Joel Klatt Defends Michigan Over Sign-Stealing Investigation Process
The Michigan football program remains in hot water as the NCAA investigates the Wolverines in regard to an alleged sign-stealing scheme. As more information comes out, observers are forming their own opinions about how bad the scandal is and how hard the NCAA should punish Michigan.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt is the latest to weigh in, and the former Colorado quarterback believes much of the criticism centered at Michigan is overblown.
“The level of anger has a direct relationship with the success Michigan has had over the last two+ seasons,” Klatt wrote on social media. “Also, the level of anger is not grounds for an unprecedented overreach from the commish.”
Klatt believes critics should let the sign-stealing investigation “run its course” before making definitive statements about it.
The investigation should run its course and a notice of allegations sent to the program...Why would we have a different process for these allegations than we would for a tampering case?
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) November 2, 2023
Although Big Ten coaches want conference commissioner Tom Petitti to make an example out of Michigan, Klatt said those coaches are focused on the wrong topic.
“Somebody should ask all those opposing coaches why they haven’t been on board with helmet audio?” Klatt wrote. “Rushing into decisions to appease a mob is not leadership and has backfired in the recent past if you haven’t forgotten.”
Somebody should ask all those opposing coaches why they haven't been on board with helmet audio? Rushing into decisions to appease a mob is not leadership and has backfired in the recent past if you haven't forgotten
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) November 2, 2023
If the NCAA does find reason to discipline Michigan, Klatt maintains that he has no issue with punishing a program for cheating. However, he doesn’t want to jump to conclusions so early into the investigation.
“Wanting the process to run its course is far different than ’no big deal,’ Klatt wrote. “This is a big deal which is the exact reason to let the process run its course.”
Also, nothing in this post condones cheating...Wanting the process to run its course is far different than " no big deal"...This is a big deal which is the exact reason to let the process run its course.
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) November 2, 2023
The NCAA traveled to Ann Arbor last week to interview Michigan coaches as the investigation intensified, but it is unclear when the investigation will conclude.