Damning evidence emerges in Michigan sign-stealing scandal
Aug 31, 2019; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh before the game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Some damning evidence has emerged in the sign-stealing scandal involving the Michigan Wolverines.
Last week, it was announced that Michigan was being investigated for allegedly stealing signs from opponents. Michigan was alleged to have violated NCAA rules while stealing the signs.
Stealing an opponent’s signs during games is legal and happens routinely, but Michigan was alleged to have violated NCAA rules by scouting future opponents in-person. There were also questions about whether they used electronic means to aid them in scouting future opponents.
According to a report published by ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach on Monday, Michigan violated both rules.
Connor Stalions, who was suspended by Michigan with pay last week, was named as the person behind the illegal operation. Stalions was said to have had the sole job of trying to steal opponents’ signs. He served as a volunteer for Michigan’s football program from 2015-2022 and then was hired by the program last year in an official capacity.
According to ESPN’s report, Stalions purchased tickets to more than 30 games for 11 different Big Ten teams over the last few years. The report says that Stalions’ ticket purchases had a pattern. He usually purchased tickets around the 45-yard line, just high enough to have visibility to the opposite sideline. He reportedly sometimes purchased tickets on both sides of the stadium for a given game. That practice would occur for a game between two future Michigan opponents.
The report says that Stalions purchased tickets using a credit card in his name, from ticket resellers such as SeatGeak or StubHub. Ticket data reportedly shows that Stalions then forwarded the electronic tickets to other people. Stalions reportedly forwarded the tickets to at least three other individuals. He sometimes bought multiple tickets per game, and other times single tickets.
One Big Ten school reportedly was able to locate the seat that was purchased by Stalions for one game. Stadium surveillance video reportedly captured the person in that seat holding up a cell phone pointed at the opposing sideline the entire game.
Stalions currently has a salary of $55,000 per year at Michigan, which raises further questions about how he funded all these ticket purchases.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh issued a statement last week regarding the allegations. Quite notably, Harbaugh did not deny that some illegal activity may have occurred. Rather, his statement mostly focused on denying having knowledge of the operation.