What Is ?Sign Stealing?? Polarizing Issue Grabs Limelight as NCAA Investigates Michigan for Serious Violations

All is fair in love and war. Like many other disciplines, signs and codes play an integral part in maintaining authority and securing strategies. The NCAA has strong prohibitions against ?sign stealing? and has penalized numerous authorities for violation of protocols aimed at securing the confidential playcalls of individual teams. Now, there are alleged reports of the practice being performed at the Michigan football program.

The rule in question relates to personally scouting future opponents off-campus, explicitly prohibiting ?off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.? The most recent investigation lodged against Michigan pertains to such violations.?

NCAA conducts an investigation into Michigan?s actions

Sign stealing remains a contentious topic in the world of football due to the polarizing fact that it is only considered illegal when stolen signs are electronically relayed to players or coaches or acquired through improper means like video equipment and not when it is read from the sidelines. This explains why most teams cover their signs with hands or a towel while relaying them.?

The accusations against Michigan revolve around the possibility of them deploying unidentified individuals to attend practice matches and other games played by their opponent including scheduled and prospective College Football Playoff opponents in hopes of capturing the signs used in calling both offensive and defensive plays.

Even though each team was provided with copious amounts of video footage for scouting purposes, such practices are done to gauge insider tactics and information regarding plays and as such, can be considered cheating. Michigan might be under the radar now, but accusations have been made in the past towards numerous other teams with their head coaches included.?

Sign calling is not always illegal?

?There is always the game within the game of trying to see,? Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz had suggested when similar allegations were made against him. In a game that has two teams vying against each other for a win, it is only normal that each tries to gather as much intel as possible that can possibly place them in an advantageous position. The ability to call signs or a play before it is actually made works in favor of the team in question.?

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?There?s always formation tells and tendencies,? says the coach referring to the experience of numerous coaches that allow them to understand ?when one was run or pass based off how they would align.? Like calling signs, the ability to call formations and alignments are integral part of playing football and has been practiced since its very inception.?

What are your opinions on sign stealing? Is it a part of gameplay tactics or cheating? Let us know in the comments.

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