Newsstand: Aidan Hutchinson issues strong response on Michigan 'sign-stealing' allegations
Tweets Of The Day
Former Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the 2021 Heisman Trophy runner up, was asked about the ‘sign stealing’ allegations against his former program. The Detroit Lions second-year star had a strong response.
“They’re doing all their investigations and they’re coming at Michigan when Michigan’s got a shot to win the national championship this year,” Hutchinson said, according to Michigan Live’s Kory Woods. “So I don’t know. It is what it is. I guess time will pass and people will forget about it and move on once we’re the (Big Ten) champs again.
“People are always stealing signs in college football,” Hutchinson said. “People stole our signs. Other Big Ten schools stole our signs. It’s just a thing when you’re in college football, so I mean, not any more than anybody else did as far as I’m concerned.”
Michigan has 11 interceptions on the season, ranking tied for fifth nationally, including 4 that have been returned for touchdowns. Those 4 are more than the 3 passing touchdowns opponents have had on the Maize and Blue this season.
The NCAA was in Ann Arbor Thursday for meetings with the University of Michigan, as first reported by The Wolverine’s Chris Balas. Per The Detroit News, NCAA staff has not yet interviewed any of Michigan’s football staff.
“The coaches attended practice Wednesday and are on the road recruiting,” the report said, with Michigan idle this weekend before next weekend’s clash against Purdue.
In completely unrelated news, former Michigan co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss is being investigated by both U-M police and the FBI, per the Detroit Free Press. Weiss is under investigation for computer access crimes. The investigation is ongoing. Weiss was fired by Michigan last winter.
Per the NCAA, in-person advanced scouting gives a team a minimal competitive advantage. The rule not allowing in-person scouting wasn’t even of ‘national significance,’ per an NCAA working group in 2021, so the group decided not to overturn the rule. However, Sports Illustrated believed to have a bombshell report Thursday evening on how TCU, Michigan’s opponent in last year’s national semifinal, changed their signs. That means the Wolverines, if affected at all, were at a disadvantage in the 51-45 loss, though minimal impact was likely had.
Quote Of The Day
“Michigan is definitely up there with the way they use their tight ends. They use two and three tight ends on the field. I like the way they use them in the passing game and not just the running game. I think 25 percent of the passes in the offense go to the tight end, which is great to see.”
Jack VanDorselaer, an On300 2025 tight end out of Southlake (Texas) Carroll
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