Signgate The Ninth: Waiting
The narrative begins to turn. Finally we have some takes in the media that properly contextualize the seriousness of The Worst Scandal In The History Of The Big Ten. I recommend the entirety of this Dan Wetzel piece:
In Michigan’s case, the “advanced scouts” were Stalions’ band of iPhone-toting buddies.
In Purdue’s case, the “advanced scouts” were the professional coaching staffs of two other Big Ten teams that had just played the Wolverines, and thus could battle-test the signs they stole as accurate.
Which would you rather have? Raw cell phone footage that still needs to be broken down, or highly experienced coaches just handing over their work?
Everyone would choose the Purdue option.
Even if Ohio State and Rutgers acquired Michigan signs via NCAA-legal game film or during game action, it doesn’t matter. Purdue didn’t do that work. The Boilermakers received stolen signs from advanced scouting. They cheated as much as Michigan.
Wetzel was properly incredulous about Tony Petitti's reported statements on his podcast with Pat Forde, and since Forde has been one of the media's leading hanging judges I appreciate this exchange:
Wetzel: “How could anyone be the commissioner of a major conference and take this and say that?
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) November 8, 2023
“How does somebody say that? That’s going to show up in a lawsuit. I don’t get it. Somebody make that statement make sense to me.”
Petitti's tenure as commissioner is going to be short. Next time hire someone who knows things about sports and have the TV guy be second in command. Also recommended: the discussion at the start of the Cover 3 podcast:
People who think this is a big deal are dwindling to MSU/OSU/PSU fans and guys like Finebaum who are in it for the clicks.
[After THE JUMP: decision day is tomorrow]
Why did you do that? Permit myself to quote, uh, myself:
"Why did you do it?" is going to be on Connor Stalions gravestone
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) November 7, 2023
There is an astounding difference between the apparent reaction of Big Ten head coaches—kill 'em all and let God sort it out—and actual sign stealers. The latter group is perplexed as to why anyone would bother, because there is no need to go to those lengths:
“This is not like the Astros,” he said. “This was all obtained legitimately. We’ve been really good at it (stealing signals), getting stuff off of TV copy. People didn’t go to sites (to obtain intel). We did it legally, like stealing it from the third base coach.”
And it provides approximately no advantage:
The staffer involved in decoding the Wolverines signals said he doesn’t buy that the way Stalions and Michigan allegedly gathered their intel actually gave them much of an advantage over the way other teams usually do it. Or that they actually needed this.
“Michigan didn’t have to do it to win,” he said. “That’s the f—ed up thing. It’s still about blocking and tackling. That’s why they didn’t have to do it. They’re really talented. They are better than Penn State, and they are better than Ohio State. They can legitimately win it all.”
Connor Stalions went to great effort to break NCAA rules and should be given a show cause. Michigan's program benefited from this in almost no way whatsoever and should be left alone to beat heads in.
Looks like we're D-1. Tony Petitti is widely expected to do whatever he's going to do tomorrow. Josh Henschke and Sam Webb both make it sound like the previous draconian punishments—suspending Harbaugh until the NCAA investigation finishes was floated—are unlikely. Webb headlined his latest piece "Punishment talks progressing, but not enough." Petitti can issue a two-game suspension without escalating it to the Big Ten ADs, and that sounds like what he's going to attempt.
All indications are that if Petitti does levy a suspension Michigan is going to court. They've has hired a law firm that I've never heard of but people who have are like "oh dang really?"
Michigan hired probably the #1 law firm there is for this. Some small alums from WC include: Prominent alumni of the firm include:
— John Berry, Esq. (@JohnBerryDC) November 8, 2023
Elena Kagan, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Brett Kavanaugh, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Gregory…
FAFO time. Rittenberg and Murphy have an article at ESPN that seems fairly well informed about what Michigan will argue:
Michigan likely will argue that the Big Ten had agreed to monitor the NCAA investigation and await its results, and only intervened as a response to pressure from competitors within the conference. The Big Ten did not initiate its own investigation, which the sportsmanship policy allows, and has essentially been relying on information from various sources during an ongoing external probe. The information about Michigan only surfaced weeks ago, and college athletics have a long history of much more serious infractions that have taken much longer to be resolved. …
The league's own handbook also could be cited in the defense for Michigan/Harbaugh. In the "Enforcement Policies and Procedures" section, there is a heading for "NCAA Initiated Cases." The handbook notes that the Big Ten's Compliance and Reinstatement Committee, not the commissioner, would review any potential NCAA violations by one of its members.
The entry reads: "Where the NCAA initiates a preliminary or official inquiry with a member university the Conference will cooperate with university and NCAA representatives in the processing of that case through the normal NCAA investigation, hearing and appeal processes. While the case will be processed through normal NCAA channels, the Conference Compliance and Reinstatement Committee shall review the case and may impose additional penalties, if warranted, subsequent to the NCAA action."
