3 days ago
The full scope of Michigan football's NCAA violations and punishment from 'signgate'
After nearly two years, lots of rivalry and media banter, Michigan football finally learned its fate upon the conclusion of the NCAA investigation into 'signgate' as well as the subsequent Committee on Infractions hearing. The COI released its findings and subsequent punishment of the program, Connor Stalions, Jim Harbaugh, and Denard Robinson on Friday.
The Wolverines were charged with 11 infractions, including six Level I violations. Ultimately, they were found to have violated four Level I infractions and four Level II infractions, according to the 'aggravating factor' section in the release.
First, Bylaw 19.12.3.1-(a), Multiple Level I and/or Level II violations, applies because Michiganis responsible for four Level I violations and four Level II violations.
The panel determined that three of the Level I violations were on Stalions and considered his actions to be premeditated. Harbaugh was cited for two Level I violations (these were nested within the same categories, which accounts for the number disparity of four and four). The charges against Chris Partridge were dropped.
Here is what the NCAA determined, with the indented quote falling within the category immediately above.
During the 2021, 2022 and 2023 football seasons, Stalions and members of the Michigan footballprogram violated the principles of honesty and sportsmanship when Stalions conducted and/ordirected and arranged for other individuals to conduct 56 instances of off-campus, in-personscouting of 13 future regular season opponents across 52 contests. This violation is Level I. (...)
In the spring and summer of 2023, Clinkscale and Robinson provided impermissible recruitinginducements to prospect 1 and his parents in the form of gear, transportation and a meal.22Additionally, Clinkscale attempted to assist prospect 2 with verifying his Instagram account anddonated $100 to the charity golf outing of the father of prospect 3. These violations are Level II. (...)
Between January 18 and April 25, 2023, Minter and Partridge sent a total of nearly 100 textmessages to a prospect prior to the permissible date. This violation is Level II. (...)
As a result of the underlying scouting and recruiting violations, Harbaugh violated the principlesof head coach responsibility. This violation is Level I. (...)
At various times throughout this investigation, Stalions, Harbaugh, Moore and Robinson eachfailed to cooperate under Bylaw 19. Each of those violations is Level I, except for Moore's failureto cooperate, which is Level II. (...)
From the fall of 2021 into the fall of 2023, Michigan failed to monitor its football program. Theviolation is Level II. (...)
The NOA alleged additional violations for Partridge, including: (1) arranging and conductingimpermissible tryouts with prospects; (2) providing an impermissible inducement to a prospect;and (3) failing to cooperate during and after his employment at Michigan. The recruitingallegations were presented as Level II. The failure to cooperate allegations were presented asLevel I. Partridge disputed each of the allegations. The panel concludes that the case record doesnot demonstrate that these violations occurred.
With those charges now considered violations, here is what the NCAA is penalizing Michigan with:
The recruiting restrictions and fine are likely what will hit Michigan football the hardest. Sherrone Moore's punishment does not appear to affect game week -- a change from recent NCAA restrictions to suspended coaches, which prohibited them from the entire week. But Moore, like Jim Harbaugh in 2023, will not be able to be in the stadium, though should be able to work with the team during the preparation for said game.
As noted, Harbaugh and Stalions both have one-year suspensions should a team hire them, despite their show-causes. Moore will be able to persist coaching with his two-year show-cause, but it will put added scrutiny on his actions in that time. Of course, the Wolverines will be under a four-year probation anyhow.
Unlike what many had expected, there were no postseason bans (though Michigan is penalized financially in the postseason for the next two years), and there is no vacation of anything that happened from 2021-23.
