ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s game week for your Michigan Wolverines, and instead of talking amongst your friends and family about how you’re going to celebrate Team 144′s College Football Playoff National Championship victory, you’re yet again going to talk about the NCAA’s investigation into the alleged sign-stealing scandal. The NCAA delivered its full notice of allegations to the Wolverines football program on Sunday (Aug. 25) regarding the alleged scandal centered around former staff member Connor Stalions. According to Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Pat Forde, the NCAA confirmed the NOA was delivered to Michigan.
“The NCAA can confirm that a Notice of Allegations has been distributed to the school and involved parties in the Michigan investigation,” wrote Forde on X. “To protect the integrity of the infractions process as the case progresses forward, the NCAA will not provide any further comment on the specifics included.”
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NCAA statement:
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 25, 2024
The NCAA can confirm that a Notice of Allegations has been distributed to the school and involved parties in the Michigan investigation. To protect the integrity of the infractions process as the case progresses forward, the NCAA will not provide any further…
The statement follows an ESPN report that Michigan received a draft of the NOA from the NCAA earlier this month, saying Stalions illegally scouted and obtained signs from at least 13 opponents on 58 different occasions from 2021 to 2023.
Stallions, whose Netflix documentary will air on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, will speak for the first time since all this chaos was leaked last season. The outside noise inspired the Wolverines championship run last season, and fom the looks of it, it’s inspiring them to go on another magical run this season as more outside noise continues to make its way through the program.
According to NBC Sports, seven staff members, including former head coach Jim Harbaugh, Denard Robinson, Jesse Minter, and current head coach Sherrone Moore, are facing Level 1 violations in the matter. In 2023, Stalions resigned during the season; Harbaugh was suspended for the first three games of last season due to recruiting violations and the final three games of the regular season for the alleged sign-stealing scandal.
Moore (Facing Level 2 violations), who stepped in to guide the championship train down the stretch of last season, is said to be facing a “Show cause” penalty and possible suspension for allegedly deleting approximately 52 text messages with Stalions.
NBC Sports college football insider Nicole Auerbach posted on X noted the majority of what ESPN reported earlier this month still stands.
One other difference: Michigan's earlier case involving COVID-era recruiting violations has now been resolved by the NCAA. So, Harbaugh/Moore can be considered repeat violators.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 25, 2024
Stalions lawyers after months of staying quiet took shots at the NCAA Sunday saying that the investigation was “One-sided, biased and crooked.” “This investigation has been a witch hunt from day one intended to besmirch Michigan and Coach (Jim) Harbaugh,” wrote attorneys Brad Beckworth and Nathan Hall in a statement. “Connor is a scapegoat in the NCAA’s ongoing quest to show that it has a purpose in today’s sports world.” “The NOA says Connor’s friends and family sent him film from games they attended with tickets Connor purchased,” Stalions’ lawyers wrote. “But there is no rule against that.”
The lawyers said that the “Only ‘scouting’ that took place in the case happened on Michigan’s campus from behind Connor’s computer.”
Michigan has 90 days to respond to the NOA. All signs point to Stalions and the Wolverines will fight the allegation at a NCAA infractions hearing. Stalions during this whole ordeal recently accepted a volunteer position as the new defensive coordinator at Mumford High School and his lawyers say its time to move on. “Connor has suffered enough,” wrote his lawyers. “It’s time for everyone to move on.”
Before the Stalions Netflix documentary releases, fans on either side of the scandal should remember that NCAA President Charlie Baker said the Wolverines football national championship was earned fair and square and that his organization’s unusual decision to share information about cheating allegations during the season was to help eliminate doubt about the legitimacy of Michigan’s national championship run.
The No. 9-ranked Wolverines will host the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. on NBC inside the Big House.
