The University of Michigan was presented with extensive evidence collected by the NCAA investigating the school’s alleged involvement in a sign-stealing campaign believed to be run by now-former employee Connor Stallions, according to reports.
of evidence According to Yahoo Sports, college boosters have also been shown to have financed the Stallions’ run for dozens of Big Ten games, and that assistant coaches withdrew evidence on their computers when the scandal broke. Yahoo Sports reported.
This evidence may have persuaded the school and head coach Jim Harbaugh’s attorneys to drop their court attempt to seek a temporary restraining order over Harbaugh’s three-game suspension. The motion was scheduled to be heard Friday morning in Michigan’s Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
The school also just fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge.
Sources told Yahoo that Partridge suggested destroying evidence, as stated in an NCAA information package sent to universities.
Linebackers coach Chris Partridge speaks with No. 23 Michael Barrett of the Blue team during the second quarter of the Michigan football spring game at Michigan Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Jamie Crawford/Getty Images)
NCAA evidence further identified a man named “Uncle T” as a college booster who funded the Stallions’ trip around the Big Ten.
Stallions, identified as a “recruiting analyst,” formally resigned from his position earlier this month. However, the school had already suspended him several weeks earlier.
The suspended staffer allegedly purchased tickets in his name for more than 30 games at 11 different Big Ten schools over the past three years. He was also reportedly seen standing on the other school’s sideline during some of these games.
The Stallions are accused of participating in a sign-stealing scheme that included illegal video, electronic spying and written memos. Reports in October said the Stallions had forwarded the purchased tickets to at least three people across the country.
None of the games he bought tickets for involved the team he worked for. Rather, they are said to have all involved other teams.
Harbaugh was suspended for three games and will miss the remaining three games of the regular season. But during last weekend’s game, after the win against Penn State, he declared the Wolverines “America’s team.”
University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (Steve Branscomb/Getty Images)
Harbaugh is currently serving a three-game suspension for sign stealing.
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