Skull Session: Ryan Day and Nick Saban Endorse Helmet Technology, C.J. Stroud and Dawand Jones Speak On Michigan's Sign-Stealing and Cade Stover Signs an NIL Deal With Snickers

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Wisconsin Game Trailer?

Wisconsin Game Trailer.

Ohio State's story is only beginning.

It continues against Wisconsin.

Season 2023, Vol. 8 starts Saturday.pic.twitter.com/6PDrbEX1qR
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 26, 2023

More Michigan news?

More Michigan news.

Per a report from Yahoo Sports, Ohio State warned TCU about Michigan's sign-stealing operation ahead of the College Football Playoff, and TCU used dummy signals in response. https://t.co/Onjf9FQosN
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 27, 2023

It's been quite the week, folks.

Let's have a good Friday, shall we?

HELMET TECH INBOUND? In his Tuesday press conference, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day evaded questions about Michigan's alleged sign-stealing scandal. However, he did address a development in college football that could diminish the effectiveness of sign-stealing in the future: Helmet communication between coaches and players.

"It's not something that we'll discuss right now because it doesn't really matter right now. What matters is playing (Wisconsin). But I do think we should definitely consider that because it would certainly help. ... (When I coached in the NFL) it was good. I mean, the coach on the sideline had the walkie-talkie, and he would be able to communicate into the headset."

On Thursday, Alabama head coach Nick Saban accompanied Day in his endorsement of helmet communication devices in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

"I don't know enough about the Michigan situation to really comment on the situation specifically. But I could give you the historical facts on way back when when I was in the NFL – way back when in 88, 89, 90s. You were allowed to send personnel to scout a game ahead of when you played it. That got to the point where sign-stealing was unbelievable in the NFL. You had somebody you hired to put in the box to watch signals on the other team. By the first quarter, we got the runs, we got the passes. ... There were reasons that they changed the rules, so you couldn't do that. Then the (NFL comes out with) the microphone in the helmet, and there was no sign stealing. There was no signs because it was communication, which I think we would solve a lot of those problems if we would do the same thing in college football. There's no reason not to do that. There's no reason that you can't tell the quarterback what the play is, rather than having signs and signals and three people signaling and all this stuff to try to get the play. That is more difficult for the players incidentally, because they all got to get the sign since everybody's going no huddle. For the defensive players who are going against the fastball team, all 11 guys have to know the signals, and all 11 guys have to know the signs. They're going fast, and you can't communicate if rather than just being able to tell somebody, 'This is the call.' So (helmet communication) would clean up all this. And I can't comment on what Michigan did or didn't do. But I know all of us that have been in pro football have a background (with helmet communication). And we have a background how some of this stuff was done at one point in the NFL – when it wasn't illegal. But it became something that people took advantage of, so it became illegal. It is what it is.

On Oct. 20, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reported that the NCAA Rules Committee will allow teams to use coach-to-player helmet communications to relay plays from the sideline during the 2023-24 bowl season. The rule was passed in the summer but was not heavily discussed before news about Michigan's alleged sign-stealing operation broke last week.

In the same report, Dodd wrote that the NCAA "seems to be well down the road toward adopting electronic communications" permanently. However, the results of the NCAA's investigation in Ann Arbor could alter the association's view of the in-game process, as proof that Michigan utilized a sign-stealing operation could make electronic communications a necessity rather than a convenience.

With endorsements from Day, Saban and several other coaches, such as fah-muly man Brian Kelly at LSU, who called college football's lack of headset communication "silly" on Thursday, it feels like a matter of time before the NCAA gets its act together and allows helmet communication devices to be used every week.

However, this is the NCAA we're talking about here – an association that has had zero (0) awareness for much of the past decade and continues to fail at almost every opportunity. Will the NCAA fail again in this situation? It could happen!

STROUD, JONES TALK SIGN-STEALING. When C.J. Stroud was asked about Michigan's alleged sign-stealing operation at a Houston Texans press conference on Thursday, the former Ohio State quarterback chose not to dwell on the past.

Former Buckeye CJ Stroud, when asked about the Michigan sign-stealing allegations. Video courtesy of @JBristolKHOU at @KHOU pic.twitter.com/h9ZJxsBQOK
— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) October 26, 2023

Had I been in Stroud's shoes and asked to comment on the alleged Michigan sign-stealing operation, my response would have looked more like Dawand Jones'.

