A video conference call among 13 of the current 14 members of the Big Ten Conference and conference commissioner Tony Petteti left participants with the feeling that punishment may be possible regarding the Michigan sign-stealing scandal.
As reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN, sources said the athletic directors left the call — which did not include Michigan's Warde Manuel — with the notion that Petitti is taking the Big Ten's ability to punish Michigan over the allegations more seriously than before.
"While no potential punishments were discussed, Petitti acknowledged speaking with the NCAA about its investigation, although he refused to divulge any details of that conversation," Thamel wrote, citing ESPN sources. "One of the issues Petitti brought up with the athletic directors was that he couldn't make a decision on Michigan this season based on a whim, that he would need a set of facts to go off.
"It's not known whether the NCAA would be willing to share information, but it's telling that the organization gave the Big Ten an initial heads-up on what was alleged, an action taken in part to protect the integrity of games."
Reports indicate that records exist of Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions purchasing tickets to the games of 12 of the Wolverines' 13 Big Ten opponents over the past three years. Stalions bought tickets to more than 35 games in at least 17 stadiums, including two different SEC title games, during that time span.
Independent of the NCAA's efforts, the Big Ten could initiate its own investigation into potential violations of the conference's sportsmanship policy. While Petitti has the authority to dictate discipline, if it's beyond a standard level, it must be looked at by an executive committee that could approve, deny or lessen that discipline, Thamel reported.
According to sources familiar with the call, Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller mentioned the alterations Spartan football staffers needed to undergo in order to prepare for Michigan after receiving a call on the Wednesday prior to that Oct. 21 game about Michigan having Michigan State's signals.
Haller worried about player injury risk due to Michigan players potentially having knowledge prior to the snap of where MSU players would be heading during plays. He also alleged hypocrisy on the part of the Big Ten, which suspended numerous Spartans following a fight that took place in a Michigan Stadium tunnel last season in Ann Arbor.
"Haller is not typically one of the more vocal athletic directors on calls, so both his voice and the passion with which he spoke resonated with the athletic directors and Big Ten officials on the call," Thamel wrote, citing sources familiar with the call.
The athletic directors made it clear they were there to support Petitti, who has been in office since April. And while the coaches showed flashes of anger in a their own call with the commissioner Wednesday, the athletic directors were more measured, Thamel added..
Michigan is currently third in the College Football Playoff rankings, having outscored opponents 325-47 while compiling an 8-0 record.
A source familiar with Wednesday's "fiery" 90-minute call with coaches described a vast majority of them feeling like "every game they played [against Michigan] is tainted."
