{"id":4108,"date":"2023-11-01T22:10:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T02:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/94-of-college-football-coaches-say-michigan-crossed-a-line-what-else-do-they-say-about-sign-stealing\/01\/11\/2023\/"},"modified":"2023-11-01T22:10:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T02:10:42","slug":"94-of-college-football-coaches-say-michigan-crossed-a-line-what-else-do-they-say-about-sign-stealing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/94-of-college-football-coaches-say-michigan-crossed-a-line-what-else-do-they-say-about-sign-stealing\/01\/11\/2023\/","title":{"rendered":"94% of college football coaches say Michigan crossed a line. What else do they say about sign-stealing?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The story that college football fans can\u2019t seem to get enough of is one that coaches all around the country can\u2019t stop talking about either. What happens next for Jim Harbaugh and <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"192\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/michigan-wolverines-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Michigan<\/a>, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4982219\/2023\/10\/20\/michigan-football-connor-stalions-suspended-sign-stealing-investigation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">NCAA investigates its signal-stealing operation<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/5018027\/2023\/10\/31\/connor-stalions-central-michigan-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">alleged in-person scouting<\/a> led by suspended analyst Connor Stalions, is a topic of endless fascination among stunned coaches in the industry.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Athletic<\/em> surveyed 50 FBS coaches and asked them to assess the seriousness of Michigan\u2019s alleged actions, where it rates on the wide spectrum of dubious behavior in the sport, how they now view the Wolverines\u2019 recent success and much more. More than a dozen head coaches offered their takes, as well as coordinators, assistants, analysts and staffers from all 10 FBS conferences. Coaches were granted anonymity in exchange for their candid responses.<\/p>\n<p>Their answers provide something many have been in search of as the Michigan allegations continue to dominate the news cycle: context.<\/p>\n<h2>How serious are Michigan\u2019s alleged actions?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15548665\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Most in college football had never heard of anything quite like what has been reportedly going on at Michigan. <em>The Athletic<\/em> asked coaches how they would rate Michigan\u2019s alleged scheme of attending future opponents\u2019 games to film and steal signals on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being not a big deal and 5 being very serious.<\/p>\n<p>Almost half of the coaches surveyed (46 percent) rated it a 5. The average score among the 50 coaches was 4.2. Only two ranked it below a 3.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s easy to call plays when you know what the defense is,\u201d said a Pac-12 head coach. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge deal that someone went to another game and filmed all their signals. That\u2019s Spygate stuff. They were flying around the country? It\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Wolverines\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4991235\/2023\/10\/23\/michigan-staffer-connor-stalions-tickets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">reported paper trail of tickets<\/a> purchased in Stalions\u2019 name has only added to the intrigue and outrage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn some ways, they should be held accountable for just sheer stupidity,\u201d said a Sun Belt head coach. \u201cThey could\u2019ve done this for years and years and never been caught if they\u2019d just been smart about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Mountain West linebackers coach who rated the seriousness of the allegations as a 4 was just as baffled by the recklessness of the alleged scheme: \u201cIf you\u2019re gonna do it like that, at least be subtle about it. They were so arrogant and brazen and didn\u2019t hide it all. (It) just showed how much they didn\u2019t care about the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s one of the few rules that nobody is brave or stupid enough to just step over,\u201d said one staffer at an SEC program. \u201cMy God, what idiots. Doing it is one thing. Getting caught is an entirely other thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unsurprisingly, some of the most interesting responses came from coaches who have worked in the Big Ten and faced Michigan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe knew they had a signal guy, this Navy Seal or something,\u201d said one former Big Ten analyst (Stalions is a graduate of the Naval Academy and a retired captain of the Marine Corps). \u201cWe were very concerned about it. Our head coach was super concerned about it. \u2026 In 2021, (Michigan pass rushers) <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"ckiR4Rh24jlPLuWf\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/player\/aidan-hutchinson-ckiR4Rh24jlPLuWf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Aidan Hutchinson<\/a> and (David) Ojabo had these hand signals for run\/pass, but we figured that was legit. It got us into the mindset that they were looking for tips and tells. That isn\u2019t a coincidence. We never would\u2019ve guessed it was this deep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the two coaches who ranked the seriousness 2 recently spent several years in the Big Ten as an assistant. He believes this type of advanced scouting goes on more than some might think, but probably not to the same degree.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of guys are coward-ing out, acting like they\u2019re at places that haven\u2019t done stuff that\u2019s also crossed the line,\u201d he said. \u201cMichigan just got caught.