The Michigan Wolverines are being investigated by the NCAA for claims that they stole signs from other teams. The investigation is causing a stir, even among teams that Michigan does not have on its schedule this season, or in the foreseeable future.
That’s caused those like Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, and many around the country, to weigh in. As others have mentioned, Sanders has a unique perspective on this matter, as the 56-year-old played in both the NFL and MLB, and can speak on the differences between sign-stealing in both major sports.
“I mean everyone’s trying to get an edge,” Sanders said Tuesday. “I mean, everyone’s trying to get whatever edge they can. You could have someone’s whole game plan. They could mail it to you. You still gotta stop it. You still gotta stop it. So, in football, it’s not as pronounced as in baseball.
“If I know a curveball coming, I gotcha. With football, I don’t give a damn if you know a sweep is coming…You still gotta stop it. Physically, it’s a physical game and you gotta stop it. So, that’s a little tough. I don’t buy into a lot of that stuff, someone’s stealing this, stealing that. I don’t buy into a lot of that stuff. You still got to play the game. Back in our glory days with San Francisco, as well as the Cowboys, you know darn well Emmitt Smith’s getting the ball. You know darn well Mike Irvin’s running the comeback. You know darn well Jay Novacek is gonna do what he’s gonna do. And you couldn’t stop it. It is what it is.”
It’s an interesting perspective from Sanders all things considered. Sign-stealing itself is not illegal, though, the NCAA is currently investigating how Michigan obtained those signals, which may or may not have violated NCAA rules. So, while the act isn’t illegal, the operation in which they went about it may be. But as Sanders said, you could mail an opposing team your gameplan, they are still going to have to physically stop it.
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About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.