Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh denies knowledge of alleged sign stealing, vows to cooperate with NCAA investigation

Michigan trainer Jim Harbaugh launched a remark on social media denying any knowledge of his team of workers illegally stealing indicators from warring parties. It got here simply hours after the Big Ten showed an NCAA investigation into this system following allegations of unlawful in-game scouting. While the Wolverines trainer was once adamant in his denial, he additionally vowed to absolutely cooperate with the NCAA investigation.  

“I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter,” Harbaugh said. “I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed staff members or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action. 

“I don’t condone or tolerate someone doing anything else unlawful or towards the NCAA laws. No topic what program or group that I’ve led during my occupation, my directions and consciousness of how we scout warring parties have at all times been firmly inside the laws. Pursuant to NCAA laws, I can no longer be ready to remark additional whilst this investigation takes position.”

The NCAA’s investigation comes after two 2023 Michigan opponents told Yahoo Sports the Wolverines were able to crack their in-game signals. Michigan is a perfect 7-0 and sits at No. 2 in the AP rankings as it prepares to visit Michigan State in Week 8. The NCAA is also looking into similar incidents involving the Wolverines that allegedly occurred prior to 2022, ESPN reports. While sign-stealing alone is not an NCAA violation, NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 states that “off-campus, in-person scouting of long run warring parties (in the similar season) is against the law.”

It is not the primary time that the Wolverines have encountered bother with the varsity sports activities governing frame this 12 months. Harbaugh served a school-imposed three-game suspension to get started the season after he was once accused of deceptive a NCAA investigators relating to accusations of impermissible recruiting and training all through the COVID-19 useless duration.