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One Big 12 head coach rated it 4 and took more of a big-picture view, lamenting how this situation is a byproduct of frustrating inaction in college football.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are wasting so much time and energy on this. We are employing individuals whose main jobs are to signal or steal signals,\u201d he said. \u201cThe technology is available. All these guys with different-colored shirts and these guys that have these boards up? It\u2019s just a bad look for our sport. We\u2019re always reactive in this sport. This is something we should\u2019ve handled on our own.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>What about repercussions?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15548834\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a complicated question but an easy answer for coaches. Ninety-four percent believe Michigan should be punished if there\u2019s proof of off-campus opponent scouting to steal signals. Most agreed it\u2019s a serious integrity issue for the Big Ten but struggled with determining a fitting punishment given a lack of recent precedent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think you should be fired for that stuff,\u201d one Conference USA head coach said. \u201cDoing stuff like that where you violate all the ethics of sportsmanship, that\u2019s horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Few coaches went that far, but several did say they believe a postseason ban should be on the table. \u201cEveryone is watching this,\u201d one Mountain West defensive coordinator said. \u201cA slap on the wrist and everyone will be doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In their view, the nature of the offense is more problematic and deserving of faster sanctions than typical recruiting violations \u2014 especially if there\u2019s proof that Stalions and his associates have attended and filmed games during the 2023 season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe coaches in the conference are going to try to use it and make an example of Michigan,\u201d one recent Big Ten assistant said. \u201cThat\u2019s the problem. It\u2019s the Big Ten and the Big Ten coaches that are saying \u2018eff that.\u2019 They\u2019re gonna plead to the Big Ten: \u2018I thought we\u2019re the conference of integrity, sportsmanship, class and academic excellence.\u2019 That\u2019s really what\u2019s gonna get \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another longtime Big Ten staffer sees an immediate postseason ban as the only reasonable response. The staffer argued that, regardless of how the College Football Playoff committee treats this situation, new Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti needs to step in for the good of the conference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re doing it \u2014 which they did \u2014 and you\u2019re caught \u2014 which they were \u2014 and it\u2019s explicitly against the rules \u2014 which it is \u2014 and everyone believes that to some degree it\u2019s a competitive advantage, then they shouldn\u2019t be able to play in the Big Ten title game,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Big Ten owes 13 other programs the competitive balance and owes it to them to protect the sanctity of the conference. If that many programs have confirmed that he bought tickets specifically under his name, they can\u2019t play in the Big Ten title game. There\u2019s no gray area. It\u2019s explicitly against the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Added one Power 5 head coach: \u201cI\u2019ll never understand how Jim Harbaugh does what he wants and nobody says anything. Michigan doesn\u2019t care. No one holds him accountable. These guys haven\u2019t held him accountable for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other coaches are less enthusiastic about handing down severe penalties if the Wolverines are indeed guilty of the alleged scheme. As one Sun Belt head coach put it, it wouldn\u2019t feel right to wreck the careers of everyone on staff based on \u201cone young dumb guy\u2019s decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Several coaches were skeptical that Harbaugh\u2019s players deserved to endure a postseason ban.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you punish the kids for it? What did they know?\u201d one Group of 5 general manager asked. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t imagine they were aware of this, to the extent of what was going on. They were just playing ball. That\u2019s why I always hate vacated games and bowl bans and punishing people that were not complicit. Why does <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"vM3US1AyEbkMeYiX\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/player\/jj-mccarthy-vM3US1AyEbkMeYiX\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">J.J. McCarthy<\/a> have to suffer for that?\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Does Jim Harbaugh have plausible deniability?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15549004\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>On the same day the Big Ten confirmed an NCAA investigation of Michigan was underway, Harbaugh issued a statement pledging full cooperation. He denied having any knowledge of illegal signal stealing and denied directing anyone to engage in off-campus scouting.<\/p>\n<p>Are his coaching peers buying it?<\/p>\n<p>Seventy percent of the coaches surveyed are not. Among the 13 head coaches polled, eight do not believe Harbaugh has plausible deniability. To them, a staffer whose official role is working in the recruiting department being so involved with Wolverines coordinators on the sidelines during the game is a red flag.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t believe (Harbaugh) organized or started it, but if some young guy comes up to me and says, \u2018I\u2019ve got all of their signals,\u2019 well, I\u2019m thinking, \u2018I know you did something that you shouldn\u2019t have,\u2019\u201d one Big Ten defensive coordinator said. \u201cThat\u2019s on the coordinators. And if I\u2019m the head coach and I\u2019m watching one of my recruiting analysts have a constant flow of information with my coordinators during a game, I\u2019m wondering what is going on there or I\u2019m an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Pac-12 quarterbacks coach agreed about the suspect optics. