The Michigan Wolverines are currently in the middle of an NCAA investigation for an alleged illegal sign-stealing scheme that has already resulted in the Big Ten suspending head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games and Michigan firing two members of their coaching staff. And Michigan State head coach Harlon Barnett couldn’t help but take a shot at his in-state rivals during a press conference this week.
Following this week’s win over the Indiana Hoosiers, Harlon Barnett was discussing Indiana’s notorious ability to steal signs and signals during a game when he pointed out that in comparison to Michigan, Indiana was stealing signs “the correct way.”
“Well, Indiana is known for, they’re known for doing it, getting signs in-game the correct way,” Harlon Barnett said while smiling. “I mean, in the game, if you’re over there signaling, I’m looking to the sideline [and] I can decipher what you’re doing — that’s fair. Other stuff isn’t fair.”
Barnett said that Indiana is “elite” at stealing signs during games, but claimed that other teams “become elite by other measures,” obviously referring to Michigan.
“So, whenever we play Indiana, that’s what we’ve got to do. If you go back to last year, if you look at last year’s game, you will see the same thing. Because they’re elite at doing that,” Barnett said. “Some people become elite by other measures.”
It’s pretty clear that coaches were not happy with what Michigan has been accused of doing.
