I don’t have the time to do a detailed breakdown of this, but I want to put a marker here regarding what is going on. I’ve followed the story closely and in detail the past two weeks. Many people do not realize this goes far beyond the sign stealing because they are only getting their updates from the MSM.
(Full disclosure: I am a graduate of Michigan State University.)
I want to note this thought: This is way bigger than UM and even the Big Ten (B1G). Something else is in play here and driving this. Knowing how pervasive the corruption is in the state of Michigan (including Konnech) and how compromised so many state leaders are, it would make sense this corruption and blackmail extends to UM. The fanboy actions of the UM president (Santa Ono) alone are mind-boggling.
It also seems to me this is tracking in similar ways to the exposure of the deep state nationally (and world-wide). Data collection done slowly and methodically. Slow reveal to allow people to adjust to what is being shown.
Here are some markers off the top of my head. Over time we’ll see how these play out.
This official Big Ten Conference statement document (PDF will open) is a detailed overview from the Big Ten Commissioner and the reason why I don’t think this is going away for UM.
The B1G and NCAA are working together. The NCAA is fast-tracking this (and they are constantly ridiculed for taking years to deal with any cheating issues). The NCAA knows FAR MORE than anyone realizes and it appears this investigation was happening many months before it hit the mainstream. From the document above:
As discussed above, the Conference’s investigation began when the NCAA’s President took the extraordinary step of notifying the Conference and the University of its active investigation expressly because of the unprecedented scope of the impermissible scheme and the significant impact it could have on competition this season. The NCAA has also communicated to the Conference that it knows and can prove that the impermissible scheme occurred, and the evidence it has provided to the Conference and the University supports that statement.
Whatever is going on is so bad that B1G teams were warned in advance and given the option of opting out of their games against UM the past few weeks.
The FBI is involved.
The B1G has apparently engaged the services of a significant law firm (Sidley). (I saw this reliably discussed, but don’t have a link for confirmation.)
The firm has built a reputation for successfully representing clients in more than 70 countries on complex transactional, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters spanning a range of legal areas.
Why can’t they simply use their own lawyers? The B1G must have excellent lawyers, but they aren’t enough for this case?
It is likely the IRS may be involved, but that has not been expressly stated as it was with the FBI.
The new B1G commissioner made it clear in his lengthy statement released on Friday that he’s not playing favorites with Michigan over the other 13 teams (13 now with 4 more coming from PAC 10).
Central Michigan University is cooperating with the investigation and will not be making any more public statements.
The UM president has made his full support known for the cheating football program.
LLCs were apparently set up to launder money through. Some of them apparently include vacuum cleaners, but I didn’t have time to follow that story. One of the players (Corum) is apparently part owner of one of the LLCs. He denies knowing about it so either he is lying or people connected with UM put his name on the LLC without his knowledge. Either way, it is bad. If it is true that Corum knew, he was ineligible to play and every game he played in would need to be forfeited.
A staff member’s computer was seized and he was dismissed when the worst kind of material involving children was found on his computer. This was in the news.
Another staff member was caught meeting an under-aged girl (15) with alcohol and knew she was under-aged. This was in the news.
It is alleged that UM coaches and/or staff accessed practice video from Ohio State in the cloud. This story hasn’t fully developed yet.
The B1G commissioner has met numerous times with the presidents of the B1G universities over the past week, even skipping an important national meeting last week to stay in Chicago with them.
UM’s dismissal from the B1G may be on the table given the scope of what is involved. I refer you back to my previous comment about the slow reveal to allow people to digest what is happening. If – and I’m saying IF – you are planning to take significant actions against a large university, you need to make sure you have every bit of info correct and people can see it coming. This is what makes the statements of the UM president so bizarre. He isn’t acting like the leader of an academic institution. It’s like he has totally thrown in with the football program at the expense of everything else. It makes no sense that he isn’t doing massive damage control on behalf of the rest of the university.
UM is well-practiced at playing the victim card, bullying, and getting their way. They have done it for their entire existence. They will continue to play the victim and deny anyone else has suffered due to their choices.
The cheating and law-breaking appears to be so egregious that it seems all of the B1G is united against UM – head coaches, university presidents, fans, etc. I don’t see anyone other than bought-and-paid-for lackeys in the media supporting UM in any significant way.
This cheating scandal has impacted other conferences, coaches, players, etc. For every “success” UM had (team, players, coaches), others were robbed of bowl games, draft rankings, coaching bonuses, coaching jobs, injuries, etc. Once you start unraveling this, UM has apparently been robbing a significant portion of college football the past three years (at least).
I’m sure I’ve forgotten things and this story will pick up as there is some kind of hearing on Friday.
If you are following this story, feel free to add updates to the comments.
At this point, it would be surprising if this scandal wasn’t connected to other people and events in a variety of ridiculous ways.
The story about Dana Nessel being drunk at a U of M vs. MSU game comes to mind:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigans-ag-got-drunk-football-game-wrote-facebook-rcna5207
Saw this today and don’t want to lose it. It deserves its own post, but this will have to do for now.
THEY ARE SO CORRUPT.
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The Eleven Warriors had this informative post. Feel it’s often good to regroup and remember how we got here:
Nov 2020 – Michigan finishes a dreadful 2-4 season. Harbaugh is 29-16 in his last 4 seasons, including a career 0-5 against Ohio State and no B1G titles. Their last 3 recruiting classes are ranked 13th, 10th and 22nd. Several people call for his firing.
