How the Michigan sign-stealing scandal and Jim Harbaugh’s suspension unfolded

The Big Ten case against Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has been closed.

Harbaugh agreed to serve the full three-game suspension, the first of which was served last week against Penn State. The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh the day before the Penn State game after saying it had “indisputable” evidence of a personal sign-stealing scheme.

Michigan initially sought a stay of execution against the Big Ten ruling in Washtenaw County (Mich.) District Court. A hearing on Michigan’s request to return Harbaugh to the sideline was scheduled for Friday. That hearing has now been canceled as the Big Ten has agreed to close its investigation.

Harbaugh will now be suspended for this weekend’s game at Maryland and the following week’s huge game against rival Ohio State. He will be eligible to coach any subsequent postseason games, including a potential Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff.

While the NCAA investigation is still ongoing, the Big Ten’s case against Harbaugh has been settled. Here’s a look at how all the events have unfolded over the past month that have brought us to this point.

Oct. 18: The NCAA notifies the Big Ten of personal scouting allegations

In a meeting that the Big Ten said had “many unusual aspects,” NCAA President Charlie Baker held a phone call with the conference and Michigan in which he said the NCAA had “very credible evidence of a broad, multi-year in-person experiment.” -A campus scouting scheme is organized by a non-coaching member of the university’s football program.

On October 19, Yahoo Sports announced the existence of the investigation. According to Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettitte’s letter to Michigan on November 10, what was detailed in the call “was a clear statement from the NCAA that the nature and reliability of the evidence they received indicated that an improper scheme involving the college football team was continuing and created a significant risk of To undermine the integrity of football competitions this season.

On the same day the Yahoo report was released, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said in a statement issued that evening: “I have no knowledge or information regarding the illegal theft of signs from the University of Michigan football program, nor have I directed any employee or others to To participate”. On an off-campus exploratory mission.”

October 20: Connor Stallions was suspended with pay

Two days after the call, Yahoo Sports named Michigan analyst Connor Stallions as a central figure in the personal scouting allegations and detailed how other Big Ten schools were aware of the scheme.

“He’s driving the process,” one Big Ten coach told Yahoo’s Ross Dellinger. “You once said [Stalions]“We know what kind of nonsense you are doing and it is ridiculous.”

Later that day, Michigan announced it had suspended Stallions with pay.

Oct. 24: Yahoo Sports revealed the Stallions purchased tickets to non-Big Ten games

The personal scouting scheme wasn’t limited to Big Ten opponents. In addition to purchasing tickets to games featuring other Big Ten teams, Yahoo Sports revealed that the Stallions also purchased tickets to games featuring teams Michigan may play in the College Football Playoff.

Two days later, Yahoo reported that TCU — Michigan’s semifinal opponent in the College Football Playoff — was aware of the Stallions’ actions and changed its signals before the playoff game. TCU beat Michigan to advance to the national title game.

Oct. 31: Central Michigan announces investigation into who was on the sideline

Central Michigan said on Halloween that it was “in the process of determining the facts” regarding a photo of a Stallions-like man dressed in Central Michigan gear on the sideline of the team’s season opener against Michigan State in September.

Michigan beat Michigan State 49-0 in Week 8. The match was held after Stallions was suspended.

Nov. 2: Big Ten meets Michigan and presents “indisputable” evidence.

In a conference call featuring administrators from the school and the NCAA, the Big Ten said the NCAA “informed the conference and university that based on its investigation and the evidence it has collected, the NCAA “knows and can prove” many things. About Michigan’s personal discovery process. These aspects included how Stallions participated in and coordinated an advanced off-campus scouting scheme, and he and others “recorded video tags used by future University opponents while attending the opponents’ games in person” during Michigan games and Stallions was “present on the University sideline, dressed similar to the University’s coaches And he was close to the university coaches, and he communicated directly with these coaches.”

The Big Ten then held a phone call with other athletic directors in the conference in which leaders at other schools urged the conference to take action against Michigan.

