Oregon offensive coordinator accuses Arizona State of stealing signs

More than a week after the Utah Utes accused Arizona State of stealing signs, Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Scott Frost reignited the controversy.

Arizona State head Todd Graham prides himself with his ability to coach defense. He loves that side of the ball. For the most part, he leaves the offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Mike Norvell.

The defense, however, is something he delves into very deep. So when the Utah Utes accused the Sun Devils of stealing their offensive signals during Utah’s 34-18 victory over coach Graham and his team, it was an accusation directed toward Graham.

Utah players told the Salt Lake Tribune the same thing happened during last year’s 19-16 OT defeat and the Utes were prepared this time by practicing more in a huddle:

“They called out a couple of our plays last year,” Aiono said. “So it was like a tool in our tool bag to have just in case we had to pull it out, and it worked out for us.”

Both Aiono and Wilson said they felt in the third quarter that ASU defenders knew what was coming. Wilson noted that some even were watching Utah’s sideline to see what offensive coaches were signaling.

After these “suspicions and tips” that ASU had deciphered Utah’s signals, the coaches decided to huddle. Utah managed 118 yards of offense and 20 unanswered points in the final quarter after churning out only 33 total yards and no points in the third.”

The facts seem to support the Utes accusations, since their offense became demonstrably better once they started huddling. However, is this something where Arizona State just noticed the Utes signals were easily deciphered, or is there a New England Patriots “spygate” system going on at Sun Devil headquarters?

Before last Thursday’s game between Oregon and Arizona State, the Ducks downplayed the idea that ASU was doing anything nefarious, via The Register-Guard:

"“I think there’s a lot that is overblown about that,” Helfrich said. “Even if you know and you’re trying to see a signal, communicate a defense or a group and then call the defense, line up and execute the defense, that’s really hard to do.”"

However, the Ducks would go on to have an elaborate and bizarre system of hiding their play signals via giant white sheets during the game against Arizona State, despite their alleged nonchalance. Check out the photo here. Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost said he’s never encountered a team as diligent at trying to steal signals as Arizona State, via Andrew Greif.

Pac-12 teams across the conference will now be viewing the Sun Devils suspiciously before each game, undoubtedly concerned over these allegations of signal-stealing.

Of course, reading this Sports Illustrated article from last year, it seems that signal stealing is ubiquitous across college football, and that the other teams in the Pac-12 should simply be concerned that Graham and the Sun Devils are really good at it.

More from Saturday Blitz

• Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
• ACC Power Rankings: Can #4 FSU overthrow Clemson at Death Valley East?
• Most heartwarming social media reactions to Nick Chubb’s injury
• Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
• Things are going to get much darker for the Houston Cougars

No team or member of any organization has alleged or even implied that Arizona State is doing something illegal or unethical, and there is no investigation going on or even planned. Considering that Arizona State is only a middling defensive team with a tendency to give up big plays, worrying about their defense stealing signals might be counter-productive.

After all, with all the diligent signal stealing going on, the Sun Devils still gave up 61 points to the Oregon Ducks, including touchdowns to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and a touchdown to win the game in the third overtime.