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look good. He\u2019s next to Jim Harbaugh and then the defensive coordinator (Jesse Minter) and then the offensive coordinator (Sherrone Moore). (For analysts) there are rules about what they can and can\u2019t do. They\u2019re just supposed to be charting and bringing energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHell no,\u201d said an analyst in the ACC. \u201cWho gets that close to a head coach who doesn\u2019t have access?\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Video from last year&#8217;s OSU vs Michigan game appears to show Connor Stalions who is at the center of the alleged sign stealing operation standing next to the UM defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n<p>See their pre-snap interaction:<\/p>\n<p>Here is better quality video and story <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aOX1HCRdmN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/t.co\/aOX1HCRdmN<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Q6nNYt2t9x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/Q6nNYt2t9x<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AdamKing10TV\/status\/1716843872267976805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">October 24, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Beyond that, these coaches understand the NCAA rules. Head coaches are presumed to be responsible for the actions and violations of all institutional staff members. \u201cThat\u2019s NCAA manual 101,\u201d one SEC assistant said. Harbaugh has already served a three-game <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4793709\/2023\/08\/21\/michigan-jim-harbaugh-suspension-discussions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">self-imposed suspension this season<\/a> for alleged recruiting violations, a factor in any argument that he promoted an atmosphere of compliance.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that Stalions is making $55,000 annually also adds to coaches\u2019 skepticism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho paid for this?\u201d wondered a Pac-12 head coach. \u201cThere\u2019s no way this kid paid for it out of his own pocket. You can\u2019t tell me Jim didn\u2019t know. This is the same guy whose answers to the recruiting thing (allegations stemming from the COVID-19 dead period) was to say, \u2018I don\u2019t remember.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One head coach in the Sun Belt conceded that it\u2019s conceivable that Harbaugh could\u2019ve been in the dark on the extent of Stalions\u2019 actions: \u201cThere\u2019s some stuff that goes on in my building that I\u2019m sure I don\u2019t know about. There are guys that I take information from where I don\u2019t know where they get all their information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Group of 5 offensive coordinator added, \u201cA lot of head coaches are clueless, and most of the time it\u2019s on purpose. But there is a very, very slim chance he didn\u2019t know. He\u2019s on the headset. You would be asking, \u2018So, how the hell does this guy know all this stuff?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Is Michigan\u2019s success since 2021 owed in part to illegal signal stealing?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15548800\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Michigan went 2-4 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Since then, the Wolverines have made a remarkable turnaround in going 30-3, thumping <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"191\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/ohio-state-buckeyes-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Ohio State<\/a> twice after losing eight in a row to their rival and winning two Big Ten titles to earn CFP bids.<\/p>\n<p>The details of Michigan\u2019s alleged signal-stealing scheme have a lot of people in the coaching world questioning whether it played a key role in that startling 180. Within the Big Ten, the Wolverines\u2019 knack for getting great intel on opponents was already on the radar of rival coaching staffs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think Michigan is really good at stealing your signals,\u201d a Big Ten running backs coach told <em>The Athletic<\/em> in 2022 on the eve of the Michigan-Ohio State game. \u201cThey got our stuff early and they got us on both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seventy-four percent believe illegal signal stealing has played a role in Michigan\u2019s rise. One coach pointed out that the Wolverines utilizing that intel to turn into a powerhouse again has also enabled them to recruit better, both with blue-chip high school recruits and transfers, now that the program is atop the Big Ten.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf this is all factually true, look at how their record changed since they started doing this,\u201d said an AAC head coach.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a hell of a coincidence, isn\u2019t it?\u201d said a Pac-12 quarterbacks coach with a chuckle.<\/p>\n<p>A Pac-12 head coach agreed and referenced Michigan\u2019s struggles in 2020, when the program endured losses to <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"190\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/michigan-state-spartans-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Michigan State<\/a>, <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"189\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/indiana-hoosiers-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Indiana<\/a>, <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"197\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/wisconsin-badgers-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Wisconsin<\/a> and <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"193\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/penn-state-nittany-lions-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Penn State<\/a>. \u201cThey had to beat <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"194\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/rutgers-scarlet-knights-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Rutgers<\/a> in overtime!