Roman Wilson, wide receiver for Michigan: “We’re not running from the storm.”
MICHAEL ARBOR, MI Regarding the players, there have been differing responses to the ongoing NCAA investigations at Michigan and the allegations circulating about the football program.
While some have avoided discussing it, others haven’t seemed overly concerned.
Roman Wilson, a senior receiver who has been a member of the Wolverines since 2020, doesn’t seem overly concerned by it all.
Wilson told reporters on Monday, “I feel like it’s always been like this since I’ve been here, even at a young age.” “There’s always something happening. I’m not bothered by it.
The NCAA is presently looking into Michigan on two counts: one for improper use of coaches, improper recruiting, and viewing player workouts on Zoom; the other for improper in-person scouting and accusations of sign-stealing. The Wolverines’ 8-0 start and No. 2 ranking have been somewhat overshadowed by the latest investigation, which has dominated the headlines in recent weeks.
After taking last week off, the team will take on Purdue on Saturday night in Ann Arbor (7:30 p.m., NBC).
Wilson declared, “This team is focused on Purdue and Purdue only.” This group is excellent. We don’t become sidetracked or anything. We just concentrate on the ball.
Wilson related a previous meeting in which a Michigan coach had used an image of buffaloes in a field waiting out a passing storm to help them get through this. It was a sort of metaphor for the team and came up again in preseason camp, according to Wilson, when Harbaugh was potentially facing a Level I infraction for his purported failure to cooperate with NCAA investigators during the initial investigation.
The focus of this most recent probe is analyst Connor Stalions and his complex sign-stealing scheme that spreads throughout the Big Ten, drawing more attention to the Wolverines program.
“They show us a picture of a buffalo just chilling in the storm,” Wilson said. “That’s us. We’re not running away from the storm. We’re not like scared of it. We’re just chilling in it. It’s going to come through us and it’s going to pass by. That’s the definition of this team.”
For over a week now, players have discussed attempting to stay away from the fallout, or “distractions” as they like to call them. As part of the farewell, many of them took the weekend off, and on social media, rumors have been flying high and frequently unchecked. On Monday, head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke up and urged everyone to give the investigation time to conclude.
Wilson, who leads the team in receiving yards (446), and is currently second in the nation in touchdown receptions (10), seems intent on doing just that for the Michigan players.
“The players aren’t too bothered by distractions or anything like that,” Wilson stated. “The athletes are talented. We’re confined. Really, none of this matters.
Roman Wilson, wide receiver for Michigan: “We’re not running from the storm.”
Purdue is aware of Michigan’s accusations of sign theft and will make plans appropriately.
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