Michigan

[CoachHines3]

if you have an athletic subscriptions, i highly recommend reading this. the writer interviewed a "Sign stealer" for a power 5 program.

10 lessons of a college football signal stealer: What to watch for and how not to ‘get got’

A signal stealer at a Power 5 program that does not have Michigan on its schedule opens up on how this game within the game actually works.

theathletic.com

i've been saying this all along and this quote sums it up perfectly:

“The clip circulating, I’m like, shoot, that looks like every sideline I’ve been across in America,” he said. “I just think people don’t pay attention to it."


"The lack of awareness about this practice is what’s baffling to our signal stealer, especially given some of the extreme reactions he’s seen over the past week. Again, there’s a clear difference between what Michigan is alleged to have illegally done and what other coaching staffs traditionally do to steal signals. But those who are offended by signal stealing should pay a little attention to their own sideline.

“The average fans who are crying, ‘Oh my gosh, look at them cheat!’ Well, wait ‘til you see your team do it,” he said. “Because I promise you they’re gonna do it this Saturday.”

 

[Clark]

if you have an athletic subscriptions, i highly recommend reading this. the writer interviewed a "Sign stealer" for a power 5 program.

10 lessons of a college football signal stealer: What to watch for and how not to ‘get got’

A signal stealer at a Power 5 program that does not have Michigan on its schedule opens up on how this game within the game actually works.

theathletic.com

i've been saying this all along and this quote sums it up perfectly:

“The clip circulating, I’m like, shoot, that looks like every sideline I’ve been across in America,” he said. “I just think people don’t pay attention to it."


"The lack of awareness about this practice is what’s baffling to our signal stealer, especially given some of the extreme reactions he’s seen over the past week. Again, there’s a clear difference between what Michigan is alleged to have illegally done and what other coaching staffs traditionally do to steal signals. But those who are offended by signal stealing should pay a little attention to their own sideline.

“The average fans who are crying, ‘Oh my gosh, look at them cheat!’ Well, wait ‘til you see your team do it,” he said. “Because I promise you they’re gonna do it this Saturday.”

Isn't the bolded the entire point?

 

[3TrueFans]

if you have an athletic subscriptions, i highly recommend reading this. the writer interviewed a "Sign stealer" for a power 5 program.

10 lessons of a college football signal stealer: What to watch for and how not to ‘get got’

A signal stealer at a Power 5 program that does not have Michigan on its schedule opens up on how this game within the game actually works.

theathletic.com

i've been saying this all along and this quote sums it up perfectly:

“The clip circulating, I’m like, shoot, that looks like every sideline I’ve been across in America,” he said. “I just think people don’t pay attention to it."


"The lack of awareness about this practice is what’s baffling to our signal stealer, especially given some of the extreme reactions he’s seen over the past week. Again, there’s a clear difference between what Michigan is alleged to have illegally done and what other coaching staffs traditionally do to steal signals. But those who are offended by signal stealing should pay a little attention to their own sideline.

“The average fans who are crying, ‘Oh my gosh, look at them cheat!’ Well, wait ‘til you see your team do it,” he said. “Because I promise you they’re gonna do it this Saturday.”

Are there people that legitimately didn't know that people on one sideline try to figure out the calls on the other sideline? The entire point is the method that you do it, whether it's against the rules or not.

 

[CoachHines3]

Isn't the bolded the entire point?

ive never said what they did isn't illegal. yes, michigan went to greater lengths to steal signs.

im saying, this happens everywhere and everyone thinking it doesn't is just dumb.

i guarantee you iowa state has someone looking over at the opposing sideline to see whats coming.

 

[3TrueFans]

ive never said what they did isn't illegal. yes, michigan went to greater lengths to steal signs.

im saying, this happens everywhere and everyone thinking it doesn't is just dumb.

i guarantee you iowa state has someone looking over at the opposing sideline to see whats coming.

I'm confused what you're trying to say, are you trying to justify Michigan's cheating because this happens everywhere?

 

[CoachHines3]

I'm confused what you're trying to say, are you trying to justify Michigan's cheating because this happens everywhere?

I'm not trying to justify the lengths they went to to steal signs. Everyone, including me, knows that it was illegal.

The public outrage because michigan stole signs is foolish.

It does happen everywhere, thats a fact.

 

[3TrueFans]

I'm not trying to justify the lengths they went to to steal signs. Everyone, including me, knows that it was illegal.

The public outrage because michigan stole signs is foolish.

It does happen everywhere, thats a fact.

The public outrage is because they broke the rules, right? Nobody reported them for stealing signs from the sideline.

 

[CoachHines3]

The public outrage is because they broke the rules, right? Nobody reported them for stealing signs from the sideline.

maybe you and I just see different stuff, but ive seen a bunch of outrage because they were stealing signs. the way they did just added more fuel to the fire.

stealing signs going to the game and stealing signs from broadcasts and film- not much of a difference to me.

 

[Tre4ISU]

ive never said what they did isn't illegal. yes, michigan went to greater lengths to steal signs.

im saying, this happens everywhere and everyone thinking it doesn't is just dumb.

i guarantee you iowa state has someone looking over at the opposing sideline to see whats coming.

It’s been talked about before that ISU has done a pretty nice job of sign stealing. There’s a few games in our recent history where I wonder if we got got.

