On Friday, the NCAA released its findings from its investigation into Michigan’s “sign-stealing” scandal that surfaced in 2023. In its 74-page report, the NCAA revealed new details of how Michigan staffers “hindered the enforcement staff’s investigative efforts.” Specifically, former Michigan staff member Connor Stalions, who was at the center of the scandal, allegedly threw his […]
On Friday, the NCAA released its findings from its investigation into Michigan’s “sign-stealing” scandal that surfaced in 2023. In its 74-page report, the NCAA revealed new details of how Michigan staffers “hindered the enforcement staff’s investigative efforts.”
Specifically, former Michigan staff member Connor Stalions, who was at the center of the scandal, allegedly threw his phone in a pond, which likely held valuable evidence related to the scandal. The NCAA also reported former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh refused to cooperate at any stage of the nearly two-year investigation.
Evidently, Stalions’ and Harbaugh’s actions led to the NCAA leveling harsher punishments on Michigan than it initially intended to. The Athletic‘s Stewart Mandel provided further details on this development in a post to X.
“COI chair Norman Bay says the obstruction by Harbaugh/Stalions during the investigation ‘made what would have been a serious violation even more serious … The violation was serious to begin with, but the cover up was maybe even worse,'” Mandel wrote.
Since the NCAA announced its punishments, both Stalions’ and Harbaugh’s lawyers criticized the ruling. In particular, Stalions’ lawyer, Brad Beckworth, said Stalions’ Brad Beckworth, said Stalions’ punishment was the result of a “rigged investigation.”
Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause penalty that will begin once his pre-existing four-year show cause penalty concludes. Consequently, Harbaugh won’t be allowed to coach at the collegiate level again until 2038.
Stalions is banned from coaching in the NCAA for the next eight years. Meanwhile, former Michigan assistant Denard Robinson was handed a three-year show-cause order.
While current Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was hit with a two-year show-cause penalty, he isn’t banned from coaching at the collegiate level. Instead, he’ll be suspended two games this year and one game in the 2026 season.
Michigan will pay a fine of $50,000 plus 10% of the football program’s budget, a fine “equal to the anticipated loss of postseason competition revenue-sharing from 2025 and 2026,” and the equivalent to 10% of scholarships awarded for 2025-26. Michigan plans on appealing the NCAA’s ruling.
“It is never our intent to be in a position where we are accused of any rules violations,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. “I fully support Coach Sherrone Moore, our student-athletes and staff as they prepare for the season ahead. I appreciate Coach Moore’s continued commitment to ensuring his program operates in compliance with applicable rules.
“I acknowledge the Committee on Infractions’ decision to not penalize our current student-athletes by eliminating postseason opportunities; however, a postseason ban should never have been a consideration in this case. I fully support the university’s decision to pursue an appeal. Coach Moore and I will not have any further comment.”
Category: General Sports