\u201d he added. Since that season, the Wolverines are 24-1 in Big Ten play.<\/p>\n<p>A Sun Belt head coach believes the scheme was a \u201ctotal difference-maker\u201d and was a strong voice among the 74 percent. (Worth noting: In the Wolverines\u2019 past two games against the Buckeyes, they\u2019ve allowed an average of 25 points. In the previous two before 2021, they surrendered an average of 59 points per game.)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have the answers to the test,\u201d he said. \u201cDefense is all about anticipation, and then you take two steps in that direction. It\u2019s a way bigger benefit for a defense than an offense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among the 26 percent who gave the Wolverines the benefit of the doubt, many gave credit to their personnel, their physical style of play and their recent run of NFL Draft picks, with a combined 14 picks in the past two years, including three first-rounders and five defensive players selected in the first two rounds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou still have to have your 18- to 22-year-olds go out there and block people,\u201d said one Big 12 offensive assistant. \u201cAidan Hutchinson still ran right through the chest of that left tackle and murdered him.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>How many points would Michigan\u2019s alleged signal-stealing operation be worth in an average game?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 600px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15549102\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If Michigan\u2019s staff went into games with impeccable but impermissibly gathered information on its opponents\u2019 signals, just how valuable would that edge be? How can you quantify it? We asked coaches to attempt to put a number on it. Of those who ventured a guess, roughly half felt that the Wolverines\u2019 edge was somewhere in the range of 3 to 7 points. The other half believed calling it a one-score difference wasn\u2019t nearly enough.<\/p>\n<p>One Sun Belt head coach didn\u2019t hesitate to say it could easily be a 20-point difference. A Big 12 analyst thinks it\u2019s closer to a touchdown for the offense and another for the defense. It\u2019s easy for them to let their imagination run wild about how many perfect calls for either side turned into easy points. More explosive plays and efficiency on offense. More tackles for loss and third-down stops on defense. In Michigan\u2019s toughest games, it may have made a serious difference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can probably attribute that to a few points here and there in some big ones,\u201d one SEC assistant said.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the right people to ask, though, are those who are experienced signal stealers. One defensive assistant at a Big 12 school who specialized in legal signal stealing at a previous job insists the difference between hunting for hints in TV copy and having a full game of footage you\u2019ve filmed is massive. The coach believes it\u2019s worth several touchdowns on both offense and defense if Michigan had a reliable system in place to relay the intel to coordinators during games.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI mean, you\u2019re shooting fish in a barrel,\u201d the defensive coach said. \u201cIf I was able to do what Michigan was doing, that would be the difference between big-time winning and losing. If you filmed all the signals from a game, you\u2019d take that and put it into the film system and match up the play-by-play with what the opponent is running. And then, I mean, it\u2019s over. Having a steady film of the signals during a game would be mind-blowing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo me, it would be the same as going and filming somebody\u2019s practice. If I was on the Michigan staff and was part of that operation, I would be very uncomfortable using that info. To me, that\u2019s a big moral line in the sand that was crossed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Others were more skeptical. One former Big Ten assistant said he\u2019s coached in games where his staff had every signal and blitz call for an opponent and still lost. Some point to the likelihood that opponents \u2014 especially Big Ten foes who may have had suspicions about Michigan\u2019s tactics \u2014 made in-game adjustments to limit their exposure.<\/p>\n<p>The Wolverines\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4048070\/2022\/12\/31\/michigan-tcu-fiesta-bowl-result\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">last loss, in the CFP semifinal<\/a> against <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"187\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/team\/tcu-horned-frogs-college-football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">TCU<\/a> in the Fiesta Bowl, came against an opponent that had been warned ahead of time and knew to switch up its signals, sources said. Early in the game, the Horned Frogs used false \u201cdummy\u201d signals when calling plays. Quarterback <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"X9NmZKlH4smoCHbk\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/college-football\/player\/max-duggan-X9NmZKlH4smoCHbk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Max Duggan<\/a> would check to the sideline for signals that TCU was changing its play call. Except they weren\u2019t. The original call was still on. The TCU\u2019s staff\u2019s rationale: If Michigan got burned by its intel two or three times, Harbaugh and his coaches might stop listening to their signal stealer.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not that worked, TCU went on to score 51 against a team allowing 13.4 points per game.