Patiently awaiting more NOA leaks...
BIG NEWS:
New information on the genesis of this investigation, as well as specific information from the NOA.
This entire investigation - both the computer access crimes and the impermissible advanced scouting scheme - began with "unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" by Matt Weiss inside the football facility. Based on witnessed behavior, Weiss' university-owned devices were seized and he was put on leave.
University IT brought in a cybersecurity firm to gain access to Weiss' encrypted devices.
Objectionable content discovered falls into two categories:
- Sexual content: including content stolen from the iClouds of UM students as well as pornographic images of unknown origins.
- Football content: Evidence of an advanced video scouting scheme, video recordings of opponents' sidelines, mockups of opponents playsheets, and a spreadsheet schedule of games to be scouted, including assignments and logistics details.
Each of these two "buckets" of content were referred to separate legal firms at the behest of UM to determine next steps.
At some point, a third firm became involved and obtained much of the same advanced scouting scheme evidence as discovered by the UM-contracted firm, but also went on to "close the loop" with irrefutable evidence of tickets being purchased, assignments made, games filmed, video materials prepared and uploaded, and ultimately the scouting videos and ancillary materials being accessed by UM coaches. This group is the one that sent investigators into games knowingly being scouted to gather video evidence of the UM operatives. This firm notified the NCAA of its findings.
I had wrongly believed that this firm was another that had been contracted by UM administration to look into overarching cultural issues within the athletics department, but that has since been ruled out. The prevailing belief among my sourcing is that this investigation was contracted by sports books who ultimately had help by someone on UM's staff.
This specific loop is laid out step-by-step in the NOA: /game scheduled/ > /tickets purchased and assigned/ >/ game scouted, operatives photographed at venue by investigators/ > /video scouting and game materials prepared and uploaded/ > /video materials accessed by multiple members of UM coaching staff/.
This outline is designed to counter the defenses brought to the table by both the university and individuals charged.
The NOA also alleges that UM knew of the advanced scouting scheme as first uncovered by university IT and the cybersecurity firm they hired to get into Weiss' devices. Despite this awareness UM administration did not notify the NCAA, nor did they make any necessary personnel changes "to uphold their responsibility of integrity to the Big Ten conference and the NCAA" (quoting a source's paraphrasing here, for clarity's sake).
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I don't have much insight into exactly what happens next. Reporters are sniffing around, and they'll publish when the time is right. I knew exactly what to expect this week, and those boxes were all checked before lunch on Wednesday.
Warde - of all people - starting to slow walk them down is a huge tell. Complaining about what's being leaked to us and others shows that they know what's coming. The farthest Balas has gone is to call our reporting "not credible" ... which is decidedly different from calling it "inaccurate."
There were a dozen or more copies of the notice delivered on Sunday to the school, the individuals charged, and their representatives. Any one of them could leak a copy - or even just portions - with the absolute cover that it wouldn't be traceable to them. And if that would help them in any way, shape, or form, they would have already.
A generationally-talented OSU squad takes the field in 72 hours. Archie is dotting the i. The beer will be cold and the brats will be hot. Enjoy what's shaping up to be a special season in this incredible place.
And do all those things knowing that every touchdown scored, every victory notched, and ever cheer played in Ann Arbor is paper. They're hollow. They're meaningless. A leadership vacuum at this once-great institution allowed a cultural shift from pride in your colors and history to fealty to one man. Their souls were sold and their very character bought and paid for, in exchange for some metal and temporary bragging rights. The banners will come down and the memories will fade, but the stench of dishonesty and failure will remain.
It's almost game time.
Go Bucks.
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Tonight's closing thought, re: Warde's direct complaints about the "leaks" in this morning's interview. This was before we broke our bit here. Aside from the framework information, there really haven't been many leaks in the case... especially recently.
Was he lamenting the NCAA's framework slipping out? Maybe, but that's not really their info to protect.
As I've thought about this tonight - through an incredibly hot parade and festival (great to see a couple of you!) - I think he's aware of the NOA already being in the hands of at least one reporter. He knows what's coming out, he knows it won't be helpful, so his "reset" had to happen this morning with the friendliest of interviewers.
