereas someone else clearly does not.