I don’t think people realized how much emphasis is placed on it. I’ll bet far more than half of teams have a person whose only job is to try and break code.

 

[CoachHines3]

It’s been talked about before that ISU has done a pretty nice job of sign stealing. There’s a few games in our recent history where I wonder if we got got.

I don’t think people realized how much emphasis is placed on it. I’ll bet far more than half of teams have a person whose only job is to try and break code.

I like the part of the article where it talks about how you know if you got got

 

[Tre4ISU]

If coaches are pissed there’s a really easy fix. Vote for communication instead of voting it down because you don’t want to implement it. It’s ridiculous that high schools and NFL team implement technology and NCAA football doesn’t.

 

[3TrueFans]

maybe you and I just see different stuff, but ive seen a bunch of outrage because they were stealing signs. the way they did just added more fuel to the fire.

Every article I've seen has been about sign stealing is regards to this guy going to games, are there ones that are only talking about sign stealing?

stealing signs going to the game and stealing signs from broadcasts and film- not much of a difference to me.

One's legal, but if there isn't much difference why was this guy, who is apparently the Rain Man of sign stealing, going to or sending people to all these games?

 

[ISUTex]

I think teams should hold up signs telling their players exactly what to do in plain English. That way everybody knows what play is coming and nobody has their feelings hurt.

 

[CoachHines3]

Every article I've seen has been about sign stealing is regards to this guy going to games, are there ones that are only talking about sign stealing?


One's legal, but if there isn't much difference why was this guy, who is apparently the Rain Man of sign stealing, going to or sending people to all these games?

because he wanted to build an empire. He created his own manifesto and wanted to run his own football program doing what he did. what this guy was doing in person could of easily been accomplished by watching film and tv broadcasts. He was doing it more for his reputation.

did you read the athletic article? If not, there is also this quote:
“I promise you, within a day, I could take the average fan and watch three TV copies with them and they’ll know signals by the end of it,” he said. “We’re trying to signal in a play that a college kid has to comprehend. This isn’t rocket science. The signals are not ridiculously tough to figure out.”...

“As a signal stealing person myself, if you don’t want me to get all your stuff off TV copy, change your signals,” he said. “If you’re not gonna change your signals, we’re gonna have your signals. Because I’ll put in the work to make sure we get your signals.”

 

[3TrueFans]

because he wanted to build an empire. He created his own manifesto and wanted to run his own football program doing what he did. what this guy was doing in person could of easily been accomplished by watching film and tv broadcasts. He was doing it more for his reputation.

did you read the athletic article? If not, there is also this quote:
“I promise you, within a day, I could take the average fan and watch three TV copies with them and they’ll know signals by the end of it,” he said. “We’re trying to signal in a play that a college kid has to comprehend. This isn’t rocket science. The signals are not ridiculously tough to figure out.”...

“As a signal stealing person myself, if you don’t want me to get all your stuff off TV copy, change your signals,” he said. “If you’re not gonna change your signals, we’re gonna have your signals. Because I’ll put in the work to make sure we get your signals.”

I don't have a subscription, that is interesting. Still doesn't make this not cheating though.

 

[CoachHines3]

I don't have a subscription, that is interesting. Still doesn't make this not cheating though.

So do you believe, in general, sign stealing is cheating? No matter how you get the signs? (and its fine if you do) but if you think what he did is cheating, other avenues of attaining signs has to be cheating.

 

[3TrueFans]

So do you believe, in general, sign stealing is cheating? No matter how you get the signs? (and its fine if you do) but if you think what he did is cheating, other avenues of attaining signs has to be cheating.

The bolded doesn't make sense, it's not the sign stealing that's illegal, it's the in-person scouting. No, I don't think stealing signs from TV or on the field is cheating, because it's objectively not, there's no rule against it.

 

[CoachHines3]

The bolded doesn't make sense, it's not the sign stealing that's illegal, it's the in-person scouting. No, I don't think stealing signs from TV or on the field is cheating, because it's objectively not, there's no rule against it.

Whether you do it in person or from TV, aren't both of those avenues ending at the exact same spot?

 

[3TrueFans]

Whether you do it in person or from TV, aren't both of those avenues ending at the exact same spot?

In the same way that if I steal a can of soup or buy a can of soup either way I'm still going end up eating some soup, I suppose.

 

[isucy86]

ive never said what they did isn't illegal. yes, michigan went to greater lengths to steal signs.

im saying, this happens everywhere and everyone thinking it doesn't is just dumb.

i guarantee you iowa state has someone looking over at the opposing sideline to see whats coming.

Don't think this is accurate. I feel like most people believe teams are trying to decipher the other teams signs. Heck, wasn't their an accusation back in 2020/21 that other Big12 teams thought ISU was stealing signs?

The issue is Michigan clearly violating NCAA rules that have been in place 30 years. Combined with Michigan's recruiting violations during covid, it seems like Michigan/Harbaugh feel the need to cheat to be an elite team.

It will be interesting to see what steps/penalties the NCAA imposes. It just seems like the NCAA has lost not only any bite, but any bark regarding compliance matter. I am getting to the point where I feel each P5 conference has to take over legislation/compliance of its member schools. It would be curious to see what types of penalties Kansas and Michigan incur(red) if their fellow conference members decided penalties.