Nothing Burger
Here it is. A low level staffer — not even on the coaching staff — breaks down video of opposing teams. Gasp.
‘The article does make clear that doing so is not illegal, yet it spends several paragraphs addressing Harbaugh’s potential punishment and concludes — for some reason — that this is worse that the Astros and Patriots.
The issue is this: did this staffer go to games of opponents and tape them. The NCAA has nothing and they know it. (That’s why they are asking for his computer).
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38700739/michigan-staf…
October 20th, 2023 at 9:48 AM ^
Or Weiss?
October 20th, 2023 at 10:17 AM ^
My initial thoughts were dudek and/or gattis. He fell hard after his Michigan stint. I'm sure he is still bitter.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^
When you google his name this is the top article that comes up. Former UM staff member at MissSt. part of allegations notice? MGoBlog post suggesting he is responsible for the cheeseburger stuff. If it is true that he leaked this stuff his career should be over. Most jobs end after a few years these days and you don't want someone revealing your dirty laundry. (So you wouldn't hire him if that is his history.)
October 20th, 2023 at 8:10 AM ^
I’m pretty sure the NCAA leaks are a violation of their own rules. I don’t think they like the fact that Jim put out his own statement and clearly have an axe to grind with him.
If we had a stronger AD with a spine, we would have been pushing back and controlling the narrative. But Warde is a useless stooge…
October 20th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
Not giving access to the computer is a direct contradiction to Harbaugh's full cooperation statement. Don't so would imply there is something to hide. Programs can stream signs, just not by sorting in person. If signs are stolen from the TV broadcast, then that's legal.
Also, the computer's content can be FOIA'd.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:31 AM ^
Only a university computer can be FOIA'd. If he used a private computer he can claim personal property and be found in violation of FOIA or University information storage regulations, but retain his property.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:59 AM ^
I wonder what Pony Conquerors' thoughts on this would be?
October 20th, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
Espn reported yesterday that they confiscated his computer. That has to be in error.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:54 AM ^
Yeah the argument that we know opponent's plays is a joke. The majority of plays teams use are already on film from previous weeks. Luke Kuechly used to call out opponents plays constantly before the snap (start at 3:18) because he could anticipate by alignment, down and distance, and film study what the call would be. Given we've got a 6th year LB for president and film devotee and 5th year Mike Sainristil and college teams have limited practice time, I'd be shocked if they couldn't suss out some of the plays pre-snap. Would also explain why other teams' first two drives are more successful as they trot out their new stuff. Between adjustments and being prepped for all existing plays (oh, and having a defense with all NFL/future NFL players), we shut it down from there.
I'm not saying we don't try to crack signal codes--all teams should be trying if they have the personnel--but that the evidence is weak.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:16 AM ^
No question that it is Dudek. I wonder how it feels to lay in bed at night, lonely, with nothing else to do but think up bullshit schemes to get back at Michigan. I bet his employer is only keeping him on because they see how hollowed out he is from losing the best possible job he ever could have attained. He’ll die a lonely, broken man and his last words will be “at least I did what I could to get back at Harbaugh…”. Sadly, nobody will be there to hear them because he has likely driven all of his friends and family away with his nonstop blathering about Michigan and Harbaugh. For shame.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
Apparently the SEC laden NCAA is now going to punish people for being smart. Still sore about them Yankees. Maybe Matt will divulge that our summers are an advantage. Damn those Harbaughs! Warde will apologize for summer.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:44 AM ^
“The friends of (Michigan) will know it is a lot of lies without any statement from me. And her enemies will believe it, and if I piled up denials mountain high it wouldn’t make any difference.”
- Fielding Yost, 1905
October 20th, 2023 at 1:41 AM ^
Nothing.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:20 AM ^
Burger.
October 20th, 2023 at 2:15 AM ^
If it's his personal laptop, he can probably tell them to kick rocks. A university purchased machine may be a different story.
October 20th, 2023 at 2:22 AM ^
Pull an Urban Meyer, Tom Brady, or Hillary Clinton. Smash it into a million pieces.
Better yet, say “what a coincidence, he just got a new computer last week since his old one blew up.”
October 20th, 2023 at 7:07 AM ^
I accidentally knocked over this jug of acid right onto the computer. Oh well
October 20th, 2023 at 8:25 AM ^
Science!
October 20th, 2023 at 8:41 AM ^
Well, yeah, but probably not. Most newer laptops have solid state drives now, and magnets won't do anything.
October 20th, 2023 at 7:18 AM ^
I'd go with this:
October 20th, 2023 at 8:22 AM ^
as long as he didn't text the team technology guy and ask "how do I erase all texts over a year old on my work phone?" lookin' in your direction, urban liar......
