University of Michigan president Dr. Santa Ono emailed Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti asking for respect of due process amid mounting pressure for the commissioner to discipline the Wolverines football program for alleged in-person scouting and sign-stealing, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
Per Rittenberg, Ono emailed Petitti on Thursday night ahead of their Friday meeting, noting that he was “deeply concerned” about the allegations against the Wolverines football program and that the school is committed to “ethics, integrity, and fair play.”
The NCAA has been probing the Michigan football program since mid-October, but Petitti is within his rights to investigate and impose discipline of his own on behalf of the Big Ten conference.
Petitti has been mulling punishment against the Michigan football program after rival Big Ten schools pushed for discipline on a conference-wide coaches’ call earlier this week. The coaches’ call, along with the impending meeting between Ono and Petitti on Friday, prompted Ono to send the email in advance of the in-person discussion.
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“It’s precisely at these times – when all key facts are not known but others are all too comfortable offering strongly held opinions – that it is essential for everyone to ensure that investigations are conducted fairly and that conclusions are based on what actually happened,” Ono wrote. “The reputation and livelihoods of coaches, students, and programs cannot be sacrificed in a rush to judgment, no matter how many and how loudly people protest otherwise. Due process matters.
“We, as would any other member of the Big10, deserve nothing less. Our students, our coaches, our program – all are entitled to a fair, deliberate, thoughtful process.”
The sign-stealing investigation has centered around former Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions, who resigned Friday from his position within the program.
Stalions allegedly bought tickets to dozens of games at rival schools, where he and others filmed the sidelines of future Michigan opponents in a purported effort to steal the teams’ signals.
Both in-person scouting and video recording of the sidelines are illegal per NCAA rules.
