Rivals Decoded Michigan’s Signals and Shared Them With Another Big Ten Team
A high-stakes confrontation with the Big Ten leadership is approaching, and Michigan is retaliating forcefully against any penalties related to former football staff member Connor Stalions’ suspected unlawful signal-stealing. The school intends to formally provide league authorities proof that other Big Ten schools last season deciphered the Wolverines’ signals and sent them along to a potential opponent as one of its response strategies.
Three people with knowledge of the matter verified to Sports Illustrated that a former Big Ten coach at a rival school recently sent copies of two single-page memos outlining Michigan’s deciphered signals to the Wolverines. The former Big Ten coach claimed to have gotten numerous in-depth analyses of which signals matched which play calls as a member of the staff during the previous season. The sources claim that he informed Michigan that the information had originally originated from other Big Ten universities.
According to a person familiar with the matter, the former coach gave the records to Michigan in an effort to support head coach Jim Harbaugh and demonstrate the widespread nature of signal-stealing in sports. In the upcoming days, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti may suspend Harbaugh.
According to a source familiar with Michigan’s play calls, copies of the records were obtained by SI, with some information partially redacted because the Wolverines continue to run many of the same plays or utilize the same signals. The documents’ validity was confirmed by a source who was acquainted with their contents.
The two Michigan signal breakdowns contain sections on interpreting the picture-filled boards that staff members hold up, long lists explaining hand signals for running plays, slightly shorter lists explaining passing plays, and distinct lists explaining play-action passes and bootleg plays. Both documents have a heading labeled “2020 Game,” which is followed by a brief summary of signals that were purportedly deciphered during a game that year. One of the documents also has a section dedicated to signals obtained during a 2022 game against the Wolverines.
The signals reported matched their 2022 play calls, according to a Michigan source. Although it did not release the precise documents, the Associated Press initially revealed that the former Big Ten employee had informed Michigan about its signals being decrypted.
The two documents listed out Michigan signals alongside play calls, many referring to staple running and passing plays. Both also included sections devoted to signals apparently collected during a 2020 game.
The second of the two documents included headings apparently referring specifically to signals collected during a 2022 game, as well as ’20.
In the documents, the signal descriptions are followed by what the actual plays are, many of which are staple runs or passes commonly found in many playbooks. “THROAT SLASH = GATOR” refers to the signaler making a throat slash motion, followed by a passing concept where one receiver runs a slot fade, while the other runs a hitch.
“CUT WRIST= SPL ZN” would refer to a signaler making a cut wrist motion, directing Michigan players to run split zone, a run concept where the offensive line blocks zone and a tight end comes back across the formation to block a backside defender.
Schools sharing signal information is not uncommon in college football, multiple sources in the coaching profession told SI, nor is it against NCAA rules. “Every week you call your friends on other staffs and say, ‘Hey, what you got [on our next opponent]?’” A current coach with Big Ten experience said. “Everyone does it. Who cares?”
Sign-stealing off television, or across the field during games, is allowed. What Stalions is accused of doing—orchestrating a network of associates to perform impermissible, in-person advance scouting and recording future Michigan opponents’ signals dozens of times—is in violation of the rules. The now former analyst resigned last week amid a controversy that has consumed college football.
A Naval Academy graduate, former Marine Corps captain and lifelong Michigan superfan, Stalions hung around the program for years before being hired full time by Harbaugh in 2022. He became known for his signal-stealing prowess, but said through his lawyer recently that no other Michigan staffer was aware of his impermissible scouting scheme. Harbaugh has said he knew nothing about what Stalions is alleged to have done and would never condone such activity.
The NCAA is investigating, but that will be a drawn-out process that stretches well into 2024. The rest of the Big Ten has voiced its anger to Petitti about being allegedly spied upon by Michigan and urged the commissioner to act. The Wolverines are ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and are undefeated with their two biggest games of the season left to go, at Penn State on Saturday and home against fellow unbeaten and bitter rival Ohio State on Nov. 25.
This information is likely to be part of what is presented to the Big Ten. Michigan is also likely to argue that there is a distinction without a true difference between what Stalions is accused of doing and what other Big Ten schools did in forwarding their scouting to a future opponent. In the process of making that argument, Michigan seems ready and willing to throw blame around the rest of the conference, potentially escalating this into a bitter battle on many fronts. Michigan will also likely point to a lack of due process involved with suspending Harbaugh before an NCAA investigation wraps up.
One front that was de-escalated Monday: NCAA sources confirmed to SI that it has found no connection between Ohio State coach Ryan Day or his family and the original information that was received by the association in October, sparking the investigation. Yahoo first reported that no connection had been found.
Petitti is facing the difficult task of finding an appropriate punishment in an unprecedented situation, and without much clarity within the Big Ten bylaws. All while Big Ten and NCAA investigations are still in motion. However, sources familiar with the Michigan program told SI that the school is bracing for Petitti to levy punishment.
Tony told Michigan this was the worst scandal in Big Ten history, not including game-fixing, one Big Ten administrator told SI. It’s up to the commissioner to find a way forward for Michigan and the whole conference a job that may be about to get a lot harder.
