No. 2 Michigan is embroiled in an alleged sophisticated scouting and sign-stealing scandal. This is because the age-old practice of sign stealing may already have disappeared from college football.
During the upcoming 2023-24 bowl season, the NCAA Rules Committee will give teams the option to use coach-player helmet communication to relay plays from the sideline. Although this practice has been a staple of the NFL for nearly three decades, for some reason it has not caught on in the FBS.
This could change soon.
“If you were to survey coaches and ask, ‘What is your biggest technology wish?’ it would be a communication between coach and player,” said Steve Shaw, secretary and editor of the rules committee.
It was announced Thursday that the NCAA is investigating Michigan for personally scouting future opponents in order to steal signs.
Will this burgeoning scandal accelerate the era of helmet communications?
“The idea is that if there was communication between coach and player, the number of signals going onto the field would be minimized,” Shaw added.
The mere mention of an NCAA investigation could cause Michigan’s remaining opponents to completely overhaul their supporting cast. A 30-year-old NCAA rule prohibits in-person advance scouting of opponents. Stealing signs per se is not against NCAA rules, but an advance scout doing so is against the rules.
It is all about:
- Whether Michigan used a soft schedule in the first half to refine its sign-stealing tactics for the second half, in which it plays Penn State and Ohio State.
- Whether videos were used to scout future opponents; Game films shared between teams typically don’t show enough of the sidelines to make out signs.
- Two Michigan opponents told Yahoo Sports that the Wolverines knew their signs. A halftime interview with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano on Sept. 23 raised suspicions.
Teams that don’t huddle usually signal during the game – with large cardboard signs or by hand – using multiple people to confuse the opponent.
Harbaugh issued a statement late Thursday denying that the program was “illegally” stealing signs. Stealing signs on game day is considered fine art and is not a crime under NCAA rules unless it involves technology.
“If you just stand on the sideline and look and figure it out, there’s no rule that prevents it,” Shaw confirmed.
The NCAA appears to be well on its way to adopting electronic communications. Both teams used helmet communications on a trial basis at the 2021 Bayou Classic between Southern and Grambling State. GoRout is developing a technology to route signals through a watch-like device. Gallaudet University recently received permission from the NCAA to use visual technology in helmets for its hearing-impaired athletes.
It has yet to be decided which players or teams will use the helmet technology this bowl season.
“Once the coaches trust it and feel comfortable with it, it will do that [eliminate signs]said Shaw. “[Coaches] I would probably be paranoid if the technology failed. ‘Then what do we do?’”
The university’s rationale for not adopting the technology centered on cost and liability concerns. Helmet manufacturers have announced that any moderation of this piece of equipment may violate the safety standards of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). NOCSAE is considered the industry standard for helmet safety.
Head injury lawsuits have caused several helmet manufacturers to go out of business. This makes Ridell and Schutt the last major helmet manufacturers.
No liability has been established for helmet communications technology that may be used during bowl season. Southern and Grambling have agreed to assume these liabilities in 2021. NFL helmets not only meet NOCSAE standards, but also the standards set by the NFL and NFLPA. According to sources, the Gallaudet helmets met NOCSAE standards.
The NCAA investigation into Michigan comes at a time when Harbaugh is already under investigation for allegedly lying to the NCAA about a series of Level II violations. To mitigate any penalties, Michigan self-imposed a three-game suspension on Harbaugh earlier this season.
Michigan is about to play its most emotional game of the season so far when it takes on rival Michigan State.