Around the Big Ten

[Tom W]

I must seriously wonder if there ever was an advantage to CS’s sign stealing.

I don't wonder. The only advantage gained was CS was able to gain access to M's program by magically "figuring out" what opponents were going to do. More than likely, the coaching staff asked him how he did it. And, more than likely, he lied- because it's really a stupid scheme that only an idiot would sign off on. I don't think Harbaugh's an idiot.

But, if you're stupid enough to be undone by that scheme, just send those Amazon gift cards to that guy with the Indian accent that calls you and says that he's with the Border Patrol and be done with it. You might not be a "cheater", but you're still an idiot.

[Hannibal]

I still haven’t posted or mentioned some of the really bad message board shit re M, but the more I hear around town — including from the interim OSU president, the more I believe it. Still won’t post anything until there’s real corroboration, but I’d bet a lot that M is gonna get hammered.

What do you define as "hammered"? Worse than what you would think is an appropriate punishment?

If my memory is correct, it was your opinion that getting the coaching staff fired would be appropriate (I don't remember a bowl ban or scholarship penalties being part of that punishment).

[Mike]

Man, I really don't care at this point. I'm tired. Tired of hearing about it. Wanna ban Michigan from the post season? Fine. Do it. As long as Michigan still gets to play Ohio State on the 25th, I'm good. I'm good with that as our Super Bowl.

I don't care if they suspend Harbaugh for an entire year -- extend him (if he wants it). Make him one of the 3 highest-paid HCs in the country. If not the highest. Wanna make Michigan playoff-ineligible for next season? Whatever. Cool, they're losing a ton of the team after this season anyways.

I hope they stole signs. All the signs. I hope they stole more signs than they were even accused of tbf. Good. Idgaf. This is football, lol. We got wars going on all over the place and we're going nuts over a guy who purchased seats and recorded sidelines in open view of tens of thousands with an iPhone. People are acting like Harbaugh and the team/staff committed murder 😂

Also, go ahead and vacate whatever. Don't care. Vacate then down to zero wins for all I care. What the media says about Michigan being tainted -- don't care. What other fans say about Michigan being tainted -- could care even less.

Let's just get this over with so we can move on and start talking about football again.

Quoting this because it sums up my feelings exactly. Thanks for saving me the time, Niffla. This thing has taken on a life of it's own and is more overblown than coverage of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

[iam416]

What do you define as "hammered"? Worse than what you would think is an appropriate punishment?

If my memory is correct, it was your opinion that getting the coaching staff fired would be appropriate (I don't remember a bowl ban or scholarship penalties being part of that punishment).

We previously discussed what I thought would be appropriate for the B10 to do in the interim.

The NCAA is a different discussion and, IMO, it's going to be much worse than the B10. But, like I said -- we'll have to wait and see what more comes out.

[Mike]

You mean there could be EVEN MORE than Connor Stalions sent his staffer buddy from a D3 school to record the the PSU-UMass game? Then the guy left at halftime because it was raining. This is the shit that has everyone's panties in a twist. It's fucking absurd.

[iam416]

If that's all CS did then we wouldn't be here. But, whatever. The B10 made it's decision. It's now a matter of waiting until the NCAA drops the hammer. But, until then, it's done. And so am I. Just remember these posts. And when you read through the final NCAA findings, don't be surprised if it's more than filming half the PSU-UMass game.

But, I thought you were done with this? Didn't you just block quote Niffla saying how done you are with this?

C'mon. You're not done with it. And you never will be. Because claiming the faux victim defense is a full-time job. Once the defense of "victimization" gets in your blood, it's tough to get it out. Sure seems like it's in your blood now.

[Mike]

When actual evidence is presented that might be a different story but so far people are going on national TV and advocating or Michigan to be banned from the postseason over a bunch of nonsense.

[iam416]

And people are going on National TV saying M did nothing wrong. And that's absolutely laughable in the face of the known facts. Which, much to your chagrin, include more than an one-off trip to Happy Valley for half a game. But you know that. You're smarter than that. But the power of playing the faux victim can turn even reasonable folks into ninnies.

[Hannibal]

We previously discussed what I thought would be appropriate for the B10 to do in the interim.

The NCAA is a different discussion and, IMO, it's going to be much worse than the B10. But, like I said -- we'll have to wait and see what more comes out.

Define "hammered", as you expect. Bowl ban? Schollie penalties?

[Mike]

And people are going on National TV saying M did nothing wrong. And that's absolutely laughable in the face of the known facts. Which, much to your chagrin, include more than an one-off trip to Happy Valley for half a game. But you know that. You're smarter than that. But the power of playing the faux victim can turn even reasonable folks into ninnies.

I just don't differentiate, from a competitive advantage, the difference in using in-person scouting vs. coaches/staff from various teams putting together a team's signals and passing around the league. One is a bank robbery with a shotgun and the other is with a handgun and the handgun is illegal. OK. Now what? It still looks like a Level II/III situation.

[iam416]

Hannibal:

Fair. I should make a prediction of some sort, at least. I think LOIC is very much in-play and with it post-season penalites and scholarship reductions. I don't think the penalities will be limited to individuals. The institution is going to get hit.

So -- I'll leave that prediciton here and whenever the NCAA gets around to doing shit we can revisit. Mike, e.g., thinks almost nothing will come of the entire situation. It's nice to have these two posts back-to-back.

[Mike]

I didn't say nothing will come of it. We've already crossed the rubicon of knee-jerk reactionary bullshit from Petitti and I imagine the NCAA will hit us with something, too. My position is that I don't think much, if any, competitive advantage was gained by Stalions' shenanigans vis a vis what other programs were doing and the punishment should fit the crime. IOW, misdemeanor punishment, not felony type shit. If rules were broken, fine. Michigan should receive the corresponding punishment. So 1) which specific rule(s) were violated? 2) what level violation is it? and 3) What is the punishment for violating said rule?

[Hannibal]

Hannibal:

Fair. I should make a prediction of some sort, at least. I think LOIC is very much in-play and with it post-season penalites and scholarship reductions. I don't think the penalities will be limited to individuals. The institution is going to get hit.

So -- I'll leave that prediciton here and whenever the NCAA gets around to doing shit we can revisit. Mike, e.g., thinks almost nothing will come of the entire situation. It's nice to have these two posts back-to-back.

We’ll see if you’re right. Obviously, I hope that you aren’t.

The NCAA hasn’t kicked the shit out of anyone in quite a while. USC was the last big one maybe? They might be itching to mete out some punishment. That obviously doesn’t work in our favor.

I don’t want to make a prediction. IMHO the competitive advantage that we gained was minimal to nonexistent. Maybe the NCAA doesn’t care or doesn’t consider that. If they don’t, your prediction seems likely.

[iam416]

Well, my prediction is predicated on "more" to come. But, anyway, it's just that -- a prediction.

At this point, why would we want to keep talking about an issue that is basically resolved in the interim when we could be celebrating the Genius of Ferentz and the absolutely amazing run of Iowa unders coming in against shockingly low totals. I mean -- under 27' is coming in -- WITH EASE.

[Hannibal]

Well, my prediction is predicated on "more" to come. EASE.

As in "more violations that are being discovered that haven't been reported yet"?