<\/p>\n<h2>Rank in-person scouting on a scale of 1 to 10<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 600px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15549017\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In the past, the act of paying recruits and players was considered among the worst rule-breaking in college football. Now that we\u2019ve entered the NIL era, what violations do coaches consider worse than in-person scouting? The average score was 7.4. It\u2019s no surprise, though, that this rates highly for many coaches who were genuinely shocked by the details of the Wolverines\u2019 scheme.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m trying to think of what else could be worse,\u201d another Conference USA coach said. \u201cIt\u2019s as low as you can go other than tampering (with players).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For several coaches, that was the first offense that came to mind. Another Group of 5 head coach said he considers Michigan\u2019s allegations a 6 relative to the far worse crime of tampering. \u201cThat\u2019s rampant,\u201d he said. \u201cCalling players on your roster and offering \u2019em deals to transfer? That\u2019s a 10.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other violations that coaches and staff members suggested would be worse than off-campus signal stealing include the mistreatment of players, hacking opponents\u2019 computer systems and point shaving and gambling on games.<\/p>\n<p>Two coaches interviewed offered a more specific allegation: coaches going into the locker room at halftime and watching film of the first half. That\u2019s not a gray area. The NCAA prohibits the use of any game film, TV footage or computers for coaching purposes during games.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know for a fact there are some head coaches that watch the film of the first half at halftime,\u201d one SEC staffer said. \u201cI would say it\u2019s honestly on the same level, if not worse.\u201d Both agreed that reviewing the tape provides a significant advantage for head coaches who call plays on offense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat front are they playing vs. this protection? How wide is the leverage? This guy has been cheating for the whole half, so we\u2019re gonna get a double move on him,\u201d another Group of 5 head coach said. \u201cThey know what they\u2019re looking for. That\u2019s a 10.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One Power 5 head coach said he isn\u2019t shocked to hear coaches watching tape at halftime occurs. As alleged details continue to emerge about the Wolverines\u2019 scouting scheme under Stalions, this coach can\u2019t help but wonder what else they were up to. In his experience, if you\u2019re willing to cross that line and go to those risky lengths to compete for a national championship, there\u2019s not much else you\u2019d consider off-limits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re doing that to win games, you\u2019re probably doing anything else to win games,\u201d he said. \u201cThink about that. There\u2019s a lot of other ways to live in the gray or break the rules to win games. If that\u2019s one you\u2019re doing, you know there\u2019s other stuff that\u2019s gonna come out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the opinion of one MAC head coach, it\u2019s not that serious. He called it a 5 based on his experience in the coaching business, saying, \u201cCollege football has a pretty sordid history.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Does your program have a staffer responsible for legal signal stealing?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15549076\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Since the NCAA\u2019s investigation into Michigan began, one claim many have made is signal stealing is a common practice that everybody is doing. Perhaps that\u2019s true, but only 17 coaches surveyed said their program has a staff member leading an effort to legally steal opponents\u2019 signals.<\/p>\n<p>Many more acknowledged they\u2019ll have graduate assistants or other low-level staffers watch TV copy during the week but said they are not seriously invested in the practice. Several head coaches surveyed said they view signal-stealing efforts as a waste of time and energy, with one adding that it would \u201cf\u2014 me up\u201d as a play caller if he tried to factor in that information.<\/p>\n<p>One AAC head coach believes most coaches are \u201cfanatical\u201d about breaking down TV copy, especially for changing their own signals that were on broadcasts. During his tenure, he has had two different signal-stealing experts on staff.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery school I\u2019ve been at, it\u2019s the same kind of guy,\u201d the coach said. \u201cThey\u2019re just extremely sharp. Photographic memories. Pretty much any offensive coordinator has done that at some point in their life, or they wouldn\u2019t have the IQ to be an OC.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Multiple assistant coaches surveyed acknowledge they have been tasked with signal stealing in the past and recognize that developing that skill helped them move up in the coaching business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the best way to add value for a nobody who doesn\u2019t coach,\u201d said one former signal stealer. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to get lost in the shuffle of off-field people. I wanted to provide a role and make myself valuable for coaching. You\u2019re trying to make yourself irreplaceable and build loyalty and trust with the people there to the point of finding a way to help your team win games.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Big 12 defensive assistant with a background in signal stealing said combing through TV copy for hours often felt like detective work. He and five other quality control coaches and GAs would spend the week on it and meet on Fridays to put together a plan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really enjoyed it,\u201d he said. \u201cLincoln Riley was the biggest puzzle I ever figured out. It took two years. He has so many signals, and he does it so fast. But once we got enough data on him, it all came together in an \u2018a ha!