Report reveals cost, how often Michigan scouts attended Ohio State, Georgia games to learn signals

More and more details are coming to light regarding the sign-stealing investigation at Michigan. Wednesday evening, the Washington Post’s Will Hobson reported an outside investigative firm obtained documents and videos, which started the investigation.

The firm went to the NCAA with the information, which came from computer drives that were maintained and accessed by multiple Michigan coaches. In addition, it found a schedule that showed the travel plans, opposing team’s schedules, a budget for travel and tickets, and which games the scouts would attend. The firm also presented the NCAA with photos that appear to show the scouts at games, including current Michigan students who are doing internships with the football team.

The top team on the list, according to the Washington Post, was rival Ohio State. Scouts planned to attend up to eight games and spend more than $3,000 on tickets and travel. Behind the Buckeyes was Georgia, and the plan was to again spend about $3,000 to attend “four or five games.”

All told, the Washington Post reported the plan called for about $15,000 spent to send 40 scouts to 10 opponents.

More on the Michigan sign-stealing allegations, assistant at the center of the investigation

News broke last week of an NCAA investigation into the Michigan program, centered on assistant Connor Stalions. The university suspended him with pay, pending the result of the investigation, and head coach Jim Harbaugh has denied knowledge of the situation.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Richard Johnson, Stalions bragged about stealing opposing teams’ signs to other staff members. He also had a document filled with information, and he gave it an interesting name.

“Stalions claimed to have a Google document between 550 and 600 pages long that he managed daily, containing a blueprint for the Wolverines’ future,” Johnson wrote. “He referred the document as a movement more than a plan, dubbing it ‘the Michigan Manifesto.’”

The investigation isn’t just about sign-stealing, though. There’s a nearly 30-year-old NCAA rule that prohibits in-person scouting of future opponents in the same season. The video recording of the opposing teams’ sidelines is also part of the equation.

Last week, the Big Ten confirmed the investigation in a statement and said it warned Michigan’s future opponents their signs may have been compromised. However, the Wolverines apparently didn’t solely look at conference opponents. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported records of Stalions buying tickets to four College Football Playoff contenders last year and the SEC championship game.