Prime believes on sign stealing: ‘Still got to stop it’

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterOct 24, 2023, 04:09 PM ET

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  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of 7 books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

Even if Michigan’s football group had actually taken its challengers’ signals, Colorado coach Deion Sanders isn’t sure just how much it would have helped the Wolverines in their games.

“I don’t know how precise that stuff is,” Sanders informed reporters in Boulder, Colorado, on Tuesday. “I suggest, everyone’s trying to get an edge. Everybody’s attempting to get an edge anywhere they can. You can have someone’s entire tactical plan. They could mail it to you. You have actually still got to stop it.”

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Sources informed ESPN on Monday that suspended Michigan analyst Connor Stalions acquired tickets in his own name for more than 30 games over the past three years at 11 different Huge 10 schools.In some cases, Stalions forwarded the tickets he had actually bought to numerous people in different locations of the nation, which hints at the scope of the improper searching operation.The NCAA informed the Big Ten and Michigan officials last week that its enforcement personnel was examining accusations that the Wolverines had actually been associated with advance scouting of its challengers at off-campus stadiums, which has been forbidden by the NCAA since 1994. In a statement last week, Harbaugh rejected”illegally taking signs”and said he had never ever “directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting task. “Sanders, a Hall of Popularity cornerback in the NFL and outfielder with a handful of MLB groups, said stealing signs is more of a benefit in baseball.”In football, it’s not as noticable as baseball,” Sanders said.

“If I understand a curveball is coming, I got you. With football, I do not provide a darn if you understand a sweep is coming, you still got to stop it. … It’s a physical game. You got to stop it, so that’s a little hard. I don’t buy into a great deal of this things that someone’s stealing this, taking that. I do not buy into a great deal of that. You still got to play the game. “In-game sign stealing is not forbidden under NCAA rules; it is believed

to be widely practiced and tolerated in the sport. However making use of electronic devices to tape-record the signals of opposing groups and in-person advance scouting at challengers’arenas are prohibited.Sanders, in his first season with the Buffaloes, didn’t seem too concerned about the allegations.”Back in our splendor days with San Francisco as well as the Cowboys, you understand darn well Emmitt Smith is getting the ball,”Sanders stated.”You know darn well Mike Irvin is running to return. You understand darn well Jay Novacek is gon na do what he’s gon na do and you can’t stop it.”