Jimbo Fisher addresses Michigan sign-stealing scandal, advantage of pre-snap knowledge

Jimbo Fisher recently shared his thoughts on the investigation in Michigan allegedly conducting in-person scouting and sign-stealing tactics.

Some new information includes a picture appearing to show a man resembling Connor Stalions on the Central Michigan sideline for the team’s game vs. Michigan State. The Michigan staffer has emerged as a person of interest in the investigation.

Fisher explains the advantages of sign stealing while expressing that Texas A&M doesn’t conduct its program in that manner.

“I don’t know all the details on it, I’ve seen it from afar. But people, I’ve always said during a game, if you see a guy and you figure out the sign, I think that’s good,” Fisher said. “I mean, I don’t know what’s true and what’s not true of the other, I don’t think you can go film and do all those types of things. I don’t think that’s what we’re about and what the game should be about.

Fisher then used a baseball analogy as another reference point for why he’s against sign stealing.

“But I don’t know that that’s true, I’m not saying that’s true, or happened or anything else,” Fisher said. “During the game, just like in Little League if you figure out the 3rd base coach’s signs and when they’re stealing or when they’re not, pitch out and get them. You pick them up, you pick them up. But the other part of that, I’m not for any of those things.”

Fisher mentions that pre-snap knowledge in particular is extremely advantageous for an opponent to have insights about.

“Oh they’re huge,” Fisher said. “Knowing what a team’s going to do, I mean, knowing what anybody’s going to do, if you think about any opponent you have, or any business deal you have, if you know exactly what’s going to happen before it happens, I think that’s a big advantage. That does matter.”

Next up for Texas A&M is a road matchup at No. 10 Ole Miss on Saturday (12 p.m. EST/ESPN).

Rolando Rosa