Later that night, the Big Ten said Michigan President Santa Ono asked the conference not to issue a ruling until the results of the NCAA investigation came in because “verbal updates from NCAA enforcement personnel do not and cannot constitute evidence.”

November 3: Michigan parts ways with Connor Stallions

University of Michigan and recruiting analyst Connor Stallions have parted ways after a controversial two weeks. Several schools accused Stallions of purchasing tickets in his name to future Michigan opponents’ games and passing them on to numerous friends and acquaintances. These people were seen on various surveillance cameras in the stadiums carrying their mobile phones while playing, in order to record the signals of the assistant coaches.

Michigan issued a statement saying Stallions had resigned.

“Connor Stallions resigned from his position with the Michigan Athletics this afternoon. We are unable to comment further regarding this personnel matter,” the statement read.

November 4: The Big Ten gives Michigan a formal notice that it violated its sportsmanship policy

Two days after telling the school there was “indisputable” evidence regarding the theft of the personal sign, the Big Ten gave Michigan official notice that the school had violated the conference’s sportsmanship policy. “These were not isolated or random incidents,” the Big Ten said in its notice. The violations were widespread and systematic and occurred over several years.”

November 8: Michigan responds to Big Ten notice

Michigan responded four days after the Big Ten’s notice. The conference said Michigan “did not deny” the existence of the Stallions’ scheme and argued that the Big Ten did not have the authority to discipline the school. Michigan also told the Big Ten that other teams had shared its signs among themselves and that it “believes it has evidence that other members of the conference have engaged in impermissible personal sign stealing.”

November 10: Harbaugh was suspended for three games

Michigan’s response did not affect the Big Ten as Pettiti sent a letter to the school explaining why Jim Harbaugh was suspended for three games for stealing personal signs.

In the letter, the Big Ten said “the existence of the impermissible scheme has been proven” and that Harbaugh will be allowed to practice during the week but is prohibited from being on the sidelines on game days for the remainder of the regular season.

“We are imposing this disciplinary action even though the conference has not yet received any information indicating that Football Coach Harbaugh was aware of the impermissible nature of the sign-stealing scheme. This is not a punishment against Coach Harbaugh. It is a punishment against the university, under the extraordinary circumstances in which Represented by this offensive conduct, the violation fits best because: (1) it preserves the ability of the university’s football student-athletes to continue competing; and (2) it recognizes that the head coach embodies the university for the purposes of its football program.

November 11: Judge sets hearing for November 17 after Michigan beats Penn State

Michigan immediately responded against the Big Ten’s suspension and filed a stay of execution against the referee in Washtenaw County (Mich.). The judge in charge of the case, Tim Connors, did not issue a ruling before Michigan’s victory over Penn State on Saturday and set a hearing for November 17.

Michigan and Harbaugh argue that the Big Ten overstepped its bounds in suspending Harbaugh and that the conference lacks evidence to prove that Harbaugh himself violated any rules.

After Michigan’s win over Penn State, interim coach Sherwin Moore gave an emotional sideline interview and praised Harbaugh.

“I want to thank God. I want to thank Coach Harbaugh. I love you, man. I love this from you, man. We did this for you,” Moore said after the win. “For this university, and the president, and our announcement…we got “The best players, the best university, the best alumni in the country.”

No. 16: Jim Harbaugh agrees to serve a 3-game suspension and settle the case before his court date

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has agreed to serve a three-game suspension imposed by the Big Ten amid an investigation into impermissible personal sign stealing by a member of the UM football staff.

That closes the book on the Big Ten’s penalty against Harbaugh a day before a scheduled court date that would have determined whether or not Harbaugh could have had a suspension suspended.

The university issued a statement saying the pending lawsuit between UM, Harbaugh and the Big Ten has been resolved. As a result, the Big Ten agreed to close its investigation into Michigan and Harbaugh will serve his entire suspension.