Over the weekend, we told you about a terrible trivia question by Michigan State during a game, and today the University of Michigan has its own very serious controversy.
Sources: Michigan staffer Connor Stalions bought tickets for more than 30 games at 11 Big Ten schools over the past three years. Also, video evidence of sideline taping is expected to be sent to the NCAA this week, caught by stadium surveillance this year. https://t.co/8wmMRppR7u
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 23, 2023
Connor Stalions, the suspended Michigan staffer at the center of the NCAA's sign-stealing probe, purchased tickets in his own name for more than 30 games over the past three years at 11 different Big Ten schools, sources at 11 different league schools told ESPN.
The scope of the University of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing operation includes both video evidence of electronics prohibited by the NCAA to steal signs and a significant paper trail, sources told ESPN. Stalions forwarded the tickets he bought to at least three different people in different areas of the country, sources say, which hints at the breadth of the operation.
The NCAA is expected to receive video evidence this week of illegal technology used in scouting tied to tickets purchased by Stalions, according to sources. An opposing Big Ten school looked up in-stadium surveillance video from a game earlier this year, and sources said the person in the seat of the ticket purchased by Stalions held his smartphone up and appeared to film the home team's sideline the entire game.
Sources confirmed to ESPN that Stalions purchased tickets on both sides of the stadium -- across from each bench -- for Ohio State's game with Penn State on Saturday. Michigan plays both teams in upcoming weeks. According to sources, the tickets purchased by Stalions were not used Saturday. Stalions' name emerged publicly in an ESPN story Friday. He was suspended with pay by Michigan.
Wow! This could end very badly for the University of Michigan, if true.
Seriously, give this program the death penalty. Scum. https://t.co/UFozRkO6H3
— Craig Choate (@craigwchoate) October 23, 2023
To be fair, they deserve a hearing and a right to defend themselves. Let's not jump to conclusions.
Really disappointed by Big Ten fans. How do you let this happen in your home stadium? This guy wouldn’t make it out of Neyland alive if he sat there filming the sideline https://t.co/ptQ9ywcHI8
— Billy Lauderdale (@billylauds) October 23, 2023
Maybe he was just that sneaky.
Michigan should have to vacate the wins. That makes Iowa 2021 Big Ten Champs. Had Iowa not lost to Michigan in 2022, they would have been in the Big Ten Title Game against...Michigan.
— Dan (Taylor's Version) (@Dan_Welter) October 23, 2023
Iowa confirmed back to back Big Ten Champs. https://t.co/KQIWA9lD1v
No sanctions imposed this season so we still Gucci. Also if you ain't cheating you ain't trying word to Belichick😂 https://t.co/jGQa62K5yO
— Shady Pines 🌲👀🌲 (@ManiPetti) October 23, 2023
My best guess - Stalions is ambitious AF and he wanted to keep proving his worth, but wasn't sure of himself enough to figure things out on the fly. So he did what most people do - prepare and asked people to help him. He was preemptively trying to avoid failure, & here we are. https://t.co/4XRBN8qYEQ
— Erin, more often than not (@epiconlon) October 23, 2023
The theories abound.
Who provided the funding for the travel and ticket expenses? No way just a staffer could afford that. https://t.co/LxRtVc0b8h
— Bryzzo🌪️🌰 (@isubucks) October 23, 2023
This is a great question.
Can we focus on who’s actually perpetrating this at the top? Stalions is a lower level staffer, he’s not just doing this on his own dime. Let’s find out who is actually giving him the orders
— College Football Blue Bloods (@bluebloodsbias) October 23, 2023
I hope Stallings at least got some good credit card points out of this
— kwade (@KwadeSays) October 23, 2023
Heh! He should have enough for a whole vacation after all of this. Silver linings.
--
Join the conversation as a VIP Member