THE Michigan The sign-stealing scandal dominated discussions around college football this week, with a number of high-level coaches react and propose ideas to thwart similar projects.
While the alleged scheme concocted by Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, this certainly seems out of place, many people in college football have acknowledged that in-game sign stealing is the norm. According to U.S.C. Coach Lincoln Riley, a program that is particularly good in this area is one of his Pac-12 foes: Utah.
During last weekend’s USC-Utah game, a 34-32 victory for the Utes in Los Angeles, Riley was seen sending signals to quarterback Caleb Williams. behind a screen.
Asked Thursday about the use of the screen, Riley said it was not a reaction to the Michigan story. Instead, he said Utah is “an opponent we’ve played many times, an opponent we know and does a good job of trying to pick up signals.” by Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times.
“This sort of thing has been going on forever,” he added. by All Utes.
USC coach Lincoln Riley says Utah is adept at sign stealing, a hot topic in college football amid the Michigan scandal. In-game sign stealing is not prohibited by the NCAA.
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Stealing signs during a game is not prohibited by the NCAA. The situation in Michigan, which is now under investigation by the organization, differs in that Stalions is accused of administering a system to use electronic equipment to record the sidelines of potential future opponents from the stands during other matches in an attempt to decipher their signals .
Riley has good reason to be wary of allowing the Utes to take a lead in a game, as he holds an 0-3 record against Kyle Whittingham’s program.
