Skunkbear Signal Stealing Scandal

[NDPhilly]

I don't see how coaches involved shouldn't be given a multi-year show cause penalty. At the very very best, they turned a blind eye to the method of sign stealing because it was so helpful.

 

[irishnd31]

NCAA has a lot riding on this decision of action vs inaction. Inaction makes them look weak and incapable of performing their work responsibilities and duties. Action takes the power away from those who made a concerted effort to break the rules.

Part of me thinks that they are afraid of how wide spread this is. Is Michigan the only team doing this and how do you discipline a shit load of teams if in fact it is more widespread than is thought at this moment?

 

[NDohio]

The closest thing to what they are doing would be the point shaving scandals that have happened in the past. In those situations law enforcement got involved and legal punishment ensued - except Hot Rod Williams who got off scot-free - however, Tulane did shut down their basketball program for 4 years as a result. In Tulane's case the entire staff resigned as well as the AD.

 

[phork]

Honestly, what y'all think. I go back and forth

Are they fucked?

or

Is this a nothing burger?

I'll be shocked if anything happens. Again see UNC. Just shut your mouth and circle the wagons.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

How come nobody told me that Hasbulla visited the Irsay Y?!?!

 

[CoachB]

I would think a realistic punishment that I would be happy with is this..

1.) 4 year postseason ban, effective immediately.
2.) Harbaugh dismissed
3) vacating all wins from 2019-present
4.) Three year scholarship reduction to 60, beginning next fall.

I would be happy with that.

 

[INLaw]

I had a friend that worked security for ND back in the Weis days and he told me they have cameras in the stadium that they can zoom in on any person in the stadium if they need to. If they got a report of someone drinking in the stadium they could locate them on camera and tell if they had alcohol on them or not

Then they did a pretty poor job of it bc i always had contraband and used it copiously

 

[MacIrish75]

I had a friend that worked security for ND back in the Weis days and he told me they have cameras in the stadium that they can zoom in on any person in the stadium if they need to. If they got a report of someone drinking in the stadium they could locate them on camera and tell if they had alcohol on them or not

This is good to know. I have a…friend…who needs this info.

 

[allenm5333]

What if Michigan goes undefeated and gets in the playoffs but even worse news leaks between the game? Does the Big Ten want to risk losing out on that $ from a forfeit?

 

[laughingirish90]

They are looking into how they gathered their info

Illegally or straight up

so scUM is looking into a situation where another team might have gathered info illegally on a team illegally gathering info on other teams to win games which is them lol.

 

[NDohio]

Michigan, media gathering evidence on private investigators and their links to OSU – more on Jim Harbaugh extension

Sources at Michigan, in the media are gathering evidence on two private investigators' links to Ohio State and more on Jim Harbaugh contract.

www.on3.com

I thought the PI that found a lot of this stuff was hired by law enforcement to look into the computer of Weiss. As they were doing that research, they stumbled upon some files that Sign Stealer Guy had passed through the Michigan computer system.

Is this just On3 doing bad On3 reporting like usual?

 

[Wild Bill]

They are looking into how they gathered their info

Illegally or straight up

It's a red herring, which can serve as a valuable tool in specific scenarios. For instance, in this situation, if you're a Michigan fan, it can be a means of emotional support to help you cope with the fact that your team resorted to cheating to escape mediocrity.

Those impacted by the blatant cheating don't give a shit about the method used to gather evidence. The immediate concern is holding Michigan accountable to deter this type of cheating in the future. AFter scUM gets hammered, I hope they proceed with the investigation to identify the responsible parties so we can all express our gratitude to them.

 

[NDPhilly]

Does feel very "On3" to drop a bomb like this with zero proof. Great for clicks tho.

 

[stlnd01]

It's a red herring, which can serve as a valuable tool in specific scenarios. For instance, in this situation, if you're a Michigan fan, it can be a means of emotional support to help you cope with the fact that your team resorted to cheating to escape mediocrity.

Those impacted by the blatant cheating don't give a shit about the method used to gather evidence. The immediate concern is holding Michigan accountable to deter this type of cheating in the future. AFter scUM gets hammered, I hope they proceed with the investigation to identify the responsible parties so we can all express our gratitude to them.

Yep. They're just trying to muddy the waters and slow down whatever sanction the Big Ten might be about to drop on them.

 

[KPENN]

The replies are great

 

[slick7410]

so scUM is looking into a situation where another team might have gathered info illegally on a team illegally gathering info on other teams to win games which is them lol.

So, sounds like Ryan Day commits a real crime and Michigan vacates all their wins - and they both go down yelling at each other. Just when you thought it couldn't get better.

Will be funnier to see the Michigan fans screaming you can't trust a report flip 180 in about one second.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Ultimate Dream

This thing eventually results in significant wrong doing by both Michigan and pOSU with both receiving significant punishment.

 

[Wild Bill]

Honestly, what y'all think. I go back and forth

Are they fucked?

or

Is this a nothing burger?

Depends on what you consider getting fucked to be. If I was a Michigan fan, Lord forgive me for even saying it, the only punishment that I would worry about is getting banned from post season this years - probation, vacating wins, getting rid of Harbaugh and 007, etc would be a lot easier to deal with if they win a title this year.

Getting fucked here, in my opinion, means getting banned this year. I just don't see that happening, and I certainly don't see that happening before scUM plays OSU - ratings will be bonkers. If a decision were made to ban Michigan before they play it might diminish some of the excitement surrounding the game.