Attorneys for Michigan and/or Harbaugh could argue that the Big Ten isn't following its own rules in letting a "normal NCAA investigation" play out, and is acting ahead of the NCAA, rather than imposing discipline "subsequent to the NCAA action." The Big Ten will keep pointing to its sportsmanship policy, but Michigan could argue that this case, initiated by the NCAA, falls under a different category.
You'll note this is virtually identical to what user rym posted yesterday:
In investigations initiated by the NCAA, the Big Ten rules require the conference to wait for the NCAA investigation and any appeals to be finished and for the NCAA to levy a penalty first, at which time the Big Ten can choose to pile on (key language italicized):
32.2.2(C) NCAA Initiated Cases. The Compliance and Reinstatement Subcommittee shall review violations by member universities as determined by the NCAA and may impose penalties in addition to those imposed by the NCAA for any violations.
1. Where the NCAA initiates a preliminary or official inquiry with a member university the Conference will cooperate with university and NCAA representatives in the processing of that case through the normal NCAA investigation, hearing and appeal processes.
2. While the case will be processed through normal NCAA channels, the Conference Compliance and Reinstatement Subcommittee shall review the case and may impose additional penalties, if warranted, subsequent to the NCAA action.
That provision is unambiguous and lists no exceptions. There is no rule in the conference handbook that would allow the Commissioner to bypass the NCAA (and the Big Ten's Compliance and Reinstatement Subcommittee) because the Commissioner feels peer-pressured to act quickly.
Never get in a land war in Asia, and never get in a pedantry competition with the University of Michigan.
Etc.: Henschke reports that the weird Corum-Stalions LLC lists Corum as an organizer but Corum did not sign anything, undoubtedly because he has no idea about this totally sick collab. Sign stealing in basketball happens, too. RGIII isn't having it. These are good tweets.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
I mean I'm really interested in this whole Stalions opening up companies with Corum's own company name and listing him as part of it? Like that's fraud stuff right? Provided Corum really has no idea about it. What the hell would he be thinking?. Of note there are a whole bunch of companies in various states called BC2 LLC.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
To quote Brian in this very piece, "'Why did you do it?' is gonna be on Connor Stalions' gravestone."
November 8th, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
I think the "why" is pretty obvious, at least in the case of the sign-stealing. Stalions managed to get himself hired at UM to steal signs, presumably legally. He was shit at it, so rather than face the possibility of failure at the only thing his life has ever been about and presumably suffer a massive mental breakdown, he resorted to doing it the only way he knew how. He probably rationalized that everyone must be doing this if he was expected to produce signs and couldn't figure out how to do it otherwise.
The BC2 stuff is weirder, and IMO requires even higher levels of mental dysfunction to properly explain, but maybe that's just because I've watched too many episodes of Criminal Minds.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:59 PM ^
I would argue that he was at least good at it. He essentially hung around the program for 5 years as a volunteer, showing up for game days. He wasn't coaching, he wasn't installing game plans. He was showing up on game days to steal a few signs. After 5 years of husting and ingenuity and sacrificing (and separating from the military), UM decided to reward him with a full time job in 2022. Along with gaining full-time employment, what else happened between 2021 and 2022, when it appears his operation went into over-drive? The beatdown against Georgia. I would venture to say that, watching that disappointment, Stalions figured being able to guess a few plays a game would never bridge the deficit between Michigan and Georgia. So, he decided to recruit a network of sign stealers, figuring by the end of the year, if Michigan made the playoffs, being able to predict 10-20 plays of an opponent could make the difference. Obviously, to do that, you'd have to scout more teams to get a deeper database and you'd have to account for multiple participants in the playoffs. Implementing something that large, so fast, was bound to get noticed. The fact that it never came out, or was reported during the 2022 season further de-legitimizes any argument about a competitive disadvantage for other teams, and reinforces that it was always meant to be used as means to leverage against Harbaugh.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:29 PM ^
I still wonder why he would bother stealing signs of middle/low tier B1G teams at all. Considering the quality of the product that Michigan put on the field in 2022, and is fielding in 2023, it was absolutely pointless to scout the likes of Nebraska, Indiana, MSU or even Rutgers. That only served to increase the exposure risk to his operation with zero value add! He had a blanket approach instead of a targeted one. Stupid. Focus on the big fish and nothing more.
November 9th, 2023 at 8:23 AM ^
He probably needed the practice.
November 8th, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^
I think the “why” is even more obvious than that… he did it because it was on page 12 of the manifesto.
