-there is a disconnect between the image and culture that Michigan has built over a century, and the brazen way Harbaugh has leaned into flagrant rules breaking. I don’t think the administration will be as unified in protecting him as a the Buckeyes’ or Sooners’ would be.
- the first test of that theory will be in how cooperative Michigan is with investigations
- rules are as strong as their enforceability. If you had a “Rain Man” on the sidelines, watching the game in real time and deciphering the signals (what Stoops and Venables claimed to do), that’s not a violation. Sending a scout to do that, in advance, is a violation, but how would it be prevented? Video-ing sidelines is the next iteration. This is absolutely an example of a slippery slope, and the reaction will be to either one up with firmer rules and stiffer penalties, or dropping the rule altogether.
- allegations that Michigan hacked into the Buckeyes are very serious. That’s illegal as well as against the rules.
- this whole signaling business began almost 20 years ago, as coaches sought ways to take decisions out of the hands of extremely talented, but raw, quarterbacks. Before then, the game requires QBs to really learn an offense, different defenses, reads, and what to do. Signaling in the calls made the game a lot more exciting, but created this opportunity for stealing signs. No matter what punishment Michigan gets, I expect teams to get more secure with signals, or put more decisions on the players, or both.