ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — According to a person familiar with the matter, the NCAA has notified Michigan that the university will make the announcement of the findings of its inquiry into sign-stealing on Friday.
Due to their lack of authorization, the individual spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday.
In a notification last year, the NCAA claimed that current coach Sherrone Moore had broken rules while working as an assistant to former coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was suspended for three games in exchange for the Big Ten ceasing to look into the claims after the two were found guilty. Moore was also charged with erasing text communications with Connor Stalions, a sign-stealer, before they were found and given to the NCAA.
Although Moore has previously stated that he has cooperated and would continue to do so with the NCAA’s probe, he recently chose to keep quiet about the problem that hangs over the most successful college football program.
On Monday, he stated, “I’m only concerned about today, not tomorrow.”
Accusations that Michigan employed a thorough in-person scouting and sign-stealing program run by Stalions, a former low-level worker, sparked the NCAA investigation early in the 2023 season. He quit after the school suspended him. In seven games over two seasons, Stalions, who did not take part in the NCAA inquiry, recently claimed to be familiar with nearly every signal used by opponents.
As part of their self-imposed sanctions, Michigan has been ready to suspend Moore for two games in the upcoming season. If the penalty is sufficient to answer claims that Moore did not participate with an inquiry, the NCAA will make an announcement shortly.
Last month, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti wrote to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, arguing that Michigan’s football program shouldn’t be subject to additional punishments in connection with the sign-stealing scandal.
Harbaugh went to coach the Los Angeles Chargers following the team’s 2023 national title victory.
The Wolverines play Oklahoma, where Moore was an offensive lineman, on September 6 after opening the season at home against New Mexico State on August 30.
Three weeks after the NCAA started looking into the claims, Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten. The two parties barely avoided a court hearing when Michigan requested an injunction and temporary restraining order hours later.
Harbaugh has denied on numerous occasions that he was involved in the Stalions’ alleged plot.
While the NCAA does not have any laws prohibiting sign theft, it does forbid colleges from sending scouts to future opponents’ games and from utilizing electronic devices to capture the signals of other teams.
Video security footage of persons in such seats with cell phones pointing toward the field and records of ticket purchases made under the Stalions name were found at several Big Ten colleges.
Before the NCAA’s investigation was finished, Big Ten coaches and athletic administrators had urged Petitti to discipline Harbaugh.
Michigan argued that the commissioner had overreached himself and violated the conference’s bylaws when the Big Ten did penalize Harbaugh.
Shortly before Michigan’s game against Penn State began, and they won 24–15 without Harbaugh on the field, athletic director Warde Manuel issued a harsh statement.
Following a negotiated settlement in a recruitment dispute, the NCAA previously placed Michigan on three years of probation, fined the school, imposed recruiting restrictions, and barred Harbaugh from coaching collegiate football for four years.