Spoke to former Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones now with Browns about the Michigan sign stealing scandal.

He said Buckeyes suspected Wolverines had their sideline signs last year and made some changes but couldnt change everything.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 25, 2023

Dawand Jones said seeing Michigan's players lined up pre-snap while knowing what was coming was "a little demoralizing."
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 25, 2023

One more from Browns tackle Dawand Jones on alleged Michigan sign stealing:
"Its just sad to see it. Were kids at the end of the day, and you dont want to cheat a kid out of a chance to showcase their skills on a national level. Its just sad to see that.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 25, 2023

Ehhhhhh, I would have been more unhinged than that, too.

Michigan has (allegedly) made a mockery of the sport, namely the greatest rivalry in all of sports, with its (alleged) participation in illegal practices to secure an upper hand over Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten. That kind of (alleged) dishonest, fraudulent behavior, quite frankly, makes me sick.

If I were a Buckeye who played in either of the matchups Ohio State lost to Michigan over the past two seasons, I'm not sure how I would remain calm, cool and collected when asked about the outcomes of those games – or the Wolverines' (alleged) unethical behavior – in front of a microphone.

Stroud and Jones are better men than I.

I offer props to them.

I offer no props to Michigan. I will never offer props to Michigan.

HAVE A SNICKERS. CADE STOVER IS NOT HIM WHEN HE'S HUNGRY.

This week, Stover announced an NIL deal with SoFabFood and Mars, Incorporated, where the Ohio State captain and Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman will lead a college football campaign for Snickers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cade Stover (@cstov8)

A fearsome blocker and talented pass-catcher, Stover has impressed Ohio State fans with a do-it-all mindset in 2023. An in-state recruit from Lexington, Ohio – not Mansfield, Ohio –Stover arrived in Columbus in 2018. Over the past four seasons (and seven games), the 6-foot-4, 251-pound athlete has been a linebacker, a defensive end, a linebacker (again), a tight end and a linebacker (again, again) before he settled at tight end before 2022.

Last season, Stover had one of the most productive receiving seasons ever for an Ohio State tight end, collecting 36 receptions for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Stover should surpass those numbers in 2023, as he has recorded 27 receptions for 429 yards and three scores across seven appearances.

A member of the Mackey Award watch list – and now the Biletnikoff Award watch list – Snickers' selection of Stover as a brand ambassador comes at the perfect time.

From Pete Nakos of On3:

Promoting the candy bar on their social media pages, the athletes will be marketing the Rookie Mistake of the Year campaign.

The Snickers giveaway includes prizes all season for fans along with a chance to win tickets to Super Bowl LVIII. The campaign ends on Dec. 31 and fans can sign up now to participate in monthly giveaways. For fans to participate, they must send in an example of their “Rookie Mistake,” defined as an embarrassing mistake such as getting lost en route to a stadium or getting wing sauce on a T-shirt at the tailgate.

Or as the candy bar brand puts it, “Mistakes that could’ve been avoided if you just had a Snickers.”

...

Since the inception of NIL in 2021, Stover has signed NIL deals with multiple companies. An ambassador for Rocky Boots, he inked a partnership with the John Deere equipment dealer Ag-Pro Companies last fall. He was also named to Land O’Lakes All-Ag Team back in October 2022. He has promoted the Central Ohio Farmers Co-op, Inc., too. Stover Farms raises cattle and produces beef. And back in August, he added a partnership with Wrangler.

After the announcement of Stover's latest deal, Nakos and On3's NIL valuation for Stover is $614,000, which ranks No. 61 overall among college football players in the FBS. Farmer Gronk understands that $614,000 is a lot of money. However, I think he would rather receive payments in the form of tractors.

Oh, wait, no. I don't have to think that.

He said that.

Reporter: How much would you estimate youve made in NIL?

Cade Stover: Money-wise? I dont know. Id rather get paid in tractors, to be honest with you. pic.twitter.com/wKE3h8zjL5
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) July 26, 2023

Good ol', Farmer Gronk. What a man.

GREAT MOMENTS + PERFORMANCES. How about we celebrate the end of the work week with some incredible moments and performances in recent matchups between Ohio State and Wisconsin? How does that sound?

I think that sounds great.