\u2019 moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Offensive signals were typically more difficult to decode, he said, but some offenses were easier if only one person \u2014 specifically the head coach or coordinator \u2014 did the signaling. The coach learned that legal signal stealing can provide an \u201cunbelievable\u201d advantage if a staff gets the right system in place and knows how to steal them live during games.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere were a couple games defensively where it absolutely won us a game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Do you want coach-to-player communication technology?<\/h2>\n<p><iframe class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/15549086\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Michigan investigation is occurring at the same time that coach-to-player communication technology is in the works for college football. A trial run is expected for non-CFP <a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4991729\/2023\/10\/23\/college-football-player-communication-rules-bowls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">bowl games at the end of the season<\/a>, though few details are known on whether coaches can expect <a class=\"ath_autolink\" data-id=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/nfl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">NFL<\/a>-style in-helmet communication or wristband technology similar to what\u2019s used in college baseball.<\/p>\n<p>Among the coaches surveyed, 84 percent said they\u2019d be in favor of that innovation. Some said they\u2019ve been advocating for it for years. They\u2019re tired of having to create and maintain these complex systems of signalers, signs, boards and curtains for play calling. Even the former signal stealers surveyed said they\u2019d welcome change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think in-helmet communication would level the playing field and save a lot of time,\u201d the Big 12 defensive assistant said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy haven\u2019t we done this? There are obviously some powerful programs out there that don\u2019t want it,\u201d an ACC offensive coordinator said. \u201cIf you put earpieces in the helmets, you\u2019ve gotta coach football and you\u2019ve gotta coach technique. You don\u2019t know the screen is coming. You don\u2019t know what run is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among the Group of 5 coaches, 14 of 19 surveyed supported coach-to-player communication technology while acknowledging that change could present challenges. One head coach questioned whether his conference peers would be willing to pay for it. Another anticipated it would be a budgetary strain if the communication systems require stadium infrastructure upgrades.<\/p>\n<p>Offensive coaches who voted no are concerned about whether these systems would actually help. If you\u2019re running a fast-tempo offense and don\u2019t huddle, the play would still need to be signaled to the rest of the offensive players. Defensive coaches who voted no prefer having the ability to make last-second, pre-snap changes. For both sides, rolling out this technology next season would prompt some interesting adjustments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith how fast we play, the headset can get kinda crazy at times,\u201d one SEC offensive coach said. \u201cHow much do you expose the quarterback to that? I feel like our last quarterback would\u2019ve been like, \u2018Shut up and let me think.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Coaches generally agreed that an effective communication system would help solve some of the problems presented by Michigan\u2019s signal-stealing operation. But they\u2019re not na\u00efve enough to believe it\u2019s going to provide a perfect cure for cheating. Not in this sport.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA good signal-stealing operation is just an adaptation to the rules,\u201d an SEC staffer said. \u201cAs the rules change, there will be further adaptation. They\u2019ll find ways to just push it out of bounds again. People who are committed to toeing the line or crossing it, they\u2019re gonna do it no matter what the rules are.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>More on the Michigan investigation<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton \/ <\/em>The Athletic<em>; Gregory Shamus, Jamie Squire \/Getty \/iStock)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script>!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n        {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n        n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n        if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n        n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n        t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n        s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n        'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n        fbq('init', '207679059578897');\n        fbq('track', 'PageView');<\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/5013443\/2023\/11\/01\/college-football-coaches-thoughts-sign-stealing-michigan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The story that college football fans can&rsquo;t seem to get enough of is one that coaches all around the country can&rsquo;t stop<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/94-of-college-football-coaches-say-michigan-crossed-a-line-what-else-do-they-say-about-sign-stealing\/01\/11\/2023\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[213],"tags":[2641,1127,2643,313,769,2642,2644],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4108"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4110,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4108\/revisions\/4110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}