Brent Venables on Michigan sign-stealing allegations: 'You’d be naive if you’re not always aware' it happens
College football coaches around the country are being asked about sign-stealing as the investigation into the Michigan program continues. Oklahoma head coach and former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables was asked for his opinion about sign-stealing and what is happening at Michigan during his press conference on Tuesday.
George Stoia of On3 shared what Venables had to say:
“I’m sure people are finding ways to prevent it and find a competitive advantage,” Venables said, according to Stoia. “I don’t know how prevalent it is or isn’t. … I think you’d be naive if you’re not always aware [of it].”
Brent Venables was accused of stealing signs on multiples occasions during his time at Clemson. Multiple opposing coaches said prior to meetings with the Tigers that they were guarding against Clemson stealing signs.
With that said, Venables has not been accused of doing it by breaking rules, the way Michigan reportedly did.
Michigan staff member Connor Stalions is reportedly at the head of the investigation. According to ESPN, he bought tickets for more than 30 Big Ten games over the past three seasons. He also had two tickets for this past weekend’s game between Penn State and Ohio State that went unused. The Wolverines play both teams later this year.
New details emerge into breadth of alleged Michigan sign-stealing operation
Details are continuing to be revealed on the Michigan sign-stealing operation, which could have a big impact on the Wolverines program and head coach Jim Harbaugh.
ESPN analyst Pete Thamel broke news on Monday afternoon that Conor Stalions, who is reportedly at the center of the operation, bought tickets for more than 30 Big Ten games over the past three seasons.
Thamel shared on The Monday Blitz on ESPN how schools learned that news.
“Ticket data at 11 of the 13 Big Ten schools showed that Stalions bought tickets. A lot of these were through third parties like StubHub and SeatGeek. But the schools still can track the names,” Thamel said. “Once the name emerged in our story on Friday, Big Ten schools started running Connor Stalions’ name and it was hit after hit. The ADs and other officials in ticket offices started communicating with each other, and it quickly appeared a pattern of Connor Stalions buying tickets to opposing teams’ games emerged.”
One of the unanswered questions in this story involves how Stalions was able to afford to purchase tickets and travel for others to go scout games.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has denied having any involvement or knowledge of Stalions’ alleged operation.
Thamel implied that it’s unlikely Stalions was able to afford to fund everything on his own.
“Stalions was making $55,000 a year – not a lot of money. So the money to fund these trips – he had a network we found of at least three different names of people that Stalions used to send out to these games. Who was buying the tickets? Who was paying for the trips? Who was potentially paying the people that made the trips?” Thamel said. “These are all questions that the NCAA is going to have to unearth.”