Urban Meyer offers thoughts on Michigan, sign-stealing allegations

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has, until now, been loathe to comment on the ongoing Michigan sign-stealing scandal. And it’s not because Meyer doesn’t have opinions or a desire to needle his arch rivals.

Mostly, Meyer hasn’t wanted to discuss the case much because the basic facts are still being solidified. But he did offer a broad view of the situation on “Urban’s Take with Tim May” this week.

“This is really the first time, because it’s you and a guy I respect — so I’m very cautious. I’ve been asked over 100 times to comment on it and I just won’t. But I am going to, I’ll tell you my thoughts: First of all I’m very skeptical of reporters reporting. My experience is they’re wrong most of the time. And that’s not a shot at the media, that’s reality. People say things that they’re reporting that’s just not true. So I’m going to give the benefit of the doubt saying, first of all it’s hard for me to believe that is true,” Meyer said.

And Meyer admitted to May that while the jury remains out for him, some of the alleged violations by Michigan and specifically staffer Connor Stalions are “egregious.”

Stalions is alleged to have played a central role in an apparently wide-ranging sign-stealing operation for Michigan that went outside of the NCAA rules, namely advanced scouting of opponents and the use of photographic/video recordings. The extent to which other Michigan staff members or coaches are involved or were knowledgable of the extent of the operation is still unclear.

Until that picture becomes clearer, Meyer isn’t passing judgement. But he does think the allegations are not to be taken lightly, even if they remain allegations.

In particular, Meyer took issue with the notion that other programs or staffers might be going to efforts to advance scout — outside of the rules — as Stalions and Michigan did.

“I also heard people say that ‘Well, everyone does that.’ And Tim, no one does that. I’ve never heard of that in 40 years of being around the game. There’s a very clear and that rule, some will say it’s not that important. Once again, everybody is entitled to their opinion. If they know your signals, it is that important. You’re changing the game. That’s very egregious if that’s what happened. I’m not saying it did, because I’m still skeptical it did,” Meyer said.