NIL Sign Stealing
Coaches are stealing signs, players are blowing kisses, and video replay is changing calls.
Taking a look at NIL lessons from Week 8 of the 2023 CFB season.
If you are an athlete and would like our team to help share your story, please DM us or email TheNILReport@gmail.com.
Michigan Stealing Signs
Over the past week, the newest college football scandal was exposed where the Michigan Wolverine coaching staff developed an elaborate system to steal signs from future opponents.
Connor Stalions—a retired United States Marine captain— was allegedly the one responsible for spearheading Michigan’s sign stealing campaign on future opponents. He was not just deciphering signals off the TV, but took it to an entire new level:
Bought tickets to at least 17 different stadiums—including 12 Big Ten schools; Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
Had an entire team of individuals going to these games to record the play calls.
Provided the intel of teams they spied on to other opponents on their schedule.
Created a 600-page ‘Michigan Manifesto’ document on how he would run the football program.
Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh—QB at the school from 1983-86—has denied any knowledge of one of the biggest sporting scandals that has directly impacted game outcomes:
‘Black Sox’ World Series (1919)
Army Academic Cheating (1950s)
SMU Football Recruiting (1980s)
NBA Referee Tim Donaghy Game Betting (2007)
The Houston Astros’ sign stealing (2017)
Iowa/Iowa State Gambling (2022-23)
It puts into perspective a few of Harbaugh’s past quotes:
“When it comes to integrity, it's an easy grading scale. It’s either 100 percent or it’s 0 percent.”
The NCAA banned advanced scouting in 1994 as a way to control expenses and even the playing field for member institutions. For a coach who already served a three-game suspension this season for recruiting infractions, it brings to mind another quote:
This puts a damper on the story of Michigan’s rise back to the near top of CFB over the past few years as many will place an asterisk by. The victories over Ohio State; the Big Ten titles and the Playoff appearances all sullied by the worse sin of them all:
Not respecting the game.
The justice doled out by the CFB Gods was an unlikely Playoff matchup vs TCU where the Horned Frogs used fake or dummy signals to fool the Wolverines and pull off the astonishing 51-45 semifinal victory.
NIL Sign Stealing
While egregious sign stealing in your sport lacks integrity and disrespects the game, it is not the same for your NIL gameplan.
You should take a page out of the Michigan playbook and scout other athletes who are successful in NIL. Not to copy what they are doing verbatim, but to mimic the same strategies they are using to connect with brands and their audiences.
However, heed the warnings and potential consequences that have come from this Wolverine sign stealing phenomenon. If you are disingenuous and inauthentic, then others will see right through you that will leave you with fewer followers, heavy criticism and far less NIL money.
Other NIL Lessons
Last Saturday, there were plenty of other in-game lessons that athletes can learn from and use for their NIL benefit.
Ohio State Mentor
Houston Texan rookie QB CJ Stroud was the guest picker for College Gameday and then was seen on the sideline during the Buckeyes’ top 10 contest with Penn State.
Seek advice and coaching from those who have been in your shoes previously. (If I’m Michigan, maybe I’d lobby for an NCAA coaching violation?)
Iowa Wave
The Hawkeyes once again did just about nothing before a punt return touchdown with seconds left gave them a thrilling victory. Or so they thought until replay reversed the call saying the returner made an invalid signal with his arm.
A few NIL lessons here: 1) Know the rules and don’t let a contract be voided on a technicality; 2) Execute all deliverables well before the deadline; and 3) respect the spirit of the game or deal (don’t be THAT guy or girl).
Florida Kisses
A Central Florida receiver blew kisses to the Oklahoma sideline as they ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Of course, by rule, that should be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with the ball becoming dead at the spot of the infraction.
Instead nothing was called and the points remained on the board. Be careful when you are showboating or boasting about yourself—you are playing with fire.
Utah Pig Farmer
Caleb Williams has about 352K social followers & the third highest CFB NIL valuation at $2.7M. He just lost his third straight game to Utah due to the heroics of walk-on QB Bryson Barnes who:
Was the son of a Pig Farmer
Was benched earlier this year vs Baylor
Only has 5,700 followers & an unlisted #NIL value
The lesson? If you are a walk-on, then never give up. If you are a star, then don’t quit rather go through the adversity.
Many NCAA rules— such as those on NIL, fair catches, sign stealing and sportsmanship—are frivolous, stupid and dated. The stubborn refusal to innovate via technology or common law is equal parts frustrating and sickening.
Don’t do the same with your NIL gameplan. Be innovative, seek advice and blue prints from others; and do not be petty over small technicalities.
Your brand and bank account will benefit.