On a Thursday call, Big Ten athletic directors expressed their concerns to conference commissioner Tony Petitti regarding the ongoing sign-stealing controversy involving the Wolverines.
The Big Ten is experiencing discontent as undefeated Michigan makes its return to action on Saturday after a week-long break. Many are unhappy with the conference’s decision to remain inactive and publicly silent regarding the signal-stealing controversy involving the Wolverines.
On a Thursday afternoon, a virtual meeting of league athletic directors was held, which extended into the early evening in the Eastern time zone. This meeting included all four incoming Pac-12 schools and was led by commissioner Tony Petitti. The meeting lasted for more than 90 minutes. According to sources, Sports Illustrated reported that the conference’s football coaches had a sometimes-heated conversation with Petitti on Wednesday night. During the call, the coaches expressed their frustration about what they perceive as a lack of action regarding Michigan’s alleged violations. These transgressions were mostly aimed at gaining an unfair edge over other Big Ten schools. According to sources, Petitti’s presence in Ann Arbor for the Big Ten field hockey championships this weekend might allow for a direct conversation with Michigan officials regarding the matter. A further call with the coaches is anticipated in the upcoming days.
According to a source familiar with the AD call, Petitti’s challenging situation was acknowledged, and he received recognition for actively listening to both the coaches and athletic directors. The conference office was sought after by most ADs on the call, as they were eager to see some action.
According to a reliable source briefed on the call, the Big Ten should take action. In my opinion, this matter can be attributed to a question of values and character. I appreciate the values and the essence of the Big Ten, given the immense scope of these supposed actions. This phenomenon is visible to all of us. The situation is rapidly deteriorating with each passing day. In my perspective, Tony is about to face his initial test of leadership, and I truly believe he will excel in this situation.
Petitti is under increasing pressure to take action in anticipation of the outcomes from a potentially lengthy NCAA investigation.
The biggest concern looming over the entire league is the specific nature and timing of the action to be taken. There was not much enthusiasm for imposing a fine, as it would resemble the disciplinary system of the NFL more. Certain members of the Athletic Directors (ADs) on the call expressed their willingness to prohibit Michigan from participating in the Big Ten championship game entirely. There are those who argue that if there is concrete video proof connecting recruiting analyst Connor Stalions to the coordinators, it would be fitting to suspend Harbaugh and possibly his coordinators.
The notion behind a suspension is to compel Michigan to modify its operations, much like how the investigation on sign stealing has compelled Big Ten schools to do the same. Michigan State’s quarterback, Katin Hauser, was sent to the sidelines during their October game to receive the playcall through verbal communication. During the recent match against the Wolverines, our team employed a clever strategy in response to their proficiency in stealing signs during gameplay. This season, Michigan has already had multiple assistant coaches stepping in as head coach. During Michigan’s first three games, four assistants took turns fulfilling their responsibilities as a result of Harbaugh’s self-imposed suspension. This action was taken due to a distinct NCAA investigation into recruiting violations.
According to sources, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel was absent from the call on Thursday. Football coach Jim Harbaugh joined the coaches’ call on Wednesday, but soon after, he respectfully left to allow the rest of the league to express their thoughts.
As the Wolverines under Harbaugh continue their journey towards a potential third consecutive College Football Playoff bid, they find themselves confronted by the shadow cast by an ongoing NCAA investigation into an alleged plot involving prohibited in-person scouting of their upcoming rivals. According to sources, Stalions orchestrated the operation, dispatching associates to numerous games in the 2022 and ’23 seasons. Their mission was to record opponents’ play signals, providing Michigan with valuable information to decode. On October, Stalions was put on suspension with pay by Michigan. Twenty days after the NCAA notified the Big Ten of receiving information regarding the scheme, two days passed.
It will likely take several months for the NCAA investigative process to reach a conclusion. Consequently, if there is any intervention that could have an impact on Michigan’s performance this season, it would have to come from either the Big Ten or the CFP. When its inaugural rankings for the season were unveiled on Tuesday, the latter group announced their decision to remain impartial and not intervene. Selection committee chairman, Boo Corrigan, stated that it is an issue concerning the NCAA. The absence of any CFP concern lies in the fact that the Big Ten, up until now, has displayed no indication of obstructing a likely playoff opportunity for one of its prominent programs.
When queried about why some athletic directors might be against banning Michigan from the conference championship game, an administrator at a Big Ten school enthusiastically remarked, “The additional couple of million dollars we earn by having two teams in the CFP is incredibly attractive!”
Despite the Wolverines’ alleged rule-breaking becoming apparent at warp speed, frustration is mounting around the conference due to the sluggish pace of the investigatory process. According to a former Big Ten coach, it is a well-established fact that the NCAA is incompetent. It has become evident that both the Big Ten and the [Playoff] committee lack courage. There is also a suggestion from a source for Petitti to take responsibility, particularly with the anticipation of four new participants arriving. When a victory is certain, it becomes easier to adopt an administrative hardline approach. Petitti runs the risk of having his knees taken out from under him if things don’t go well, all before completing his first year on the job.
The level of Michigan’s excellence depends greatly on the level of urgency in the given situation. On Thursday afternoon, a Big Ten administrator voiced their perspective, stressing that Ohio State has the power to resolve all of this. Will all of it go away if Ohio State beats them in a few weeks? I mean, let’s be real, if Penn State beats them it really goes away.
The game between the Wolverines and Penn State is scheduled for November.
The text describes a situation where there is a desire for a definite decision from the league before an upcoming game is played. One source believes it would be logical to receive clarity from the league beforehand, while another anticipates a swift response. However, during the call, Petitti did not provide any information regarding the timing of a possible decision.