In seriousness, I initially thought that Stalions did this because he wanted to get ahead in his job and advance his career (“I’m a football savant!”). I’m starting to wonder if he actually did it because he’s a Michigan football zealot and he really thought he was saving the team.
November 8th, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
I think it's the first. A guy using resources on his dime (and actually not wanting Michigan to know) in order to look like he is just that good at analysis of the "officially" available resources.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:20 PM ^
He did it and pushed on the boundaries of the rules because he wanted to further his career. He wanted to be known as the best sign stealer in the country. People just thought he was gifted and worked really hard which is the perception he wanted to leave. In no way would he want people to know he cheated.
This is why people cheat on tests and in jobs, to get ahead. And hopefully they all get caught.
The idea that you also go after the head of the organization is stupid. It was changed two years ago at the NCAA solely to try and snare the HCs who are using impermissible benefits as an unfair advantage and are able to get away with plausible deniability. That is why that rule was changed. Not for this.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
My understanding is that the criminally fraudulent part is listing Corum's name as an organizer. Filing a document with "materially false...statements" is a felony in Wyoming. WY Stat. § 6-5-308.
Naming the company "BC2 LLC" could maybe expose Stalions to some civil tort liability for misappropriation of name or likeness, but it's not criminal.
I'm thoroughly amused he was sophisticated enough to incorporate in a state with no corporate taxes but dumb enough to apparently commit fraud in a way that leaves a very public paper trail.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
It's at least in character, since he was also dumb enough to cheat in a way that leaves a very public paper trail.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
The guy kept vacuums on his front porch. Even my neighbor who has a driveway long enough to park a fleet of cars yet finds it necessary to put a car on his lawn to move things around doesn't put vacuums on his front porch.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:48 PM ^
Vacuum cleaner sales and a long rambling manifesto. Connor Stallions has managed to incorporate elements of the Whitmer assassination plot and the Unabomber!
November 8th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
The LLC is a strange one. What benefit could their be by putting Blakes name on it?
November 8th, 2023 at 5:09 PM ^
Yea that makes no sense unless he was falsely telling investors, customers, etc. that Blake was involved in order to lend some credence to his venture. And as other have pointed out, if that is false, Connor may have even bigger problems.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
Good thing for him that there aren't any federal laws about using communications technology to commit fraud across state lines.
November 8th, 2023 at 6:34 PM ^
Everything I learned about Law is from Grisham novels. This is from The Firm.
November 8th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
I thought it was from Tommy Boy.
November 9th, 2023 at 1:19 AM ^
Grisham was a practicing attorney, and then a member of the Mississippi legislature, before he turned to writing books. You could do worse, honestly.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:17 PM ^
That is “Googles Stuff” level chicanery.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^
I heard his vacuums sucked,.
November 8th, 2023 at 7:16 PM ^
Or they didn’t suck quite enough, and that was the problem.
November 8th, 2023 at 8:04 PM ^
There is something so very...off about Stalions. The scheme, for starters. The Wyoming thing. The manifesto. The video of him cheering like a child on his couch. Look at him. Look closely. I'm sensing maybe some developmental issues with this lost soul.
November 8th, 2023 at 9:30 PM ^
Naming it "BC2 LLC" might not itself be criminal, but it's likely to be introduced as evidence in any fraud trial in order to point the jury toward the conclusion that Stalions intended to project Corum's involvement in the enterprise.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
This is brilliant of Stalions. I don't know why I haven't thought of this before. I have a C-corp and an LLC in the software industry. I should follow his lead and add some names to increase my cache. I'm thinking of listing Brady, JJ, and Idi Amin as corporate officers. What could possibly go wrong?
November 8th, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^
Idi Amin = underrated cache right there.
November 9th, 2023 at 8:30 AM ^
Might want to think about naming Idi Amin. First of all he's dead. Secondly, if Brady or JJ got mad, they might throw a football at you ( or sue you). Idi supports could do far worse.
November 9th, 2023 at 9:03 AM ^
That's Doctor Idi Amin, dada to you.
Also--featured in next week's MSU Stadium trivia quiz!
November 8th, 2023 at 4:35 PM ^
I would contend trying to parse the mind of Stalions is a fools errand.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:37 PM ^
Well if he would launch an LLC in Wyoming and list Blake Corum as a member without Corum’s knowledge or consent, then just maybe Stallions would recruit friends and family to record opposition signs without the knowledge or consent of Michigan coaches.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
I am not sure the waiting is going to stop as soon as people think. The earliest the BIG Commissioner can act is Thursday. But if he thinks this is going to court, I don't find it particularly likely that he is going to impose any discipline literally the same day he gets a response from Michigan as to the allegations. What investigation has occurred? And again, what conclusions have they drawn and based on what evidence? He was on the phone with ADs on Friday and met with Ono that night. We sit here five days later. Am I to believe that the BIG "investigation" is complete as of the time of Michigan's response?
