Wolverine TV podcast: Latest on NCAA investigation, impact on Jim Harbaugh, Michigan basketball preseason talk

On this episode of TheWolverine.com podcast, Clayton Sayfie, Chris Balas and Anthony Broome discuss the NCAA investigation into Michigan Wolverines football for alleged illegal in-person scouting, how it could impact the future of head coach Jim Harbaugh and what we’ve learned about Michigan basketball during two preseason peeks into the program.

Watch this episode in the video player above or on our YouTube channel. Listen in the embed below or search ‘The Wolverine’ wherever you get your podcasts.

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As of now, analyst Connor Stalions, who’s at the center of this probe, has reportedly bought tickets at more than 35 games not involving Michigan, and others have been in the seats filming the sidelines. There hasn’t been more evidence than that leaked to the media. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t more the NCAA has or will gather in the future.

“I don’t think that the worst has been leaked about what … there are gray areas that Michigan fans are clinging to, and maybe Michigan is clinging to, that, OK, because we did this it’s not illegal as the law is written — and that’s fair.

“[Yahoo Sports’] Dan Wetzel said something about North Carolina, for example, when he said, yeah, we had fake classes, essentially, but they were open to regular students, as well, so it didn’t violate any NCAA laws or rules. So, that’s a loophole. Is there a loophole here, and would Michigan see it that way? Would the NCAA see it that way?

“If Michigan were to fight it in court, then it’s something that would probably … the NCAA pulled back on that [the North Carolina case] when North Carolina was going to take them to court. They pulled back on Penn State when they were going to vacate wins, when they decided to fight it in court. If Michigan were to do that … let’s say they were going to come down and hammer them and say you can’t play in the postseason this year and Jim Harbaugh is suspended, I think they would fight that. You’re supposed to have 90 days from the date of the NCAA notice of allegations. They haven’t even received one yet for ‘burgergate’; I’m guessing they’re going to lump these all together.”

Per Balas, Michigan and the NCAA will meet Thursday, unless the organization postpones the meeting, which it is known to do. There will be more known at that point.