The Michigan Wolverines and Jim Harbaugh have come under major scrutiny this past week when the NCAA revealed that it was investigating sign-stealing allegations.
While the college sports world is still in the early stages of learning the details, college football coaches are almost collectively shrugging off the Michigan story. That includes Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
Now, if you’ve watched a college football game, you’ve probably noticed sidelines full of poster boards, curtains and actual signs with random images. Every team tries to steal signs, and every team is equally paranoid about having signs stolen. But as Sanders said during his Tuesday press conference, knowing the game plan in football does not automatically mean your team will be able to stop the opponent.
“You can have someone’s whole game plan, they can mail it to you, you still gotta stop it.” 🤷🏽♂️
Deion Sanders talking about the Michigan sign stealing scandal ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ss6CD3G2Nn
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) October 24, 2023
Sanders — who played in the NFL and MLB — made the point that it’s far more beneficial to know what pitch is coming in baseball than it is to know what play is coming in football. In football, multiple players still have to execute assignments each play, and the more athletic or talented team could overcome even the most prepared opponent. In baseball, you’ll win the 2017 World Series by knowing what pitch is coming.
Plus, the NCAA could easily avoid such sign-stealing scandals by putting mics in helmets like the NFL has done for three decades.
That’s why you’re not seeing many coaches speak out against Michigan here.
College football fans also thought that Sanders made an excellent point.
This was how Twitter reacted
It’s funny how most of not all coaches or former coaches or players or former players all agree this is nothing https://t.co/Qgk3esUixM
— Brad G (@bradGoBlue85) October 24, 2023
Every coach that has commented on this has just been like “it’s whatever”
You’d think Michigan nuked Columbus with how a lot of reporters are treating this https://t.co/ClxFspjD08
— Colston Connoisseur (@UMvsEveryone) October 24, 2023
People with real football knowledge> You bums on X who think they know what they are talking about https://t.co/H6FoI3Jo0K
— J〽️P (@JPTREYYYYY) October 24, 2023
Talk that talk Coach Prime! https://t.co/wU4nBsnw02
— BluePrintJay (@BluePrintJay) October 24, 2023
“Even if you know a sweep is coming, you still gotta stop it.” – Prime
And there you have EXACTLY why certain teams want to stop UM via the NCAA: they know they can’t go toe to toe on the field. https://t.co/QhF7ukoLph
— Gina Kirschenheiter’s Mazda (@bd22198) October 24, 2023
Ok I’ll wear my Colorado hoodie again https://t.co/cRa9y9071W
— Pa’trick-or-treat’ Barron 🎃👻🏈 (@BlueBarronPhoto) October 24, 2023
Doug Buffone of the bears told me the packers line with Lombardi would tell the Bears linemen that they were running the sweep and the bears couldn’t stop it ..he’s right ! https://t.co/lt3CbGJP13
— Mike North (@North2North) October 24, 2023
First Matt Rhule, now Deion Sanders is saying it:
Everyone is doing it in some way. Instead of complaining about it, stop it. https://t.co/2pCFTREF0i
— Sports Nerd (@TheSportsNerd92) October 24, 2023
From a guy who played baseball and football at an extremely high level. Stop comparing Michigan to the Astros. Two completely different situations. https://t.co/lO3TLJtMv3
— Michael Trapani (@HawkPride88) October 24, 2023
