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Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti to meet with University of Michigan president Santa Ono Friday

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•11/02/23•

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Santa Ono
(Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football is under NCAA investigation for alleged illegal off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents in the same season. U-M suspended staffer Connor Stalions, who allegedly sent individuals on his behalf to games, two days after the investigation opened.

Over the last 24 hours, Big Ten coaches and athletic directors have complained to conference commissioner Tony Petitti, urging him to take unprecedented action against U-M immediately, instead of letting the NCAA investigation play out. According to reports, Petitti and Big Ten athletic directors discussed the possibility of Harbaugh being suspended for an unknown length during a Thursday call.

Already scheduled to be in Ann Arbor Friday for the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament semifinals, Petitti, per The Athletic, will meet with University of Michigan president Santa Ono. The exact reasoning for the meeting is unknown.

Ono, who took office last October, has been extraordinarily supportive of Michigan athletics, particularly Harbaugh and the football program. He tweeted his support for Michigan football this week.

Ono met with athletic director Warde Manuel and the U-M board of regents this week, with the group deciding to move forward with a contract extension for Harbaugh that’s long been in the works, even amid the NCAA investigation.

Currently, despite a vast amount of leaks to national media, there is no reported evidence of wrongdoing by Harbaugh — only allegations against Stalions. There is an NCAA bylaw that states that the head coach is responsible for making sure his program is compliant, however. The Big Ten has the power, under its sportsmanship policy, to hand out punishments in real time.

While those actions by the conference are not subject to appeal by Michigan, if the Big Ten does preemptively punish Michigan, U-M could take legal action against the conference.

“The policy was at the center of discussions last week between school leaders and Petitti,” a Yahoo Sports report read. “According to the policy, the commissioner can take disciplinary action that is considered ‘standard” or “major.’

“Standard action includes a fine not exceeding $10,000 and a suspension of no more than two contests. Major action is anything exceeding those penalties and is subject to approval from the Big Ten executive board of presidents.”

Michigan is currently the only 8-0 team in college football to win every game by 20 or more points. In fact, the Wolverines have won eight consecutive games by 24-plus points for the first time since an 11-game stretch from 1903-04.

The Maize and Blue will take on Purdue Saturday night, with Stalions — a low-level analyst — being the only member currently slated to miss the contest.

Due to NCAA rules and despite leaks on the investigation, Michigan has been unable to comment since it began, but Harbaugh released a statement saying he had no knowledge of illegal scouting. He said this week that, “those who know us the best think the most of us.”

Stick with TheWolverine.com for more on this development in the hours and days to come.

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