Michigan Faces Potential Disciplinary Action from Big Ten Following Scandal
Michigan has received a formal notification letter from the Big Ten conference regarding potential disciplinary action in response to the school’s in-person scouting and sign-stealing scandal. The letter was confirmed by a university source to The Athletic on Monday.
It remains unclear what form the discipline might take, but sources within the league have suggested that a suspension of coach Jim Harbaugh is among the possibilities. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti held a meeting with Michigan officials on Friday to discuss the matter, following calls from other Big Ten schools to punish Michigan for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy.
The NCAA is currently investigating whether Michigan broke a rule that bans in-person scouting. Evidence from several Big Ten schools has been presented, indicating that a Michigan staffer, Connor Stalions, who resigned on Friday, purchased tickets in his own name for games involving Michigan’s opponents. Furthermore, at least one school has claimed to have security footage of an individual filming the team’s sideline with a smartphone from those seats.
Under Big Ten policy, Michigan is allowed time to respond before any punishment is imposed. In an email sent before Friday’s meeting, Michigan president Santa Ono urged the conference to defer to the ongoing NCAA investigation and emphasized Michigan’s right to respond to any alleged violations of Big Ten policy.
President Ono wrote, “We are aware that other representatives of the Big Ten are demanding that you take action now, before any meaningful investigation and full consideration of all the evidence. That is not something our conference rules permit. And we both know it is not what any other member would want if allegations were raised against their people or programs.”
The Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy grants the commissioner the authority to take action against schools, stating that the commissioner “shall notify that institution or individual at the earliest reasonable opportunity” if it becomes apparent that the school is likely to be penalized. The school then has a “reasonable” amount of time to respond. Sources within the league have informed The Athletic that clarity on the matter is expected by the middle of this week.
Warde Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director and a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee, announced earlier on Monday that he would not be attending the weekly CFP meeting in Dallas. Instead, Manuel is staying in Ann Arbor to attend to important matters regarding the ongoing investigation into the football program.
According to multiple sources within the school, Michigan could take legal action if the conference attempts to suspend coach Harbaugh indefinitely before the conclusion of the NCAA investigation.
This scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over Michigan’s football program, and the school now anxiously awaits the decision from the Big Ten conference as to what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken. The outcome of the ongoing NCAA investigation will also play a significant role in determining the future of the program and its coaching staff.
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(Photo: Rick Osentoski / USA Today)