Who is Uncle T? Conspiracies bloom as Michigan booster linked to sign-stealing scheme
The Michigan sign-stealing scandal has taken every twist and turn imaginable. And another one always seems to be around the corner.
On Friday, the latest crop of reporting that'll make you go "wait really?" is probably the worst for Michigan yet: The Wolverines fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge for allegedly destroying evidence and a Michigan booster called "Uncle T" has been linked as a financial backer of the whole scheme.
That's all according to Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports.
Who is the Michigan booster, Uncle T? Twitter wants to know
The existence of an "Uncle T" took off on Twitter immediately with many jumping to the comedic conclusion that it might be Tom Brady
I’m hoping “Uncle T” turns out to be Tom Brady.
— SquintsPalledorous (@UWSquints) November 17, 2023
This case has been wild already but needs to hit a next level of craziness. https://t.co/T4519o2Fiy
Unfortunately for those of us rooting for the funniest outcome possible at every turn of this Michigan debacle, Wetzel put the kibosh on the Brady specualtion.
I can report, along with @RossDellenger, that Michigan booster “Uncle T” is not Tom Brady.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) November 17, 2023
Carry on.
But that didn't stop Twitter from coming up with some other hilarious options.
Is Uncle T actually Coach T from those horrible Toyota Commercials a few years ago? https://t.co/6aJ7anW4QN pic.twitter.com/FfSGUtWYsd
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 17, 2023
OMG
— Herb Kirkstreit (@THE_OSU) November 17, 2023
UNCLE T IS RYAN DAY'S BROTHER, TIM DAY!! https://t.co/mWrlaG2bLe pic.twitter.com/j4aIhCHgq0
Uncle T has all the tools, baby pic.twitter.com/0Rp2vZ2KuF
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) November 17, 2023
Uncle T never had the makings of a varsity athlete. But he knew how to influence them. https://t.co/1XBOSozq9B pic.twitter.com/zSrazuSmQe
— Scoops (@ejmaroun) November 17, 2023
So who really is Uncle T? There is plenty of speculation around that on Twitter. So take it for what it's worth.
Btw, this is Uncle T who posted this.
— B1G_Ryan (@B1G_Ryan) November 17, 2023
Totchman is Tim Smith, a former board member of the Champions Circle NIL collective for Michigan, who had his name removed from their site today.
Totchman, Uncle T, Tim Smith all the same guy (Finkle, Einhorn, etc). More confirmation: https://t.co/hWbrHVmslP pic.twitter.com/ZbqdxSvdL4
As pointed out by @ry12559 :
— Will (@SpartanWilliam) November 17, 2023
Uncle T is likely Tim Smith who was a leader for Champions Circle. Google still shows his name on the website, but he has been removed from it. Aka, they just deleted his name from the website TODAY.
Check it out yourself:https://t.co/tCTVKmG37o pic.twitter.com/jjPD7aFwBB
UPDATE: Smith denied being Uncle T or having any involvement with the sign-stealing scheme, per Dellenger. However, he did confirm being removed from the Michigan NIL collective Champions Circle.
Regardless of identity, the mere fact that the NCAA believes him to be a Michigan booster is the biggest problem for the Wolverines.
Yahoo Sports' report cited sources claiming no evidence has linked Jim Harbaugh to the sign-stealing scheme. However, multiple members of his staff are now implicated along with a university booster.
No links to Harbaugh need to be made to give the NCAA plenty of reason to hit Michigan with substantial penalties. USC was wallopped over the Reggie Bush scandal because they "should have known" what was going on with impermissible benefits that were being handed out by someone unaffiliated with the university. Having so many figures directly linked to the staff and program puts a target on Michigan's back that they'll have a hard time shaking.
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