October 20th, 2023 at 3:21 AM ^
They took his phone on Thursday.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:38 AM ^
You seem to have pretty intimate knowledge of the situation.
October 20th, 2023 at 7:30 AM ^
Please tell me why Michigan would willingly give his phone to the NCAA? They have ZERO legal subpoena power. The burden of proof falls on them with any of these accusations, and that's why all these schools have received minimal punishments for paying players, etc.
Why would we make an investigation easier for them?
EDIT:
'The enforcement staff does not have police power and cannot base allegations of rules violations on confidential, off-the-record information.'
https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2016/4/19/investigations.aspx
Directly from their website. We are the softest, stupidest university if we actually give them electronic devices to investigate anything. Make them prove it on their own 'evidence.' Assisting an organization that is its own prosecutor, judge, jury, and appeals court is completely asinine.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:42 AM ^
Because Warde Manuel. I mean, c'mon...
October 20th, 2023 at 9:36 AM ^
To show that they have nothing to hide.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
Please tell me why Michigan would willingly give his phone to the NCAA? They have ZERO legal subpoena power.
Because if we refuse to cooperate, the NCAA will stick us with Level 1 non-cooperation charges. Exactly what happened during burgergate.
I completely agree that Michigan needs to stand up to the NCAA and fight hard, but a lot of us seem to think it's as simple as direct defiance, and that's definitely not the right path.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:07 PM ^
Maybe he gave them his laptop because he is doing nothing wrong. The argument right now is he is too good at his job he must be cheating.
October 20th, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Hi Warde
October 20th, 2023 at 4:17 AM ^
Then the NCAA says, "cmon! Please?"
October 20th, 2023 at 6:58 AM ^
NCAA has no subpoena power. UM should give them nothing.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
If all I have on my phone are pictures of my dog, and they think they’ll find extensive videos of close ups of signs, I stand there while they look at every single photo (unless it’s the police, then I call a lawyer).
October 20th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
They will have to go back to picking lint out of their belly buttons and ignoring excellence.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
They'll hold their breath.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:41 AM ^
I’d love to know the Big Ten source that claims that these allegations are “worse than both the Astros and the Patriots.”
October 20th, 2023 at 1:49 AM ^
Morklon Frankday
October 20th, 2023 at 1:56 AM ^
It's probably Warde Manuel.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:00 AM ^
you’re an idiot.
October 20th, 2023 at 2:19 AM ^
Patriots: They videotaped the signals from an unauthorized location.
Astros: Had someone watching the TV broadcast in a hallway and banged on a trash can based on the catcher's signals.
It sounds like this guy was reviewing the regular TV broadcast that everyone had access to (and doesn't show much of the sidelines IMO). And it also sounds like he was on the sideline, and not using electronic equipment during the game.
October 20th, 2023 at 7:01 AM ^
It also says our vast network dates back to at least 2021 but then says Stalion was hired in 2022.
The line that says "everyone in the building" knew Stalions role implies this was a former UofM staff member who was speaking. Gattis or one of the others who left on bad terms perhaps. Suppose it could also be a disgruntled former player.
October 20th, 2023 at 7:22 AM ^
Article said that Stalions was on the sideline with Don Brown, who was let go in December 2020.
Considering all the people that come and go, especially those who might leave on unpleasant terms, I find it very hard to believe that every last person would have kept their mouth shut all this while.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:23 AM ^
I believe he was a volunteer assistant from 2015-2020 (i read that somewhere this morning)
October 20th, 2023 at 9:00 AM ^
also the fact that they are using his linkedin bio to accuse him of stealing signs. Every single team has tendancies. Looking for tendancies is not espionage.
they also take a story about him having to rent out rooms in his house for extra money as some nefarious scheme.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
At some point reporters are going to release any evidence that shows the allegations are as bad as these "sources" keep saying, right? Right?
October 20th, 2023 at 1:44 AM ^
First Michigan had a vast network of people videotaping games. Now it is a dude breaking down opponents' signs through publicly available gametape. Where's the NCAA on Gene Smith asking donors to funnel 13 million dollars to recruits?
October 20th, 2023 at 6:03 AM ^
Also, Gene Smith worked with Urban Meyer to cover up domestic violence allegations. Where is the NCAA on THAT?
October 20th, 2023 at 7:02 AM ^
Yeah, after this passes, NCAA is going to come after Brian and his vast network who break down game film into UFRs
October 20th, 2023 at 11:03 AM ^
Also, Urban Meyer is currently employed by OSU and breaks down Michigan tape all the time on NATIONAL TELEVISION.