The Big Ten has sent formal notification of potential disciplinary action to the University of Michigan in relation to the football program’s alleged in-person scouting and sign stealing scandal.
The notice of disciplinary action 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,” according to a report from The Detroit Free Press.
The conference rule also prohibits the commissioner from commenting publicly regarding either an investigation or disciplinary action before first providing notice to the school.
College football reporter Brett McMurphy reported Monday Michigan has “received notice from the Big Ten indicating specific sign stealing allegations,” but it was not clear what punishment may be handed down.
The school has until Wednesday to respond to the Big Ten’s notice, according to reports. Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel, a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee, released a statement Monday afternoon saying he would be skipping the committee's weekly meeting in Texas.
"I will not be traveling to our weekly meeting in Dallas but instead will stay in Ann Arbor, attending to important matters regarding the ongoing investigation into our football program," Manuel's statement said. "I look forward to being back in the room with my fellow committee members next week and every week through the end of this season."
McMurphy reported a Michigan source views the conference’s pursuit of penalties against the program or head coach Jim Harbaugh as “a ‘PR stunt’ in response to public pressure & in light of the conference’s lack of action up to this point.”
He reports the school is expected to take legal action in response to any disciplinary actions.
The news of potential disciplinary action comes in the midst of an NCAA investigation into the program allegedly scouting future opponents in-person and allegedly using recording devices to collect opponents’ signals from the sidelines.
Specifically, former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions has become the centerpiece of the investigation. He is accused of buying tickets to other schools’ stadiums, and transferring them to other people, who were allegedly seen in those seats recording the opponents’ sidelines.
Though a 1994 NCAA rule bans in-person scouting, stealing opponents’ signs is not technically against NCAA rules. What is against rules, however, is using devices to record those signs, which is what the program is alleged to have done.
Stalions resigned last week after the investigation took a bizarre turn when photos from the Sept. 1 FS1 broadcast of Central Michigan’s season opener at Michigan State this year began circulating on social media, showing a man who resembles Stalions wearing CMU gear and sunglasses on the team’s sideline.
CMU officials, including head coach Jim McElwain — who had a short stint as a Michigan assistant in 2018 — have been unable to identify the person in those photos.
Harbaugh has denied having any knowledge of Stalions' alleged actions or any wrongdoing within the program.