Lane Kiffin on Michigan sign-stealing: ‘That’s a whole other animal, the accusations there’

The Michigan football program is currently embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal that has caught the attention of the college football world. That includes Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, Kiffin shared some of his own perspectives on sign stealing and how it impacts the game.

“There’s rules on that,” Lane Kiffin said. “So, I think they’re pretty clear. Obviously, they happen as we know within games and coaches talk to each other, but that’s a whole other animal [from] what the accusations are there.”

As an offensive play-caller and head coach himself, Lane Kiffin does bring an interesting perspective to the topic of sign stealing. Particularly notable is that Kiffin noted that sign stealing itself is common, while what’s happening at Michigan goes beyond what he is typically aware of.

There was also a recent report of a document shared between other Big Ten schools with Michigan’s signs. However, it’s unclear if those were obtained within or outside of the rules by the other unnamed schools.

“That would dramatically change how you perform as a team and dramatically change what your record would be. So, I don’t know any details of it but those would be severe things if those were true.”

Michigan staffer Connor Stalions is accused of buying tickets to future opponents and scouting games in person. During those games, staffers are also accused of using technology to steal signs. The investigation is ongoing, to this point, there has been no punishment, and there are questions about how much head coach Jim Harbaugh was aware of what was happening. 

Stalions was suspended and has since resigned after failing to cooperate with the investigation.

Since 2021, Michigan is 31-3 and has been to the College Football Playoff twice. In both seasons, the Wolverines won the Big Ten, something they hadn’t managed to do since Jim Harbaugh took over the program.

There has been pressure on Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti to punish the Michigan program and Jim Harbaugh. Now, it seems like there could be some level of punishment on the horizon as the conference has recently sent a formal notice of potential disciplinary action to Michigan.

Lane Kiffin is grateful for the chance to coach Ole Miss

After beating Texas A&M, Lane Kiffin shared how grateful he is for the opportunity to coach Ole Miss.

Thank God for this opportunity to coach these players. This is a really cool group of coaches and players. For the game to end like it did today after the 10-point swing [in the second quarter] to finish the game. That’s awesome for our players,” Kiffin said.

“Credit to Texas A&M for playing a great game and taking us down to the wire.”