Harlon Barnett: Indiana gets signs ‘the correct way,’ unlike Michigan

The Michigan State Spartans and interim head coach Harlon Barnett got a big win to help build momentum going into the off-season on Saturday over the Indiana Hoosiers. During that game, it was clear that the Spartans were huddling more and getting plays from the sideline like they did against Michigan.

Barnett explained that this was because Indiana is prolific at sign-stealing. However, he also pointed out that they do it the right 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.”

This comes amid the sign-stealing scandal at Michigan, where the program has been accused of sending people to games to scout in person and record the opposing sideline. That’s different from what Harlon Barnett says Indiana is good at, which is stealing signs within the game itself.

“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.”

Harlon Barnett pretty clearly, without ever saying Michigan, was talking about the Wolverines at the end. After all, many coaches in the Big Ten are furious with Michigan and Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, with many coaches being the ones who initially called for his suspension.

Michigan State and Michigan played shortly after the sign-stealing scandal broke. In that game, the Spartans ran plays in from the sidelines to prevent possible sign-stealing. The Wolverines won that game 49-0.

Harlon Barnett breaks down Michigan State’s QB situation behind Katin Houser

Harlon Barnett has had to deal with various issues at the quarterback position since he took over this season. Recently, that included the news that freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt is going to redshirt. With this season’s initial starter, Noah Kim, injured, there are very few options behind Katin Houser.

However, Barnett is confident that the Spartans are comfortable behind Houser.

“We have some other options if worse comes to worse. We’ll figure it out,” Barnett said. “There are some other things that we could possibly do, and hopefully, it doesn’t get to… No, no, he [Kim] is not ready. He’s still healing up.”