Jan 2021 – Harbaugh signs a new contract extension in which he takes a 50% pay cut and is very incentive heavy.
Feb/March 2021 – Harbaugh Covid recruiting violations occur. Begins as a Level II violation but eventually becomes a Level I because he lies to the NCAA
2021 season – Stallions has been on staff for 6 years as a voluntary staffer. At an unknown time he is designated as their “legal sign stealer”.
Nov 2021 – Michigan defeats Ohio State for the first time since 2011.
March 2022 – Stallions officially is hired on UM’s staff making $55k a year.
Oct 1 2022 – Harbaugh gives the game ball to Stallions after a win over Iowa.
Dec 31 2022 – TCU staff is informed that Michigan regularly steals signs, so they change up their signals, and pull off a big upset win over undefeated UM.
Jan 2023 – OC Matt Weiss fired for unauthorized computer access crimes. The FBI investigates him. Crimes involved him accessing Cloud photos of female students.
Jan 2023 – Around this time, Michigan brass learns of the Stallions operation because of a 3rd party investigation. They start their own investigation but never self report and go into the 2023 season with the scheme still in operation (per PD).
Aug 2023 (approx) – A mole within the Michigan program reaches out to an investigative firm about the scandal. They begin an investigation
Aug 2023 – Moore suspended for season opener for the Covid recruiting violations
Aug 2023 – Harbaugh suspended for 3 games for the recruiting violations.
Aug-Sept 2023 – At some point during this timeframe, a lower level staffer is instructed by Stallions to in person scout Georgia, a potential playoff opponent. He objects to LB coach Chris Partridge that he doesn’t want to do it. Partridge acknowledges scheme’s existence, and tells him to do another assignment.
Sept 1 2023 – Stallions is on the sideline of Michigan State vs CMU in disguise.
Approx Sept 2023 – RB Coach Mike Hart is alerted by a Rutgers staff member of Stallions scheme and it going beyond legal measures. Hart confronts Minter about it but the meeting does not go well.
Oct 2023 – 3rd party firm completes investigation, and gives evidence to the NCAA who starts their own investigation. NCAA takes unprecedented step to alert the B1G and share evidence.
Oct 19 2023 – The sign stealing story breaks in the media. Sherrone Moore deletes 50+ texts with Stallions. Stallions instructs staffers to delete video and email evidence. He takes hard drives out of the facility. He gives a player a sheet containing signals to hold on to.
Oct 20 2023 – Michigan puts Stallions on leave.
Oct 2023 – In various stories, it is reported that Stallions had purchased tickets to dozens of games of Michigan opponents – including Ohio State/Penn State on Oct 21. Those tickets go unused however, after the story breaks.
Nov 2023 – Stallions resigns. Refuses to cooperate with NCAA investigation.
Nov 2023 – Staffer Alex Yood fired for trying to meet with a 13 year old girl. The incident happens in Sept but becomes public in Nov.
Nov 2023 – It is reported in the media that “Uncle T” funded the Stallions operation. Uncle T is rumored to be booster Tim Smith – who is at the same time dismissed from the UM NIL group the Champions Circle.
Nov 2023 – The B1G suspends Harbaugh for 3 games, although allows him to coach during the week. Michigan files a restraining order, and message board warriors write amicus briefs. Michigan ultimately drops their challenge days later.
Nov 2023 – LB Coach Chris Partridge fired for telling players how to answer NCAA investigators questions.
Jan 2024 – In the last 3 seasons, Michigan goes 40-3, with 3 B1G titles and a national title.
Winter 2023/2024 – Harbaugh refuses to cooperate with NCAA investigation.
Jan 2024 – Harbaugh negotiates a new contract with Michigan while contemplating a move to the Chargers. In negotiation, he seeks full immunity from NCAA investigations. At first Michigan does not grant but eventually concedes. Harbaugh leaves anyway.
Jan 2024 – Mike Hart doesn’t attend national title parade
Jan 2024 – Sherrone Moore hired has head coach
March 2024 – Newly hired DL Coach Greg Scruggs is arrested for DUI. He is suspended and resigns
March 2024 – Mike Hart leaves program
April 2024 – AD of player personnel Denard Robinson is arrested for DUI. He is suspended and then fired one month later.
Summer 2024 – Negotiated settlement talks between Michigan and NCAA fails.
July 2024 – CMU fires QB Coach Jake Kostner.
Aug 2024 – The NCAA gives Harbaugh a 1 year suspension and 4 year show cause due to the Covid recruiting violations.
Aug 2024 – Michigan receives NOA for the Stallions scandal, including 6 Level I violations as well as other recruiting violations.
Aug 2024 – After not cooperating with the NCAA, Stallions appears in Netflix documentary discussing the sign stealing operation. He denies wrongdoing. Dave Portnoy states Stallions told him he was at the MSU/CMU game
Nov 2024 – NOA is amended and extension on response granted.
Dec 2024 – A party involved reaches a negotiated settlement.
Jan 2025 – Michigan sends response to NOA to NCAA
Feb 2025 – Another individual party reaches negotiated settlement
If there is any justice in the world, the University of Michigan should get the death penalty for a few years as well as intensive monitoring for multiple years.
However, I live in Realityville so I’ve tempered my expectations.
The fact that the NCAA is only giving UM the report a few hours in advance tells me they are cutting off UM’s ability to get out in front of things with their media spinning.