Urban Meyer reaffirms Michigan sign-stealing was a competitive advantage: 'Of course it is'

The NCAA’s investigation into the Michigan football program is still ongoing two years after news broke that former Wolverines assistant coach Connor Stalions was allegedly stealing upcoming opponents’ signs.

Much debate has been made over the polarizing situation. Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has remained firm in his stance that Stalions’ alleged form of advanced scouting gave the Wolverines a competitive advantage at the time.

“Everybody needs to understand that when you say signals, there are only a couple signals you can get that fast in real time,” Meyer said during the Triple Option Podcast. “Is it a run or a pass? Is that significant? Hell yeah it is — it’s a tremendous advantage. It changes the entire technique of your defensive front, linebackers. The second everybody knows it’s a pass, that’s a completely different story. Snd then the whole right or left, if they know it’s a run to the right or run to the left. And that’s why I understand what the advantages are.”

Then-Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for three games during the 2023 regular season in response to the allegations. Elsewhere on the Michigan staff, not only was Stalions fired but linebackers coach Chris Partridge was also let go once the allegations surfaced. Harbaugh would return for the Big Ten Championship game and subsequent national championship before leaving to coach the Chargers in the NFL.

“Whether other coaches have done that before in the past … I’ve never heard of this before. A lot of this is to be determined on the surface, but is it a competitive advantage to know the signals of your opponents illegally? You got them illegally,” Meyer said. “Of course it is.”

In an attempt to lighten the blow from the NCAA when it’s investigation is finished, Michigan has self-imposed a two-game suspension on second-year head coach Sherrone Moore. The suspension will be handed down during Weeks 3 and 4 as opposed to the first two games of the season.

This makes the Wolverines head coach available to be on the sidelines for the season opener against New Mexico, and the non-conference road trip to Moore’s alma mater, Oklahoma. Michigan plays Central Michigan in Week 3, as well as the conference opener against Nebraska on the road in Week 4.

This is the benefit of a self-imposed ban — they get to choose when their head coach serves the suspension. It appears they may have found the Nebraska matchup more favorable, or perhaps Moore’s personal ties (his alma mater) to OU got in the way of agreeing to a suspension to begin the season.

If one thing is for sure, the Wolverines will be heavy favorites against New Mexico in Week 1 and Central Michigan in Week 3. However, they’ll only have Moore for one of those matchups.