No. 2 Michigan Facing Adversities: Firing of Assistant Coach Chris Partridge Adds More Chaos
A recent upheaval in the No. 2 Michigan football team led to the sacking of the linebackers’ coach, Chris Partridge. This action has sparked further tumult within the team, already under scrutiny by the NCAA due to allegations of a sign-stealing scheme.
The NCAA’s ongoing investigation into the supposed sign-stealing scheme has created a significant obstacle for the Wolverines. As a result, their head coach, Jim Harbaugh, won’t be with the team for the next week’s game against their rivals, Ohio State.
Partridge’s dismissal was announced today, with no explicit reasons provided by the Athletic Director, Warde Manuel. He cited employee privacy laws as the reason behind the silence.
The allegations revolve around the former staffer, Connor Stalions, who resigned two weeks ago. He is accused of buying tickets to future Michigan games for the sole purpose of sending people to record the opponent teams’ play signals.
The NCAA maintains a strict no-tolerance policy towards in-person scouting, which is precisely what Stalions is accused of doing. The organization is working tirelessly to determine the extent of the scheme and who all had knowledge about it.
Partridge’s association with Michigan goes back to February when he rejoined the program after serving as Mississippi’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for three seasons.
Partridge and Harbaugh have a long history of working together, dating back to 2016. Partridge was initially hired as the team’s director of player personnel, only to get promoted to an assistant coach for four years during his first stint with the Wolverines.
The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh last Friday, due to which he missed the victory at Penn State. Although Michigan sought a court order to get the suspension lifted, an agreement was reached just a day before the court hearing, leading to Harbaugh serving his suspension.
Despite the suspension, Harbaugh is allowed to coach the team during the week. The Wolverines are among the favourites to win a national title and are eyeing their third straight Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff appearance.
In the wake of Partridge’s departure, Rick Minter has been promoted to lead the linebackers, adding a silver lining to the cloud of uncertainty hovering over the team.
In conclusion, the No. 2 Michigan team is going through a tumultuous period. With the ongoing NCAA investigation and the recent firing of assistant coach Chris Partridge, the team faces significant challenges ahead.