2023 Michigan Season Thread

[Honestbuckeye]

I don't think they want to find anything and if Michigan isn't going to fight them, they are more than happy to not have to look

They just want to let the NCAA do their job.  

[medinabuckeye1]

lol. How exactly do we all know that?  That's what you are hoping is true but we all don't know one way or another.

Because "low level" staffers don't stand next to freaking coordinators during games and have input on play calls.

Seriously, if this was a school you are neutral about you'd know that too.

[SuperMario]

Because "low level" staffers don't stand next to freaking coordinators during games and have input on play calls.

Seriously, if this was a school you are neutral about you'd know that too.

No. I’m not an assumption guy. I’m a facts guy and although I can connect dots that make sense, I don’t claim those to be 100% factual if it’s not proven by more than assumption.

[medinabuckeye1]

No. I’m not an assumption guy. I’m a facts guy and although I can connect dots that make sense, I don’t claim those to be 100% factual if it’s not proven by more than assumption.

Fact:
Michigan cheated. This is no longer alleged as Michigan isn't even disputing the fact that Stallions did orchestrate a system to scout in an effort to steal signs and in violation of NCAA rules.

Fact:
The staffer (Stallions) stood next to coordinators during games and had input in play calls.

Question:
Why did Harbaugh et al allow this "low level" staffer to take up Coordinator time/attention during games?

Reality:
The Michigan staff up to and including Harbaugh knew or should have known what was going on.

New allegation (reported by a Michigan guy as the reason scUM dropped their suit):
At least one staffer beyond Stallions has been shown to be aware.

Pure speculation:
The Michigan posters seem convinced that there was a whistle blower. My guess is that, for once, they are right.

[SuperMario]

And yet it still could be a reality that he impacted coordinators calling plays because he sold people on the idea that his Navy training allowed him to determine plays coming by his research and studying of film the proper way.

Anyone that says that's 100% not possible or couldn't possibly be true is simply looking and hoping they can scream cheater.

[MikeDeTiger]

I hope they're not given a post-season ban this year if they beat Ohio State.  This is still a collection of players that was put together, regardless of whether their coaches cheated to help them or not.  It's still a team that's out there, and purely as a fan I want to see how they stack up against other playoff teams.  

If they can't make the playoffs, I care a lot less and I guess I say go ahead and do whatever the NCAA/B1G is itching to do to them.  

[medinabuckeye1]

And yet it still could be a reality that he impacted coordinators calling plays because he sold people on the idea that his Navy training allowed him to determine plays coming by his research and studying of film the proper way.

Anyone that says that's 100% not possible or couldn't possibly be true is simply looking and hoping they can scream cheater.

I think that is unlikely but I'll concede not 100% impossible.  That said, I don't think it matters for two reasons:

First, under a "knew or should have known" standard, the defense you are suggesting of "Well I was just snowed by this conman" doesn't stand up.  Harbaugh et al can claim stupidity and ignorance but they still should have known.  

Second, "knew or should have known" isn't even the standard.  The NCAA stipulates that a HC is responsible for what goes on in his program.  Full stop.  Not just the things he provably knew nor even the things he knew or "should have known", EVERYTHING.  

This program is already responsible for the biggest cheating scandal in the modern history of college basketball.  Now they are responsible for the biggest cheating scandal in the modern history of college football as well.  You want to defend that?  

[Honestbuckeye]

I hope they're not given a post-season ban this year if they beat Ohio State.  This is still a collection of players that was put together, regardless of whether their coaches cheated to help them or not.  It's still a team that's out there, and purely as a fan I want to see how they stack up against other playoff teams. 

If they can't make the playoffs, I care a lot less and I guess I say go ahead and do whatever the NCAA/B1G is itching to do to them. 

I think there is almost zero chance of that.  That would be under the NCAA rules/penalties, and I just don't see them moving that quickly.

What COULD happen- is anything they win (Big Title, CFP) might be "vacated" later.

To me- that's the saddest part of this.  I have separated the skill/talent/potential of the UM players throughout this conversation. That's because on that topic- I really think they are the best team.  Been saying that all along.   That idiot Stalions did not need to add the extra surveillance.

[MarqHusker]

So long as they are cooperating fully!    

My favorite utterance in the rolodex of the accused.

[FearlessF]

I hope they're not given a post-season ban this year if they beat Ohio State.  This is still a collection of players that was put together, regardless of whether their coaches cheated to help them or not.  It's still a team that's out there, and purely as a fan I want to see how they stack up against other playoff teams. 

If they can't make the playoffs, I care a lot less and I guess I say go ahead and do whatever the NCAA/B1G is itching to do to them. 

would you rather have next year's team punished?
Yes, it's terrible for the players.  I feel for them.

the coaches responsible should be severely punished

[MikeDeTiger]

would you rather have next year's team punished?

I would rather not get so interested in a team that piques my interest for playoff matchups.  If they were to be banned next year at least I'd go into the season knowing a potential Mich/uga matchup isn't gonna happen. 

[SuperMario]

This program is already responsible for the biggest cheating scandal in the modern history of college basketball.  Now they are responsible for the biggest cheating scandal in the modern history of college football as well.  You want to defend that? 

biggest cheating scandal? That’s a pretty big leap when in reality nothing new came out today outside of Harbaugh not fighting the suspension. When in reality, we don’t truly know the reason why. Your side will immediately jump to “because he’s guilty and got caught.” While that could be true, we don’t know if it is.

Secondly, you’re going to call this deflecting, but it’s beyond comical that you jump to worst case scenario for Michigan calling them the biggest cheaters ever yet you completely dismiss Ohio State’s scandal and claim “big deal it was just tattoos.”

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7217079/ncaa-slaps-ohio-state-buckeyes-failure-monitor-charge

Just tattoos is a sham and Ohio State made deals to keep the ncaa from digging more or simply they both agreed that the truth needed to be kept quiet so the money making machine could keep going.

As someone that personally was in the circle of people involved, it was not simply minor dollar amounts for a charity event. And without risking one of the most powerful families in NEO trying to track down the person behind my name if I share details, I’ll just leave it there.

So to knock Michigan, the probably made an agreement so the details will not truly be known so the money machine can keep going, but their biggest rival certainly has done the same.

[Temp430]

Read a lot of plausible explanations elsewhere but it feels like Michigan caved.

[847badgerfan]

Read a lot of plausible explanations elsewhere but it feels like Michigan caved.

Possible, but it's also the smart move at this point.

1. Make the case less of a distraction from the outside. 
2. Internalize the negative energy and turn it into a positive.
3. Win the B1G.
4. Win the MNC.
5. Booger rides off into the sunset, with his middle finger firmly in air.