And I am to believe that the suspension is going to be handed down one day before one of the biggest games of the conference season. I don't think that is happening. If anything is happening I think it will be Sunday or Monday morning at the latest.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
The fact is that a legal battle like this could cost the Big Ten millions of dollars, even if they win, which I assume will come out of the revenue sharing (?) Although I'm completely guessing how the accounting is done. Will Big Ten ADs really allow this sort of expense to come out of their pockets at the end of the day?
November 8th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
You can't underestimate the amount of pressure that Petitti has on him right now to act though. And in his mind, "acting" is the only way to get the pressure off of him. What he does not understand is that the mob doesn't go away, it just changes direction. If he suspends Harbaugh, next will be "but they still get to play?" And "what about Corum and Stallions, you are not suspending Corum." "Why are you protecting Michigan?" Etc. etc.
The only chance he had was to tell the coaches and ADs to zip it last week. Having done the complete opposite of that, I expect him to take momentary solace with the mob, only for it turn on him within 24 hours.
I don't think he will do it literally on the same day that Michigan responds though. That would be self-defeating and pretty crazy.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:18 PM ^
I. . . don't care? This isn't like the Roman Empire where his soldiers would literally murder him if he didn't play along.
Leaders are ostensibly supposed to lead. If leadership only did what the mob wanted, they're not leaders by definition; they're followers. In that case we could just replace the jackass with ChatGPTtiti.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
I'm not defending him, at all. I am just saying why I think he is going to do it.
November 9th, 2023 at 7:52 AM ^
I was confused and tried looking up ChatGPTtiti, but your post was the only thing that showed on the google search. I’m very intrigued, and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:21 PM ^
Yeah, the main worrying thing to me about this is that it demonstrates that mob mentality works. Specifically against Michigan. Any time the league doesn't like something Michigan is doing (maybe it's just winning football games, who knows?) they will be able to pressure him to do whatever they want.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
This same shit happens in politics all the time and has for years. Yeah it is scary, which is why the rule of law matters, otherwise anarchy and oblivion.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
I think Pettiti already made a fatal mistake that's going to be impossible to recover from. He let himself be driven my a few faux-outraged members and now that he's opened that Pandora's box, his leadership is totally undermined. I don't see any way for him to get out of this other than his inevitable resignation. He has created an absolute mess by being a reactionary rather than being a leader
November 8th, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
People get paid good money to write statements that say a lot of words but mean very little. Given what has happened over the last few days, I expect Pettiti to delay as long as possible and then say a million words that equal "we'll get back to you".
November 8th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Yeah, he stepped in it alright. Which is why Brian is probably right, he won't have a long tenure as B1G commish.
November 9th, 2023 at 10:24 AM ^
If he were trying to do this to "get the pressure off of him", it still doesn't make any sense. Because suspending Harbaugh will just a bring another crapload of pressure on him of a different type - a small army of aggressive, smart lawyers filing lawsuits against the B10.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
The worrying thing about the timing is Saturday. Pettiti could use a suspension at 4:59 on Friday and it would be hard for Michigan to get in front of a judge in time for Jim to coach at PSU. I think we need to go to Court Friday am, no matter what.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
How does that work with Friday being a federal holiday?
November 8th, 2023 at 3:32 PM ^
Forgot about that. Go tomorrow.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
Judges will sign an injunction or a TRO in the middle of the night if they have to. Again, I don't think the BIG will do this anyway if it expects litigation. That is not exactly a showing of good faith.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
I’m not sure that’s right but now I’m less sure of my post. Can I ask if you’re speaking from experience? I am an attorney and I’ve needed to try for a few of them and responded to more. However, I’m not really a litigator so I may be learning something here.
In my experience, I’ve only seen them go through the normal filing process at a clerks office. I think state judges will sign warrants if needed, but I’m not sure about TROs in what I think would be federal court.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:53 PM ^
Not necessarily experience but knowledge of the area. A TRO can be granted almost immediately, without notice to the adverse party, if the moving party shows that immediate damages will occur. And upon order of a court, it can be submitted ex-parte to a judge.
And the case will almost certainly end up in federal court but there is a good chance it does not start there. The case can be filed anywhere the BIG does business.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
Agreed. It’s just the logistics of getting the thing to a judge when the Court is closed that I don’t know about (thankfully).
November 8th, 2023 at 5:24 PM ^
Michigan will have no trouble getting a TRO. They have undoubtedly lined up a judge who will issue one, if necessary. The time sensitive nature, and the threat of irreparable harm means that they can get the TRO ex parte.
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