After five months of silence, Michigan finally responded to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations (NOA) related to their illegal sign-stealing operation. Here are five noteworthy points from their response that caught my attention.
A Familiar Whistleblower
The tip-off that led to the NCAA’s investigation came from an unexpected source someone who once worked for Michigan. Contrary to the conspiracy theories pushed by many Michigan supporters, it wasn’t Ohio State’s Ryan Day or his brother involved. The revelation that it was an insider has shocked many in the Wolverine fanbase, who were quick to embrace unfounded theories. What’s more curious is Michigan’s demand for the NCAA to reveal the whistleblower’s identity, despite the fact that the NCAA isn’t obligated to disclose such details, as they aren’t operating like a court of law.
A Familiar Ally in the Media
The response to the NOA was partially leaked to Yahoo! Sports, a media outlet that has shown considerable sympathy toward Michigan throughout the scandal. It’s no surprise that only the most favorable parts of the university’s response were shared, clearly intended to rally the fanbase and influence public opinion.
The Mastermind and His Deletions
One of the most eyebrow-raising moments involves Michigan’s offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore, who deleted 52 text messages from Connor Stalions, the alleged mastermind of the sign-stealing operation, on the very day the scandal broke. Moore claimed he wasn’t hiding anything, just angry at Stalions. However, this excuse might not hold up to scrutiny most people would likely see it as an unbelievable defense, and the NCAA isn’t likely to buy it.
The No Big Deal Defense
Perhaps the most absurd claim in Michigan response is their assertion that knowing an opponent’s signals didn’t provide much of an advantage. Anyone with even a basic understanding of football knows that having access to your opponent’s playbook is a massive edge. It removes the need for pre-snap reads and allows defenders to react instantly, giving Michigan an undeniable advantage. To downplay it this way is simply ludicrous.
Spinning the Situation
Michigan is clearly trying to downplay the severity of the situation. With six Level I violations among the most serious NCAA infractions on the table, the university is trying to minimize the damage. They’re also facing the possibility of being classified as a repeat offender due to previous recruiting violations, which would result in even harsher penalties. Michigan’s refusal to settle the matter and move forward means they’ll face a hearing before the Division I Committee on Infractions. The outcome is still far from certain, and the situation could get much worse for them.
As the situation unfolds, we are left waiting to see what sanctions, if any, will be imposed on Michigan and whether the NCAA will take a strong stance in addressing the severity of the situation.
