The University of Michigan’s football team is embroiled in a practice that’s as old as college football itself: sign-stealing.
A Michigan staffer has been accused of buying tickets to games against the team’s conference and possible future College Football Playoff opponents with the sole purpose of sign stealing and scouting so the Wolverines could have an advantage in games.
That staffer, Connor Stalions, has been suspended by the university and the NCAA is also investigating. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has denied any involvement in the sign-stealing scheme.
What is Connor Stalions being accused of?
The 28-year-old Stalions allegedly bought tickets, using his real name, to almost three dozen games over the past three seasons. According to ESPN.com, 12 different Big Ten schools were scouted and the use of electronics and a paper trail were also found. Stalions then forwarded tickets to others around the country and also used television broadcasts to further the scheme.
Stalions bought tickets to the 2021 and 2022 SEC title games, as well as games at Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Oregon, just in case the Wolverines would meet those teams in a future playoff game.
Stalions even bought tickets on both sides of Ohio Stadium in Columbus for the Buckeyes’ victory over Penn State on Oct. 21, but those tickets were not used.
The NCAA rule being looked at is 11.6.1, which reads in-part: “Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.”…
