The Athletic- NCAA only got this last Tuesday

Submitted by btn on October 25th, 2023 at 8:44 PM

Pretty amazing stuff, this outside law firm presented this to the NCAA and the next day they tell the Big Ten

No more information who is paying this law firm

The timing also seems to confirm the leaks initially were from the Big Ten not the NCAA, the leaks today do seem to be from the NCAA IMO

“The firm presented its information to the NCAA last Tuesday, according to the newspaper, and the NCAA informed both the Big Ten and Michigan that it had opened an investigation into the matter Wednesday. The investigation became public knowledge Thursday.”

 

https://theathletic.com/4999767/2023/10/25/michigan-sign-stealing-investigation-outside-firm/

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jhayes1189

October 25th, 2023 at 8:47 PM ^

The more I read the more I think this was leaked at this time to derail what should have been a smooth contract extension done over the bye week. 
 

Now UM has to spend the bye week in damage control mode as much as possible while not being able to put out any PR. 

Joined: 10/04/2021

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bronxblue

October 25th, 2023 at 9:05 PM ^

Yeah, if there's one thing I'd like to see from the AD would be after tomorrow's meeting with the NCAA they come out with a statement of whatever the current state of the situation is from their viewpoint.  There's a lot of traction coming out of this report that people are just taking as fact, and while it may be true I also suspect that any firm hired specifically to look into something is inclined to give the client what they ask for.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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Don

October 26th, 2023 at 7:39 AM ^

So far, Warde Manuel’s entire tenure as AD is marked by an absolute refusal to publicly communicate or say anything about anything unless forced to by circumstances. It’s the most communications-averse policy I can remember seeing by any senior executive at a highly visible organization like U-M.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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1VaBlue1

October 26th, 2023 at 8:37 AM ^

You seem to be expecting a lot from the man that said the NCAA was right - that Harbaugh deserved a $10K fine for calling out the officiating after 2016.

Lets be dead serious - the only time Warde ever backed Harbaugh was when Wilton Speight's neck was broken by a cheap hit and Purdue transported him to a hospital in the front seat of a van.  And it was a one-time presser where he stood in the background and let Jim take the lead.

You should expect more of the same damage control Warde has already put forth in the face of Sign Gate: continued silence.

Joined: 01/31/2016

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BlueHenBlue

October 25th, 2023 at 8:51 PM ^

I looked at the potential rules and bylaws that were violated (in part thanks to many others) and I don't see where any rules were broken. Sure, it's in the gray area but Harbaugh has a long history of skirting the rules to look for any advantage (ie summer camps).

But the timing of all this, and the way news has been trickling out does smell fishy.

Joined: 10/19/2009

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lhglrkwg

October 25th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^

Thatll be the final question. Can Michigan argue that Connor wasnt even doing anything explicitly against NCAA rules? Tall task but maybe. 
 

Additionally, lets say Michigan did have a network of in person scouting. Is it that bad of a crime in the NCAAs eyes? This has got all our rivals and overly excited but when lawyers all sit down in a room together, is there much to punish?

Joined: 07/03/2008

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Um1994

October 26th, 2023 at 12:02 AM ^

Never cared for the "spirit of the rule" argument. Make the rule what you want it to be; don't count on everyone to interpret the spirit in which you intended it. Nevertheless, the intent of this rule seems to be that in1994 small schools could not afford to send people to games for in person scouting. That is quite inexpensive these days, so it seems that the need for the rule is beyond it's useful life. 

Joined: 11/18/2017

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1VaBlue1

October 26th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^

Reply had to wait for Trustage to go  away...  

::shakes fist at overly intrusive ads::

Hosting summer camps was in no way 'illegal' activity per NCAA rules.  And it wasn't even anywhere close to 'skirting' the rules.  At least it wasn't until the SEC and ACC decided it was encroaching on their turf a little too much...  How dare you do something good for kids while also promoting the game!

 

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