The cleanest way to do it, imo, is to make sure the refs call a "smart" game against PSU and OSU. Get rid of them on the field, if possible. If that doesn't happen, before they play OSU, leak info to the media that something big was discovered and BIG will act soon. Key piece of evidence, whatever, just get it out there before the kickoff. No matter what happens in the game, the public will get themselves prepared for the ban hammer, and less bitching will take place about OSU playing in BIG title despite losing. Yes, this is quite sleazy but would be the most effective plan imo.

 

[sfk324]

The replies are great

I realize this is your point, but just to state the obvious for those who may miss it... no lawyer, let alone with "expertise in similar cases" would characterize anything in that fashion. A judge would not "try to convict" anyone of anything, the AG or DA (maybe SA depending on your state's terminology) (although in this case where interstate commerce is involved, the DOJ would
also have jurisdiction) would open an investigation, seek charges, and try the case. Further, no law firm is going to engage in illegal interstate conduct at the behest of a football coach.

The entire scenario painted by that dimwit is absurd. But it's Twitter (sorry, X), so stupid is to be expected.

 

[NDRock]

If everything goes well, they can play “The Game” in prison next year.

 

[LSWho?]

I realize this is your point, but just to state the obvious for those who may miss it... no lawyer, let alone with "expertise in similar cases" would characterize anything in that fashion. A judge would not "try to convict" anyone of anything, the AG or DA (maybe SA depending on your state's terminology) (although in this case where interstate commerce is involved, the DOJ would
also have jurisdiction) would open an investigation, seek charges, and try the case. Further, no law firm is going to engage in illegal interstate conduct at the behest of a football coach.

The entire scenario painted by that dimwit is absurd. But it's Twitter (sorry, X), so stupid is to be expected.

Was just about to respond in this way. No prosecutor is using the RICO act on Ryan freakin' Day even if the original instruction to a PI or law firm was "to obtain the original information...by any means necessary." The RICO act is used to nail drug-smugglers and interstate conspiracies.

We are entering painful levels of cope from Michigan fans. Don't get me wrong, I'm mostly enjoying it, but still.

Even if Day hired a PI or law firm to obtain information (which has only ever been reported by Sam Webb), there is no evidence the firm did anything illegal. If they legally discovered all of this, so what? That would be sweet and would probably even make Lou Holtz respect Ryan Day.

What would it even mean for a law or PI firm to "illegally" obtain evidence of this sign-stealing scheme? As far as we can tell, all of this information has been verifiable by documents and video evidence that is either publicly available or that the universities legally own, like ticket vendor records.

This whole "Day hired a PI firm" is just a hail mary shot to make this all go away by Michigan bloggers and outlets. Michigan has better odds praying to the Blessed Mother for forgiveness and penance for their sins than of this Ryan Day slander story working out.

 

[Giddyup]

Day headed to pound town?? Don’t fuck with Holtz baby!

 

[INLaw]

I would think a realistic punishment that I would be happy with is this..

1.) 4 year postseason ban, effective immediately.
2.) Harbaugh dismissed
3) vacating all wins from 2019-present
4.) Three year scholarship reduction to 60, beginning next fall.

I would be happy with that.

Vacating is bullshit its a fucking forfeit the loser is now the winner

 

[INLaw]

The replies are great

Im a lawyer and this is all bullshit

 

[Rasputin]

Ultimate Dream

This thing eventually results in significant wrong doing by both Michigan and pOSU with both receiving significant punishment.

If true, this sign stealing scandal could be the proverbial meteor impact everyone cheers for when Ohio State and Michigan play every year.

 

[sfk324]

Im a lawyer and this is all bullshit

Stop stealing Vinny's lines! In Michigan-land, you'll get hit with a RICO charge.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Im a lawyer and this is all bullshit

Thank you.

 

[Giddyup]

Nah. I’m a lawyer too. Day is in this up to his neck. He’s gonna get the Capone rap.

 

[MacIrish75]

Was just about to respond in this way. No prosecutor is using the RICO act on Ryan freakin' Day even if the original instruction to a PI or law firm was "to obtain the original information...by any means necessary." The RICO act is used to nail drug-smugglers and interstate conspiracies.

We are entering painful levels of cope from Michigan fans. Don't get me wrong, I'm mostly enjoying it, but still.

Even if Day hired a PI or law firm to obtain information (which has only ever been reported by Sam Webb), there is no evidence the firm did anything illegal. If they legally discovered all of this, so what? That would be sweet and would probably even make Lou Holtz respect Ryan Day.

What would it even mean for a law or PI firm to "illegally" obtain evidence of this sign-stealing scheme? As far as we can tell, all of this information has been verifiable by documents and video evidence that is either publicly available or that the universities legally own, like ticket vendor records.

This whole "Day hired a PI firm" is just a hail mary shot to make this all go away by Michigan bloggers and outlets. Michigan has better odds praying to the Blessed Mother for forgiveness and penance for their sins than of this Ryan Day slander story working out.

I swear, man. I’m getting real damn sick and tired of every thread devolving into a discussion on the progression of our freshman receivers. Can we leave them alone? Greathouse this, Greathouse that. RICO this. RICO that.

Can we give it a rest and focus on Michigan burning and now Ohio State possibly being named a racketeer influenced corrupt organization?

 

[INLaw]

Stop stealing Vinny's lines! In Michigan-land, you'll get hit with a RICO charge.

I don’t cross the border without a malaria shot and a hep C booster