Michigan 41, Purdue 13

[Tom W]

You're just figuring out that "scouting" by your opponents is going on? FFS, Walters, you're an idiot! And add to that dumb statement you're just now figuring out that you might have to "teach players new signs?" Harbaugh is going to have a very good idea what you are going to do in this game from analyzing film, match-ups and calling his plays based just on that alone.

Like "no shit". That's how EVERY competition plays itself out. When Ford comes out with a new car, you can be certain that GM, Toyota, Honda etc will go out and buy one, tear it down and let their engineers study it. Then you apply what you learn to how you make your product. The same logic goes into every commodity from TV shows to who you lie down next to.

"Studying film" is widely accepted as a stout way to improve one's competitiveness. Peyton Manning was a huge champion of the practice. It's effective- because you get to see how your competition acts and reacts under certain circumstances. An astute analyst can pretty much figure out how their opponents think. It's a much more effective technique than "stealing signs". Analogy to poker, where the real money is won by outsmarting your opponent in spite of what cards they have.

This is all pretty basic stuff- because that's how EVERYTHING works.

How is it that this very definition of "Competition" has somehow gotten lost by accusation of "dirty cheaters"? Especially so from the archrivals, who have long boasted about having a coach on staff whose job is "Exclusively Michigan"? What the hell does this guy do all day that doesn't classify as "cheating" and how did he NOT realize that "gee, they might be reading our signs"? Maybe he did, because that would be doing his job. So then, why did they not keep changing their signs? .

Yet, the pettiness continues. Sure, we expect that from losers like sparty and the lesser competitors in the conference. Sadly, PSU is among them- because they're still upset that they haven't been completely exonerated from Sandusky. We get it.

But ohio? Seriously? You are the Evil Empire. By late November, you've always got WAAAY more information on Michigan than some DB in the stands can gather. There are no excuses. Stop acting like candyass winers.

[THE_WIZARD_]

...everyone does it...nothing to see here...every school has a Connor Stalion...

[Jeff Buchanan]

Great post, Tom. I find it hilarious that talent and froot and to a lesser extent Wiz (talents lab dog) have followed the sheeple tricked by lies and innuendo regarding M endeavoring to learn an opponent's sideline play calling signs.

It's fucking "competition" and our rivals are pissed off about that. JFC. It's become clear that sign stealing is just one component in a tool box for gaining an edge - and, according to experts - sign stealing contributes little to the objective compared to analysis, film study and knowing the players and match ups you'll be facing. Let me reiterate - a small component. In this case the outrage of our rivals who post here is palpable outsizing the impact of knowing an opponents signs on a game's outcome.

[Tom W]

...everyone does it...nothing to see here...every school has a Connor Stalion...

Sure, everybody wants to be competitive. Unfortunately, too many of them are too stupid, or too soft, to actually BE competitive.

[THE_WIZARD_]

You cheated. You got caught. That is smart?

[Tom W]

It's smarter than being an idiot that believes everything that ESPN tells you, accepts guilt before due process and constantly retyping your stupidity as if you think it makes a difference.

[THE_WIZARD_]

I don't watch ESPN and haven't in years. But nice try. ESPN probably has an axe to grind with the B1G and M...so I don't put any credence in what ESPN has to say...they stopped being reputable years ago. Their are a lot of credible sources outside of ESPN...in case you were unaware...

[Jeff Buchanan]

I've noticed both talent and Wiz mindlessly agree with each other thinking doing that makes both of these wretches look smart.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Talent has been mimicking me for awhile now. Imitation is flattery as you know.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I don't watch ESPN and haven't in years. But nice try. ESPN probably has an axe to grind with the B1G and M...so I don't put any credence in what ESPN has to say...they stopped being reputable years ago. Their are a lot of credible sources outside of ESPN...in case you were unaware...

That's remarkably fair. However, there are near zero "reputable sources" reporting on sign gate. To put this in terms you'll understand, sources reporting Trump news, in your view, are all just involved in a witch hunt. There's a similarity between Trump news and Harbaugh news - witch hunts.

[Tom W]

Due process.. Bring those "credible" sources to back up their claims and see where it goes from there. They had best be right, because if they pass judgment prematurely (as you seem to be among those lathered up to do so), and end up being wrong, then there's going to be hell to pay. Spoiling an opportunity for a member of this conference to win a Natty, under false pretenses, will have consequences.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Oh, there's a plan to do that. This shit didn't just coincidentally happen as Harbaugh leads M football to a Natty. That's going to come out at some point. Brings a new dimension to the M/osu rivalry and The Game.

[THE_WIZARD_]

This is not a court of law. There is no due process with the NCAA or the B1G for that matter. I'd just as soon see this settled now so if punishment...whatever that is...is done now and over with. But unfortunately that isn't how the toothless and inept NCAA works. So wrt the NCAA this will drag out and be a joke. An admission by M on what really happened and then a commitment by the NCAA\Conferences to clean this area up with radios in helmets. But you continuing to deny that this is a something burger is laughable.

[Tom W]

Oh, there's a plan to do that. This shit didn't just coincidentally happen as Harbaugh leads M football to a Natty. That's going to come out at some point. Brings a new dimension to the M/osu rivalry and The Game.

Right. But it goes WAY beyond that. If it turns out that the BG10 is going to carry Michigan to the chopping block and heads end up rolling- whether or not they "cheated" according to the NCAA rules, then I'll seriously consider saluting CFB with a pair of middle fingers as I leave. Why would I, or any of the other (probably in the hundreds of thousands) of Michigan fans out there want to waste their energy, time and money on this?

[Jeff Buchanan]

Walter's defense, I learned today, is patterned after Don Brown's. When Brown was the DC, that defense didn't work for M v. osu and it didn't work for Purdue v. osu either. It's very blitzy - like just about every play there are 5 or more rushers. 6 and 7 guys coming isn't all that rare. The back end is pure C1 man and the single S plays miles from the LoS. The problem for Purdue is that their corners are just guys. They can be beat. The corners tend to give receivers a lot cushion. Purdue's goal will be to harass JJ with pressure hoping he can't get the ball out quickly - thinking that is probably a big mistake. There's little innovative shifting, just a lot of pressure up front. McCord had a good game (1 strip sack though) against this approach by Walters. Purdue will drop LBs inot coverage on obvious passing downs. That is going to produce very bad match-ups with M's receivers. There's a lot of film at mgo highlighting how open osu receivers were given these match-ups. JJ should do well and there's no indication that Purdue can defend well if JJ pulls it and runs.