Frustrated Big Ten coaches push for league to discipline Michigan for sign-stealing

There is mounting pressure on Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti from football coaches to discipline Michigan and coach Jim Harbaugh for an alleged sign-stealing scheme that has cast a cloud over the second-ranked Wolverines as the postseason approaches.

Coaches were angry and expressed frustration during a call with Petitti over a lack of action by the conference as mounting evidence supports allegations that a Michigan staffer sent people to games to do impermissible advanced scouting of opponents, according to two people with knowledge of Wednesday’s meeting, one who listened in on the call and another who participated.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the conference was not making its internal discussions public.

Coaches were infuriated by the lack of action, which was heightened by Michigan’s third-place finish in this week’s first College Football Playoff rankings.

They claimed that the NCAA, not the CFP, was the problem. The person answering the call stated, “It’s a football issue.”

This week’s initial College Football Playoff rankings, where Michigan was ranked third, stoked coaches’ outrage over the inaction.

Michigan sign-stealing scandal: Purdue coach explains suspicions before game vs. Jim Harbaugh, Wolverines

Purdue is preparing to face Michigan as the No. 3 Wolverines deal with the lasting impact of a sign-stealing scandal that is rocking the Big Ten.

Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters didn’t mince words when discussing the accusations against Jim Harbaugh’s team.

Walters was asked on his radio show Thursday about Purdue’s preparation for facing Michigan amid the accusations that the Wolverines had sent members of their staff — notably, a low-level staffer, Connor Stalions — to their opponents’ games, which violates the NCAA’s rule against in-person scouting.

Walters spoke out against Michigan’s actions and claimed, in no uncertain terms, that the allegations against the program were true.

“It’s unfortunate and what’s crazy is there weren’t allegations. It happened,” he said. “And there’s video evidence, there’s ticket purchases and sales that you can track back and we know for a fact that they were at a number of our games.”

How is Purdue planning to counter any information that Michigan picked up about them? Walters detailed that the team is making the adjustments needed to erase any competitive advantage that the Wolverines might normally have on the field.

“We’ve had to teach our guys a new language in terms of some signals and we’ll operate differently offensively,” Walters explained. “You might see us in a huddle for the first time this season.”

Purdue (2-6, 1-4 Big Ten) has averaged 73.5 plays per game this season, which ranks 35th in the country. Comparatively, Michigan has averaged just 62.4, which is good for 122nd among the 133 FBS teams.

So, while this adjustment may be necessary for the Boilermakers, it could also play into the hands of a Michigan team that is used to slowing the pace.

Despite this, Walters is trying his best not to worry about the impact that Michigan’s alleged misdeeds may have on the contest.

“It is what it is,” he said of the sign-stealing. “We’re excited to go play, and I think it will make for a great story.”

Even so, Michigan is heavily favored to knock off Purdue and stay in the College Football Playoff hunt. But could the allegations against the program and the possibility of a second Harbaugh suspension cause the Wolverines to be a bit distracted?

Only time will tell whether Walters and the Boilermakers can strike some fear into the Wolverines.