Michigan reportedly complains to Big Ten about Rutgers

Michigan football, embroiled in a sign stealing scandal, has reportedly sent the Big Ten documents alleging that Rutgers shared the Wolverines’ defensive signals with Purdue ahead of the 2022 Big Ten Championship game. ESPN reported that “conference teams engaged in communication” involving their signals. Ohio State also allegedly helped the Boilermakers with offensive signals.

More from the report:

“A Big Ten source said the league has forwarded any information to the NCAA for possible follow-up. It’s unknown whether the signal sharing between league teams violates the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy or any NCAA rules. The information passed along is not expected to impact the Big Ten’s potential discipline for Michigan under the sportsmanship policy, a source said. NCAA rules do not prohibit in-game signal stealing but bar schools from off-campus scouting in advance of games.”

Stealing or figuring out opponents signs during a game is not illegal. Sharing signs with opponents is not uncommon. Michigan sending these allegations to the Big Ten just days after the league sent them a notice of disciplinary action regarding sign stealing allegations makes this a weak deflection attempt. The timing is a bit suspect.

If you look at this hypothetical argument, it’s comical. Big Ten teams figured out Michigan was stealing signs using questionable and possibly illegal methods. Said teams decided to help each other to counter Michigan. That has made Michigan upset and they are now trying to get those teams in trouble.

Good grief.

Based on this initial report, having a complaint of this nature is ridiculous in my opinion. Where and how the investigation into Michigan stealing signs ends up remains to be seen. Trying to bring other schools into the mud with them is a low class move, especially when their evidence doesn’t appear to include anything illegal in nature. If Rutgers did do something wrong and the Big Ten wants to take action, that’s a different story. In regard to this current allegation, it seems like much ado about nothing. Stay tuned on any further developments.

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