ANN ARBOR, Michigan. – According to reports, University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh was not involved in the NCAA’s alleged sign-stealing scandal.
On Monday, November 6, Yahoo Sports reported that the NCAA’s findings did not link Harbaugh to the in-person reconnaissance and recording of opponents allegedly carried out by former recruiting analyst Connor Stalions.
The league plans to suspend Harbaugh for several games during the November season, but reports have indicated that the NCAA’s findings require more evidence, which could lead to a potential lawsuit from the university if a Severe discipline had to be imposed.
Thanks to the league survey, Stalions informed the university Friday, Nov. 3, afternoon that he would be leaving his position on the football team..
“Connor Stalions resigned from his position with Michigan Athletics this afternoon. We are unable to comment further on this personnel matter.
David Ablauf, Associate Athletic Director, University of Michigan Athletic Department
Stalions and his lawyer explained the reasons for his resignation as he said he did not want to be a distraction.
“As he informed the school earlier today, Connor chose to resign because recent stories regarding his time at the University of Michigan created a distraction for the team,” the attorney said Brad Beckworth. “He hopes his resignation will help the team and coaching staff focus on tomorrow’s game and the rest of the season. Connor also wants to clarify that to his knowledge, neither Coach Harbaugh, nor any other coach or staff member, told anyone to break the rules or was aware of any inappropriate conduct regarding recent allegations of advanced screening.
Other news was published Monday by the Associated Press that a former employee of a Big Ten school said it was his job to steal signs and that he received details from multiple league sources to compile a spreadsheet of play-calling signals used by the Wolverines during the 2022 season.
The person involved in the ordeal said he shared the spreadsheet and screenshots of the text message exchanges with staff at other Big Ten schools.
Harbaugh denied knowledge of the alleged plan to steal signs from future opponents during scouting trips to out-of-town games and told reporters he would cooperate with their investigation.
The Wolverines (9-0) are coming off a 41-13 drubbing of the Purdue Boilermakers in a game that was the rematch of the 2022 Big Ten Championship.
The Corn Men are now entering the toughest part of their schedule as they have three difficult games preventing them from achieving their goals.
Their Week 11 matchup will take place in Happy Valley as they take on the No. 11 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
The match, which begins at noon on Saturday, will be their first match against a ranked opponent during the 2023 season.
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