Yardbarker
x
Urban Meyer admits how he feels about the Michigan sign-stealing scandal with a ruling around the corner
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

We are likely just weeks away from a ruling in the Michigan Wolverines football sign-stealing scandal involving Connor Stallions — a story that has been a hot topic in the college football world for nearly two years.

Michigan won the national championship in the 2023 season, but followed that up with an 8–5 record last season after losing most of its championship roster. Still, the Wolverines managed to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes for a fourth straight time.

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer recently shared his thoughts on the scandal during an appearance on The Triple Option podcast.

“I got into it with some colleagues, even FOX colleagues — ‘Wow, coach, everybody does that!’ I was like, ‘Everybody does what?’” Meyer said, referring to stealing signs. “I even made some calls. I said, ‘Have you ever heard this before?’ They’re like, ‘No.’”

But whether other coaches have done that in the past — some people out there, reputable people like Bruce Feldman, I think, told me, ‘Well, this does happen at other places.’”

Meyer went on to explain why he views sign stealing as a serious issue and how it creates a clear competitive imbalance:

“I was like, ‘Bruce, I’ve never heard of this before.’ So a lot of it is to be determined on the surface. Is it a competitive advantage to know the signals of your opponents illegally? Of course it is,” Meyer stated.

“People need to understand that when you say signals, there are only a couple you can get that fast in real time. Is it a run or a pass? Is that significant? Hell yeah, it is. It’s a tremendous advantage.”

If Michigan is ultimately found guilty of sign stealing — and there’s a considerable amount of evidence suggesting they might be — harsh penalties could follow. The school has already self-imposed a two-game suspension on head coach Sherrone Moore, though the NCAA is under no obligation to accept that as sufficient punishment.

Meyer’s take is not surprising in the least, given his fierce competitive nature and legacy as one of college football’s most prominent figures.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!