The NCAA has debunked the rumor that Ryan Day is involved in its investigation into Michigan.
On Monday, the NCAA informed the Big Ten that there are no known connections between Day or his family and the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported.
The response from the NCAA comes after a report from The Wolverine’s Chris Balas on Friday suggested that two private investigators with ties to Day’s family were responsible for the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing scheme. According to Dellenger’s report, Day and members of his family received threats as a result of that story, which prompted Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti to seek answers from the NCAA on Monday. The NCAA told Petitti that neither Day nor any of Day’s family members were involved in the investigation.
Per a separate report on Monday by Dellenger and his Yahoo Sports colleague Dan Wetzel, the Big Ten is considering “a multi-game suspension” for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh amid the NCAA’s investigation into the program, which centers around allegations of scouting opponents in person and filming opponents’ signals, both of which are prohibited by the NCAA even though sign stealing itself is not an NCAA violation.
The sign-stealing operation was allegedly spearheaded by former staffer Connor Stalions, who resigned from Michigan on Friday after initially being suspended with pay. Stalions was found to have purchased tickets to more than 35 games at a minimum of 17 different schools over the past three years, and Yahoo Sports reported that Stalions “is believed to have used as many as 65 associates to scout games.”
