HOUSTON — There are many adjectives used to describe Michigan.
Rough. physically. It is elastic. Dominant. Balanced.
Another controversial scammer.
With a win over Washington on Monday night at NRG Stadium in Houston, the University of Michigan would win the school's first national championship since 1997, ending more than 25 years of setbacks and allowing Jim Harbaugh to lead his alma mater. This marks the end of a three-year record that turned the script on its head. .
In Harbaugh's first six seasons as head coach, Michigan was underwhelming and failed to win any important games. Recently, they have defeated Ohio State three times in a row and finally made it to the College Football Playoff after losing just one game the past two years.
But as much as a win would return the Wolverines to the top of the college football world, the sign-stealing and in-game scouting scandals that rocked the sports world will become part of this team's story, leading to NCAA sanctions. there is a possibility. Down the road.
Just as the 2008 Florida champions are partially remembered for their many off-the-field issues, highlighted by the late Aaron Hernandez. Just as the 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros have been ridiculed for their elaborate sign-stealing scandal in which they banged on trash cans to tell batters what pitches they were pitching. Those scars won't go away.
Lower-level staffer Connor Stallions is said to have run an elaborate system of scouting and sign-stealing. The Stallions purchased tickets to games against other Big Ten teams and potential playoff opponents. He reportedly purchased tickets for more than 35 games at 17 different stadiums across the country through third-party sellers and had a network of at least three people who were given tickets to attend the games. He said he had it. He was seen on videotape recording the sideline of a future University of Michigan opponent.
There is still much we don't know and much that will probably never be revealed. How much of an advantage did the University of Michigan have? Did they know what kind of play their opponent was playing? Was this scandal part of a recent domination? Knowing the NCAA, by the time the verdict comes down, the NCAA will no longer exist.
If it wasn't for the advantage, it's unlikely Michigan would have continued to do so. But once word of the controversy got out, Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten for the final three games of the regular season, and the Stallions resigned amid an NCAA investigation, it's hard to believe the Wolverines would have stuck with it. Yet they defeated Ohio State again. They defeated the University of Alabama in the playoffs with guts in overtime, and were considered by most experts to be the favorite to win it all.
The University of Michigan has won seven straight games since the scandal broke. The Wolverines' play hasn't slowed down at all. Rather, we used criticism as fuel to create the way we think about the world.
“It was almost an unfair advantage,” Harbaugh said after the thrilling Rose Bowl victory.
Considering Michigan's performance after the news broke in mid-October, an argument could be made that sign stealing wasn't a big factor. At least, that's what Michigan supporters want everyone to believe. Asked recently about the possibility of the championship being invalidated by the NCAA, Harbaugh dismissed the idea.
“I guess you want to live in a world of rumors and speculation,” he said. “I don't have time for that right now.”
Quarterback JJ McCarthy said 80 percent of college football teams steal signs, that rival Ohio State stole Michigan's signs “in 2020 or 2019,” and that the Wolverines are “not at that level.” I believe it was necessary to reach this point. He later issued a statement saying Michigan needs to take additional precautions to protect its signs. This is not an admission of guilt, as some have quoted him as saying.
Michigan fans will ignore the sign-stealing scandal. Fans who disagree will quote it and say the title is dirty. The rest of us will remember that too. Opinions will obviously differ.
This is going to be part of the Wolverines' story whether they like it or not. The flag will never go away, but neither will the scandal. Especially when it comes to championships.
