A suspended Michigan staffer who is the focus of an NCAA investigation into an alleged sign-stealing scheme appears to have been on the sideline of the 2022 game against Ohio State in Columbus.
Video recorded by WBNS-10TV shows a person believed to be Connor Stalions, an analyst at Michigan, on the Wolverine sideline alongside defensive coordinator Jesse Minter during the Buckeyes first drive of the game. The Columbus Dispatch, using published media from the Detroit Free Press, confirmed that the person in question is Stalions.
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In the video, then Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is seen backing off the formation and looking to the Buckeye sideline. In the background, Stalions appears to look in the direction of the Ohio State sideline, as do other players and coaches.
Stalions and several others on the Michigan sideline then point up several times. The resulting play was a pass that went to Emeka Egbuka for a 4-yard touchdown.
Eleven schools in the Big Ten said they had found evidence that Stalions purchased tickets to at least one of their games over the past three seasons, ESPN reported Monday, citing unidentified sources.
The Associated Press confirmed through officials at three Big Ten schools that they had found electronic purchases of game tickets in Stalions' name. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.
Michigan announced last week that Stalions had been suspended with pay, pending the conclusion of the investigation. Michigan spokesman Dave Ablauf said Monday the school could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
At least one school has found video surveillance footage from inside its stadium that showed an individual appearing to use a cell phone to record what was happening on the field, ESPN reported. The network also said he purchased tickets for Ohio State’s home game with Penn State on Saturday, though the tickets were not used; Michigan plays both teams later this season.
Michigan and the Big Ten acknowledged the NCAA was investigating allegations of sign stealing last week. The conference informed all of Michigan's upcoming opponents of the allegations.
NCAA rules do not directly ban the stealing of signs, but there are rules against using electronic equipment to record an opponent’s signals. One NCAA bylaw also bans “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season).” There are also rules against unsportsmanlike or unethical activities by coaches, and head coaches are generally considered to be responsible for violations that occur under their watch
