Analyst suspended in sign-stealing probe
Connor Stalions, a lowlevel Michigan football staff member, has been suspended with pay by Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel.
Stalions, identified by an ESPN.com report Friday as a “person of interest” in a newly opened NCAA investigation into an alleged illegal sign-stealing operation within Michigan’s program, is suspended pending the conclusion of the NCAA investigation, according to a statement from Manuel on Friday.
A source confirmed to The Detroit News that Stalions is the focal point of the investigation.
The NCAA has requested computer records from Stalions, according to the ESPN report, as the NCAA investigates a possible violation of NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1, which prohibits “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents.” Ingame scouting and sign stealing are permitted.
On Thursday, the Big Ten confirmed the NCAA investigation in a statement and added it had notified Michigan State of the investigation. Michigan and Michigan State meet Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, in a statement Thursday, said he and his staff are cooperating with the investigation.
“I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment,” Harbaugh said. “I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.
“I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rule. No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules.”
Stalions has scrubbed his social media accounts. According to his Twitter/X bio, he is a 2017 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a 2013 graduate of Lake Orion High School. According to the University of Michigan’s 2022 salary disclosure, Stalions, listed as “administrative assistant athletics,” made $55,000. Before he deleted his LinkedIn account, Stalions indicated he was a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan, beginning in 2015.
Harbaugh is facing a Level I violation — the NCAA’s most severe penalty — from an NCAA investigation made public in January when Michigan received a draft of a Notice of Allegations — and it’s unclear how this new investigation might affect him.