The University of Michigan has sent a 10-page letter to the Big Ten in response to the conference’s notice of potential disciplinary action in relation with the ongoing in-person scouting and sign-stealing investigation, according to Dan Wetzel and Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.
Michigan warned the conference against taking what it describes as “premature” action against head coach Jim Harbaugh, according to the report.
The notice of disciplinary action — reported on Monday — is required by bylaws in the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy, which says “in the event that it becomes clear that an institution is likely to be subjected to disciplinary action, the Commissioner shall notify that institution or individual at the earliest reasonable opportunity.”
The conference rule also prohibits the commissioner from commenting publicly regarding either an investigation or disciplinary action before first providing notice to the school.
Michigan had until Wednesday to respond to the notice.
In their reportedly strongly worded response, school officials cited “numerous reasons objecting to any discipline being handed down on the program or coach Jim Harbaugh,” including an apparent lack of evidence, according to Wetzel.
In the letter, the school reportedly “questions the league’s evidence in the case as grossly insufficient,” and believes the conference is “in a rush” to punish the Wolverines because of “public and internal pressure from other Big Ten schools that would create an ‘indefensible precedent,’” according to the Yahoo report.
Specifically, according to Wetzel on X (formerly Twitter), the broad points of Michigan’s response include:
“1. Unadjudicated rule violations cannot be the basis for a sportsmanship action.
2. Commissioner Tony Petitti lacks authority to punish Harbaugh under the league's Sportsmanship policy.
3. Disciplinary action at this time would be highly disproportionate given the broader regulatory context of the case (i.e. other teams stealing signs and sharing them, making team de facto in person scouts.)”
“Michigan argues that the Big Ten's evidence is so scant that it lacked any proof of almost any wrongdoing by even Connor Stalions,” Wetzel said in a post on X. Due to that lack of evidence, Michigan says it “has no ability to dispute the allegations at this time,” according to Wetzel.
The response also “includes documents and pictures of Michigan's offensive and defense signs that were allegedly stolen and shared by other Big Ten teams,” as was reported by multiple outlets earlier this week.
Wetzel also reported a separate letter from Harbaugh's attorney, Tom Mars, made many of the same arguments, including a "lack of evidence of any guilt."
