Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is the latest sitting Power Five head coach to weigh in on the sign-stealing cheating scandal that’s taken the college football world by storm.
Last week, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the NCAA was investigating Michigan for an alleged sign-stealing scheme, which centers on a recruiting staffer named Connor Stalions. According to Thamel’s sources, “it was known in the building that he spent much of his time deciphering opponents’ signals, often watching television copies of opponents’ games.”
The Athletic reported Monday that Stalions bought tickets to watch at least five Big Ten schools play before their games against Jim Harbaugh’s squad. Meanwhile, ESPN reported that Stalions purchased tickets in his own name for over 30 games at 11 different Big Ten schools. For his part, Harbaugh has denied any knowledge of these efforts.
Swinney was asked about Michigan’s sign-stealing operation on Wednesday and gave his honest thoughts during a meeting with reporters.
“It’s always a part of whatever game you’re in,” Swinney said of in-game sign stealing, via The Greenville News’ Christina Long. “You’re always looking over to the sideline, and you’re trying to figure out what personnel is in the game. And certainly, if you figure something out in-game, that’s just always been, I think, part of the game…
“You’ve got signs, you’ve got different signalers, you’ve got a lot of things that you do to try to not make it easy for the opponent to pick up on your blitz signal or your run signal or your protection, whatever it is. It’s just kind of been that way forever and ever and ever in college football, or any level of football.
“But as far as all the other stuff (with Michigan), that’s a new one. Again, I don’t know anything specifically, but you certainly can’t have in-person scouting and videos and all that type of stuff.”
It’s clear that several coaches, including Swinney, have gone to the lengths to talk about how sign-stealing is part of college football. However, the lengths that Michigan has allegedly gone to are why they are under NCAA investigation. Swinney dodged talking about any of the specifics, but none of this looks particularly good for the Wolverines.
