Central Michigan Investigating Suspended Michigan Staffer’s Presence on Sideline During Game Against Michigan State
Central Michigan University (CMU) is currently conducting an investigation to determine whether suspended Michigan staffer Connor Stalions was present on the CMU sideline during their September 1 game against Michigan State. The investigation was prompted by screenshots circulating online that show a person resembling Stalions on the FS1 broadcast in the CMU bench area.
CMU athletic director Amy Folan released a statement saying, “We became aware of these photos late yesterday and we are in the process of determining the facts surrounding them. As this process is ongoing, we have no further comment at this time.”
The CMU coaching staff includes several former Michigan staffers, including head coach Jim McElwain, defensive backs coach Michael Zordich, and quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner, all of whom worked at Michigan while Stalions volunteered for the Wolverines.
The person in question, who bears a resemblance to Stalions, was often seen on the CMU sideline wearing sunglasses and dressed in the same Adidas attire as the rest of the CMU staff. He was frequently spotted next to Michael McGee, the director of recruiting for CMU. At times, he was seen holding a large sheet or board, although its contents were unclear.
If it is indeed Stalions on the CMU sideline, this would be the first known instance of him attending a game involving a Michigan opponent in person weeks before the opponent played the Wolverines. The game in question was Michigan State’s season opener, which took place on a Friday night. The following day, Michigan hosted East Carolina.
Stalions has been suspended with pay by Michigan since October 20 and is currently under investigation by the NCAA for his alleged involvement in a scouting and sign-stealing scheme. Sources have revealed that Stalions purchased tickets to games in at least seven Big Ten stadiums over the past three seasons, including the current 2023 season. While purchasing tickets is not a violation of NCAA rules, using them to scout and record other teams would be a violation of the rules prohibiting in-person, on-campus scouting and the audio or video recording of signals.
One of Michigan’s Big Ten opponents has claimed to possess in-stadium surveillance footage showing someone filming their team’s sideline from a seat purchased by Stalions. The filming was done using the individual’s smartphone.
According to another school source, tickets under Stalions’ name were purchased five times over the past three seasons, always near the 50-yard line and sometimes on both sides of the stadium. It has also been reported that Stalions purchased tickets to games involving potential College Football Playoff opponents, including Clemson, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.
The investigation into Stalions’ presence on the CMU sideline will shed further light on his alleged involvement in the sign-stealing scheme and provide insight into his actions leading up to games against Michigan’s opponents. As the investigation continues, both CMU and Michigan await further developments and will provide additional comments when appropriate.
In conclusion, the presence of a person resembling suspended Michigan staffer Connor Stalions on the Central Michigan University sideline during their game against Michigan State has prompted an investigation by CMU. This investigation is part of a larger inquiry into Stalions’ alleged involvement in a scouting and sign-stealing scheme. The results of this investigation will provide crucial information regarding Stalions’ actions leading up to games against Michigan’s opponents and may have significant implications for both CMU and Michigan.