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When answering a question about Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal on Wednesday’s College Football Playoff teleconference, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy said most college football programs legally steal signs, including Ohio State in 2019 and 2020.
“I also feel like it’s so unfortunate because there’s probably – I don’t want to say a crazy number, but I’d say a good number, 80 percent of the teams in college football steal signs,” McCarthy said. “It’s just a thing about football. It’s been around for years.
“We actually had to adapt because in 2020 or 2019 when Ohio State was stealing our signs, which is legal and they were doing it, we had to get up to the level that they were at, and we had to make it an even playing field.”
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates a play against Alabama during overtime of the 2024 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Ohio State did not play Michigan in 2020 due to the Wolverines opting out of the game during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the Buckeyes won their matchup 56-27. It was Ohio State’s most recent victory against Michigan.
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Former Michigan recruiting staff member Connor Stalions is alleged to have led a sign-stealing scheme that had Michigan representatives film the sidelines of future opponents to decode sideline signals. This violates NCAA bylaws against in-person advance scouting. Stalions resigned in November.
Linebackers coach Chris Partidge was fired in November for telling players not to speak to investigators about the scheme. Jim Harbaugh was suspended for three games by the Big Ten for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy.
Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham continued that his team “get tendencies” from other programs by watching film, saying his team has “high football…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/j-j-mccarthy-says-michigan-205331853.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-03 20:53:31
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