The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532537
18 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2025 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan has made it clear it plans to fight the NCAA in what they said was "massive overreach" in response to the alleged impermissible scouting scheme led by former staffer Connor Stalions. The U-M response to a Notice of Allegations was "very long," sources told The Wolverine in January, and Yahoo Sports has now confirmed many of its concerns about the way it was handled. "In the 137-page document … Michi- gan makes clear that 'it will not enter into a negotiated resolution' with the NCAA over the alleged wrongdoing, vigorously defending its former head coach [Jim Harbaugh], current head coach [Sher- rone Moore], several staff members, and even Stalions." "… The school purports that the sign-stealing system offered 'minimal relevance to competition,' was not cred- ibly proven by NCAA investigators, and should be treated as a minor violation." In addition, one of the allegations — Moore's deleted texts with Stalions — is a case of more overreach, Michigan argues. It's the one that "stands as the most seri- ous and impactful for the current state of the program," Yahoo writes — "Moore, then an assistant, deleted 52 text mes- sages with Stalions on the very day (Oct. 19, 2023) Yahoo Sports broke the story of the NCAA's investigation into the pro- gram. "In its response, Michigan and Moore acknowledge the deleted messages," Ya- hoo writers continued. "However, the school contends that the texts were 'in- nocuous and not material to the investi- gation' and that Moore cooperated fully with the investigation, even turning over his phone for imaging — a move that re- vealed the previously deleted messages … and U-M contends none of the texts were specifically about the in-person advanced scouting system." In short, Michigan believes there is no evidence that current or past coaches knew the details of the operation. They also argue that "many of the in-person scouting allegations 'do not support the six elements of a completed indi- rect scouting violation,' including lack of witness statements or eyewitness evi- dence that videos were taken from the stands at many of the games in which Stalions purchased tickets." As one source with knowledge of the situation told The Wolverine, "Allega- tions aren't proven through the media or hearsay. They are proven through evi- dence. If you have evidence, present it. If you don't, you have to back down. Those are the rules of the [NCAA], not Michi- gan saying that." And if the NCAA isn't willing to do that, the source added, Michigan "ab- solutely" will go through any appeals process for punishment they feel is too severe … and at this point, that means being punished for anything more than minor violations. While they don't know for certain what the NCAA will propose in the way of punishment, other than the fact that it won't be retroactive, some — including Yahoo's Dan Wetzel — believe the stiffest attempted penalties could be reserved for Moore. The case will next be set for a hearing in front of the Division I Com- mittee on Infractions, an independent administrative body charged with de- ciding infractions cases, but Michigan's attorneys are requesting a pre-hearing conference to discuss the origins of an internal tipster (alleged to be a former employee), the legality of him/her re- maining anonymous and using their "information" as evidence, and other concerns. The fact that Michigan is going to bat not only for Moore, but also Har- baugh and the others, indicates how fully they're invested in protecting themselves from being "convicted" without evi- dence or on violations that, by the letter of the NCAA's own law, are nothing more than minor violations. "If the NCAA is not willing to do that, they'll have to go through the appeals process and litigate this," the source noted, adding it could take "a few years." One believes it could even be a year be- fore it gets to the committee on infrac- tions. "Then it's much longer if it goes before an appeals committee, and even longer if litigation takes place," the source added. "That's up to the NCAA. They can follow their own bylaws, or they can litigate. They want to punish [Michigan] without evidence." We asked one source what they thought might be the most severe pun- ishment the NCAA could seek. "Suspension for Sherrone Moore, scholarship reductions, maybe a fine," they said. "But they'd fight it. There's no evidence — anywhere — that Sherrone had any knowledge." They also cautioned that "it's the NCAA, and back [late last summer], they came out swinging." U-M SENIOR BOWL CONTINGENT PERFORMED WELL IN PRACTICES Michigan sent three players to the Re- ese's Senior Bowl National Team in edge Josaiah Stewart, running back Donovan Edwards and long snapper William Wag- ner. The group impressed during prac- tices, all showing off their skills despite only Wagner opting to participate in the game. Stewart — a 6-foot-0¾, 248-pound edge rusher — generated buzz and checked in as the No. 46 overall prospect on NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremi- ah's big board. Chicago Bears writer Lo- rin Cox of SI.com listed him as a prospect the Bears should look at and potentially draft. ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Michigan Responds To NCAA Notice Of Allegations 2025 MICHIGAN SCHEDULE Date Opponent April 19 Spring Game Noon Aug. 30 NEW MEXICO Sept. 6 at Oklahoma Sept. 13 CENTRAL MICHIGAN Sept. 20 at Nebraska Sept. 27 Bye Oct. 4 WISCONSIN Oct. 11 at USC Oct. 18 WASHINGTON Oct. 25 at Michigan State Nov. 1 PURDUE Nov. 8 Bye Nov. 15 at Northwestern Nov. 22 at Maryland Nov. 29 OHIO STATE