Around the Big Ten

[lineygoblue]

We'd be banned from any/all other schools chat boards. Guaranteed.

Back long ago, I went in on "bucknuts" and posted one time saying something supportive of Michigan.

I was immediately banned, and one of the hosts PM'd me and said, "We don't want you here"

Broke my heart.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Awwwwww

[Niffla]

I think the thing being blown out of proportion is probably because of Harbaugh. He draws Trump like attention on anything. But to have the main perpetrator being a former military captain named Connor Stalions is ratings gold. Every leak of news is a WTF moment. You can't even digest the Michigan Manifesto news fully before the WP enters the chat and drops a bomb that leads to more questions. This is like a Grisham book.

😂😂😂 yeah I can't disagree with any of this

[Niffla]

With the literal BILLIONS that CFB is worth nowadays, to think that a low level staffer on a salary less than what I made, was able to put together an entire espionage network of people all over the country, armed with smart phones, and went to Michigan's future opponents, bought expensive tickets, and stole the signals that caused Michigan to win so many games .. I mean, if anything, its just freaking amazing. To think that this is all it took to pull Michigan out of the giant pile of SUCK that they were in, and make them challengers for the NC for the last 3 seasons, is nothing short of amazing. Like Mike, I agree, .. why didn't we do this sooner? The "embarrassment" of the moment will soon fade, and the rewards will follow, just like they have in other places. I'm more excited about Michigan football than I've been in a long time. I applaud the creativeness and cleverness of this situation. Standing ovation from me. Go Blue!

[THE_WIZARD_]

So basically...it's Trump's fault...

[froot loops]

We don't have all the information yet, but so far it doesn't appear that Trump is involved with this conspiracy. But the night is young.

[Tom W]

Right- plenty of time for Trump to drop 49 of his own bombs on sparty.

[THE_WIZARD_]

The sass is getting better...

[Jeff Buchanan]

This post really has more to due with M's team 144 in 2023 but I'm posting it hear to get the widest possible response from M's rivals some of whom have made it their policy to not post sass in the two threads that are strictly about M football.

I've been following the Spy Gate stuff from afar - I'm in Greece. But I've read enough in support of the allegations or, OTH, showing how stupid this operation was and that it was unlikely to be an effort launched and funded by M football principals. The arguments and factual, vetted, evidence for both sides of the alleged rule breaking operate at some level of probability of being right depending on the program allegiance of the person(s) offering an argument for or against alleged M cheating. There is way more speculation and hawt takes than there is factual evidence one way or the other. Most of the positions being taken, either way, are weak but because of the impact of social media to augment them in an echo chamber of support or denial they take on a life of their own.

Because I'm biased, you'd expect me to say those arguing that M has been engaged in a massive operation of signal stealing are FOS. TBH, I don't know if this is correct or if it is incorrect. What I do know is that posters/sports writers who have taken strong positions arguing that M cheated and should be punished by the NCAA or the Big are going to eat a giant bowl of dick if all of this is proven to be a well organized and planned hit job on Jim Harbaugh. There are people out there that have emerged as having axes to grind and have motive to take JH down.

[iam416]

The idea that this is a hit job on on HARBAUGH!!! is fucking ludicrous.

The facts and evidence on Staliion’s operation are significant. It’s brazen cheating. There isn’t a second choice. It is.

It is blindingly obvious that M used Stalions including against OSU. So, M unequivocally broke the rules and used the results of that rule-breaking in games. This really is beyond dispute. If you wanna dispute it and burn your credibility to the ground the knock yourself the fuck out.

Whether you can directly tie that to HARBAUGH!!! is, at least, debatable. As of now, it’s circumstantial and inference-based. I happen to think the inference ms are obvious (like, you’re going to trust this guy for calls without vetting how he knows?).

The best counter-argument is the one Mike makes which is it didn’t matter. My view on that is it’s speculation intended to deflect from the facts, but I certainty appreciate the argument.

But to say this is a hatchet job is Mgoblog/Sam Webb levels of delusion. And I mean that entirely.

As for punishment, I’m at about 60/40 they’ll face some sort of meaningful consequences. But if nothing of note happens other than Stalions getting all the blame I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m at about 40/60 anything happens this year and about 5/95 anything happens to affect M’s CFP aspirations.

I would be surprised if HARBAUGH!!! is coaching in 2024. I think he’s going abandon what he knows are going to be several rough years.

[iam416]

And enjoy Greece!

[lineygoblue]

If Harbaugh isn't coaching at M next year, he'll be coaching in the NFL. He won't be sitting at home doing nothing.

Somewhere in the NFL there is at least one owner who will give the man a job.

One of the happiest men in CFB right now is Warde Manuel. He's wanted to fire Harbaugh since 2020, and now he may get just enough 'justification' to pull the trigger, without Santa Ono getting involved.

Harbaugh once said, "I am going to play the game for as long as I can play, then I am going to coach as long as I can coach, .. Then, I'm going to die".

He'll be coaching somewhere in '24. He won't be home sittiing in a corner doing self-induced punishment.

[THE_WIZARD_]

He will coach Da Bears.

[Mike]

Agreed.

[Mike]

The best counter-argument is the one Mike makes which is it didn’t matter. My view on that is it’s speculation intended to deflect from the facts, but I certainty appreciate the argument.

Honestly, I’m not trying to deflect from the facts when I speculate about the effectiveness of the operation. There’s a lot of good info floating around that’s new to me and I’m trying to figure out how these schemes play out on the field which I find fascinating.

The idea that they “know every play” and adjust accordingly before every snap is as ludicrous as someone suggesting Stalions wasn’t obtaining video of opponents’ signals.

According to some great articles in the Athletic with quotes from P5 coaches, it’s clear that every team has a “signal stealing guy”. They used to be up in the booth with a headset but then a few years ago the NCAA limited the number of headsets a team can use so now that guy, like Stalions, is down in the sideline.

Bottom line is Michigan went above the normal accepted in-game stealing by using video obtained by people in the stands at future opponents’ games. That much is indisputable.

What is entirely disputable is how much Harbaugh and/or the coordinators were aware of how Stalions was getting his info. From what we’ve learned about Stalions - a “super fan” who maintained a manifesto on how to rule the Michigan football program in 15 years - I think it’s completely within the realm of possibility that he was a loan wolf. He probably wouldn’t want anyone to know so he could come across as more competent and valuable to the program.

I look forward to the conclusion of this saga in 3 to 5 years. Ha.