Michigan Football Quarterback Clarifies Sign-Stealing Comments

On Monday, Michigan and Washington will face off for this season’s national championship. Leading up to the game, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy, a junior signal-caller for the Wolverines, had some strong comments on the sign-stealing allegations. Later in the week, he gave clarity on what he meant, with many in the media and on social media blowing things out of proportion.

Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy clarifies sign-stealing comments

The Michigan football team has been hit with sign-stealing allegations time and time again this year — it’s as if people have used it to discredit the Wolverines after every win and accomplishment, such as a perfect 14-0 season, a CFP win, a Big Ten title, a win over Ohio State, and more.

Earlier this week, JJ McCarthy offered some strong comments on the sign-stealing matter, stating that 80 percent of CFB teams stole signs, Ohio State was stealing the Wolverines’ signs, and more. After the media took McCarthy’s statements and ran with them, he gave some clarity on what he meant later in the week.

“After Michigan practice Wednesday, JJ McCarthy walked into the Schembechler facility lobby to chat with me personally, to clarify his sign-stealing comments from earlier in the day,” reads a tweet from ESPN reporter Marty Smith. “He told me ‘it’s about leveling the playing field,’ and how Michigan is ‘forced to disguise and camouflage our signs…’ (which he said the team has needed to do during his three years at Michigan), ‘…not upping our opportunity to win by stealing (other teams’) signs, but by protecting our own.'”

Monday, regardless of how upset some in the media may be, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy and his Wolverines will be contending for a national title. Sign-stealing or not, the Wolverines just keep winning, and could put some negative narratives to bed by winning a victory over the Washington Huskies, earning the program’s first championship since the 1997 season.

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