MSU's Harlon Barnett, Nathan Carter Talk Impact of Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal

Leading up to the 116th all-time meeting on the football field between Michigan State and Michigan, the biggest storyline was the Wolverines' alleged violation of NCAA rules regarding in-person scouting, not the rivalry game itself.

After at least two teams the Wolverines have played this season complained of illegal sign-stealing practices by Michigan, the NCAA found those complaints viable enough to open an investigation and inform the Big Ten Conference. The league subsequently informed Michigan State of the preliminary evidence it had regarding U-M's sign-stealing practices.

While there are no specific NCAA rules against sign stealing, the college athletics governing body is looking into whether U-M personnel scouted future opponents in-person in order to aid signal-stealing attempts.

After the Wolverines defeated the Spartans, 49-0 — Michigan State's worst home loss in the history of Spartan Stadium — interim head coach Harlon Barnett described how he learned of the allegations against Michigan.

"I got a call Wednesday night from our athletic director, Alan Haller," Barnett said. "He had gotten a call from the Big Ten, and the Big Ten had gotten a call from the NCAA, from how I understand what happened. And that's when I found out."

Early in the game, Michigan State avoided using hand and sign signals on offense, instead electing to have starting quarterback Katin Houser come to the sideline between plays to get the call directly. Barnett said the Spartans have used that method of calling plays before against other Big Ten teams that have shown a proficiency at stealing signs in-game, which there are no rules against.

"As you saw early in the game...he was going to the sideline, because it's something our guys have done before with teams that do it within the game," Barnett said. "There's some teams in our league who are pretty good at doing it, getting signals, within the game. Which is all part of it, which is legal, and we know that.

"So, running to the sideline, getting the call, then going back into the huddle, telling the guys, as opposed to everybody getting the signal from the sideline."

Michigan State running back Nathan Carter said the Spartans had prepared to huddle against the Wolverines during this past week of practice.

"I wouldn't say it was that big of an adjustment," Carter said. "We practiced huddling, you know, going off of signals throughout the week. So, we knew going into the week that we were going to huddle a little bit, just to slow the game down for us as an offense — trying to control the game a little bit from that aspect. So, I wouldn't say that was a big change for us."

While Michigan State may have made slight changes to its game plan in response to the sign-stealing allegations, Barnett did not use that as an excuse for the defeat the Spartans' suffered.

"We played a Top 10 team, they were superior to us tonight, we got our butts kicked, we've got to learn from it. The 24-hour rule is still in place, and we've got Minnesota next up," he said. "That was a slight change, but that's not an excuse. I don't like excuses. We have to play better. That's the goal — to start playing better and not beat ourselves."

After news of the investigation into Michigan football went public, there was a report that Michigan State considered not playing the game. Barnett confirmed he was asked about whether the Spartans should play or not.

"I was asked what could we possible do to them, 'What do you think?' I said what I said, but I wasn't really expecting much to come from it, to be honest with you," he said. "At one time, somebody did mention possibly not playing the game, but I'm like, 'Let's play the game'. It don't get you until it gets you. Just remember that."

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