USC football coach says Utah ‘does a good job of trying to grab signals.’ Kyle Whittingham has a solution for the problem

Utah Coach On Sign-Stealing Controversy

The sign-stealing conversation surrounding Michigan football has reached Utah.

Following the Utes’ shocking victory over USC on the road, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley was questioned by local media about his use of screens to hide play calls. Riley’s response hinted that Utah was the team that had been deciphering the Trojans’ signals.

“An opponent we’ve faced multiple times, and an opponent we know tries to steal signals,” Riley told Los Angeles media. The screens are “just a way to protect some of our strategies.”

Riley’s comment didn’t quite accuse Utah outright, especially as he acknowledged that certain degrees of sign-stealing have long been a part of the game.

Utes coach Kyle Whittingham previously addressed the sign-stealing issue in college football, stating that deciphering an opponent’s signs is a common occurrence during games.

“In my opinion, if your signs are stolen during the game, that’s on you,” Whittingham said. “They’re too simple and easy to figure out. In-game, trying to pick up on signs is commonplace. Where it becomes a problem is if you go outside the game. That’s when it’s frowned upon.”

In Utah’s recent loss to Oregon, the Ducks coaching staff also employed screens to prevent the stealing of their play calls. Whittingham, when asked about it, reiterated his previous point that in-game sign-stealing is the responsibility of the team for not adequately protecting their plays, and he expressed no offense if other teams attempted it against the Utes.

“I don’t have a problem with teams trying to steal our signals,” Whittingham stated. “Personally, I don’t consider it crossing the line because if they’re able to do it, then kudos to them and we need to make improvements.”

Whittingham even proposed a potential solution for sign-stealing: microphones in helmets.

“Oh, I’d love that,” Whittingham exclaimed. “Having headsets for the players, like an intercom system? Absolutely. I think it would be a significant advantage.”