Michigan has suspended football staff member Connor Stalions pending the completion of an NCAA investigation into sign-stealing allegations, athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday.
Manuel said Stallions was suspended with pay. He is listed as a member of Michigan’s recruiting department specializing in analytics and is the staff member central to the NCAA’s investigation into decoding other teams’ signals.
The NCAA notified Michigan and the Big Ten on Wednesday that it is investigating Michigan for possible rules violations related to in-person scouting of opponents. A source briefed on the allegation said Michigan is accused of using a “vast network” to steal opposing teams’ signs.
Stalions retired from the US Marine Corps in 2022 and joined the Michigan football team as an analyst. He previously volunteered in various capacities at Michigan and worked with the Navy football program from 2013 to 2016. In his recently deactivated LinkedIn bio, Stalions said his military background was useful in “identifying the adversary’s most likely and dangerous course of action.” Measures” and “Detecting and exploiting critical vulnerabilities”.
ESPN identified Stalions as a “person of interest” in the NCAA investigation, and an industry source briefed on the investigation confirmed that the NCAA is seeking information about his methods for decoding other teams’ signals.
Sign stealing is not illegal in college football, but NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 prohibits “in-person scouting of future opponents off campus (in the same season).”
The reputation of stallions in Michigan
Since returning to Michigan, Stalions gained a reputation within the Wolverines program for his ability to decipher opposing signals. A source involved in the program described Stalions as “a scholar” who was “exceptional in the game” and said the Naval Academy product’s feel for such things was a real skill in which Stalions was adept at picking out tendencies and knowing what’s live. and what not. Sources involved with the Wolverines program say the aspiring coach took great pride in deciphering his opponents’ signals.
Perhaps, and this is no coincidence, the Wolverines also had a reputation within the conference for cracking opponents’ signal systems.
“I think Michigan is really good at stealing signals,” a Big Ten running backs coach told The Athletic last fall. “They got our stuff early and they caught us on both sides.” — Bruce Feldman, senior college football writer
Required reading
(Photo by Jim Harbaugh: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty)