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The constant barrage of reporting on the investigation into the Michigan football program has produced little in the way of facts, but plenty of rumor, speculation, and flat-out incorrect information – as well as a lot of clicks along the way.
Since the NCAA investigation into the Michigan football program became public nearly two weeks ago, two things have become clear. The first is that Connor Stalions, a low-level football staff member, pushed the boundaries of scouting future opponents and likely violated NCAA regulations in the process. The second is that, in their rush to capitalize on the gold mine that has become this ongoing saga in Ann Arbor, members of both the local and national media have exposed themselves as a group that values analytics over accuracy.
The steady stream of reporting on the investigation into the Michigan football program hasn’t yielded many facts, but it has yielded plenty of rumors, speculation, and flat-out incorrect information – as well as a lot of clicks along the way.
Here are a few examples of what has been “reported” in the last week:
Jim Stapleton, a University of Michigan alum and current minority owner of the Minnesota Vikings, is the source of the media leaks. Why? Because he currently serves on the NCAA infractions board and allegedly has a beef with Jim Harbaugh.
Ryan Day hired his brother’s private investigative firm to dig up dirt on Harbaugh’s program, and the firm then presented the evidence to the NCAA, forcing the NCAA to launch an investigation.
A “secret” emergency U-M meeting was reportedly held late at night on Oct. 29, indicating that something significant was about to happen. The same night, U-M regent Jordan Acker denied the report.
Jim Harbaugh’s contract offer was “rescinded” by the University of Michigan. Within 24 hours, Jim Harbaugh refuted that claim, and it was later reported that the University of Michigan regents voted unanimously to proceed with Harbaugh’s extension, which would make him the highest-paid head coach in the Big Ten conference.
Tom Mars, Jim Harbaugh’s lawyer, was said to be in Ann Arbor in early October for contract negotiations. Mars took to social media to deny the report, claiming that he had not visited Ann Arbor this year.
One Big Ten school reportedly suggested that the Michigan football ball boys were involved in the sign-stealing scheme, even going so far as to warn Michigan’s next opponent to be on the lookout. That future opponent stated that they saw/experienced nothing that indicated the ball boys were involved.
Multiple reports have attempted to link the investigation into former University of Michigan quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss to the current investigation into the football program, despite the fact that University of Michigan Deputy Chief of Police Melissa Overton has already stated that the two are unrelated.
In addition to the flurry of speculative and inaccurate reporting, several prominent members of the national media have spent the last week urging the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA to punish the Michigan football program – and to do so before the investigation is completed. To be clear, none of those members of the national media have seen any evidence of what happened or who was involved, but that hasn’t stopped them from calling for action.
