Connor Stalions out at UM amid NCAA investigation into sign stealing

Connor Stalions, a Michigan football analytics analyst at the center of an NCAA investigation into an alleged sign-stealing scheme, resigned Friday afternoon, according to a university spokesman.

Michigan previously suspended Stalions with pay on Oct. 20, a day after the Big Ten confirmed the NCAA had opened an investigation. Yahoo Sports initially reported Stalions was fired, which was also confirmed to The Detroit News by a source familiar with the decision not authorized to speak on the matter publicly.

The Michigan Athletic Department, after it was reported Stalions was fired, released a statement through spokesman Dave Ablauf that described his departure as a resignation: "Connor Stalions resigned his position with Michigan Athletics this afternoon. We are unable to comment further regarding this personnel matter."

The Associated Press reported Stalions failed to show up for a scheduled hearing Friday and informed the school through his attorney he would not participate in any internal or external investigations.

This news comes after Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti met Friday with University of Michigan president Santa Ono to discuss the allegations and NCAA investigation. It is unclear whether there will be any punishment from the Big Ten — which can take action under the league’s Sportsmanship Policy — for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, in a statement on Oct. 19, has denied knowledge of an illegal sign-stealing scheme in his program. During his weekly news conference Monday, Harbaugh said he wishes he could speak about the investigation, but Michigan’s stance has been not to comment.

“You just have to let it play out, cooperate with the investigation, and then watch how it plays out,” Harbaugh said Monday.

Stalions was a low-level member of the Michigan football staff, listed as an analytics assistant who made $55,000 last year. Stalions, a 2013 graduate of Lake Orion High and 2017 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, in his now-deleted X (formerly Twitter) profile listed “@UMichFootball Linebackers.”

He reportedly purchased tickets in his name to multiple games involving future Michigan opponents over the past three years, according to an ESPN report, and he sent different people to record teams' hand signals.

Earlier this week, images surfaced of an individual who appeared to look like Stalions dressed in Central Michigan coaching gear and on the CMU sideline for the Chippewas opener against Michigan State — a future Michigan opponent — on Sept. 1. Michigan opened its season the next day against East Carolina.

More:CMU investigating if UM's Stalions was on sideline for MSU game

If verified, Stalions was on the CMU sideline in a game against a future Michigan opponent — Michigan and Michigan State played at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 21 — it is the first evidence that Stalions violated NCAA rule 11.6.1 “Off-campus, in-person scouting prohibition.” That rule states, “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited, except as provided in Bylaws 11.6.1.1 and 11.6.1.2 (same event at the same site). This rule was adopted in 1994. There are no rules against in-game sign stealing.

There has been increasing pressure this week on Petitti from Big Ten coaches and athletic directors to punish Michigan as the NCAA investigation continues. The Big Ten is not currently conducting an independent investigation into the allegations.

Multiple reports described the Big Ten coaches and athletic directors as irate and demanding punishment for Michigan in light of an alleged sign-stealing scheme that prompted an NCAA investigation announced on Oct. 19, not long after Yahoo Sports broke the story. The investigation was also sparked by the results of an outside investigative firm, which, as reported by The Washington Post, involved videos of plans and budgets for impermissible scouting of opponents. The firm, according to The Post, obtained computer drives maintained and accessed by multiple Michigan coaches.

Petitti has the “exclusive authority” according to the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy to determine, using any evidence deemed relevant, if an “offensive action” has been committed.  What is considered “standard” disciplinary action could yield no more than a two-game suspension and/or a fine of up to $10,000. According to section 10.1.2 of the policy, each institution is obligated to cooperate with the Commissioner during the course of the investigation into whether an “offensive action” took place. Not cooperating is punishable.

There also is a category for “major disciplinary action” that exceeds the up-to-two-game suspension and must be approved by the Joint Group Executive Committee (JGEC). The JGEC may approve, deny or lessen the proposed penalty but not add to it. The committee is to act “as expeditiously” as possible. There is no appeal.

Regarding the procedural elements, the policy states: “Any involved institution or individual at risk of disciplinary action shall be provided an opportunity, which may be waived, to offer its or his or her position as to whether an offensive action occurred. The timeframe within which an institution or individual shall provide its or his or her position shall be set by the Commissioner and shall be reasonable in light of the circumstances."

Purdue coach Ryan Walters, whose team faces the Wolverines Saturday night at Michigan Stadium, shared his insight into the alleged sign-stealing scheme on his weekly radio show Thursday night.

“It’s unfortunate. What’s crazy is they weren’t allegations,” Walters said on the show. “It happened. There’s video evidence. There’s ticket purchases and sales that you can track back. We know for a fact they were at a number of our games, so we’ve had to teach our guys a new language in terms of some of the signals.”

Harbaugh, in his statement on Oct. 19, said he was not aware of the illegal sign-stealing and assured he and his staff would cooperate with the NCAA 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 in the statement. “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 rules.“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.”

Michigan cleared one possible hurdle Tuesday night when the College Football Playoff rankings were released. Boo Corrigan, the CFP chair, said the committee did not discuss the NCAA investigation while considering the Wolverines, who are ranked No. 3.

Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP, was asked why the investigation was not part of the discussion.

“You have to remember that these are allegations at this point and not facts, and so there’s no substantive evidence that anything happened that might have affected the game,” Hancock said. “All this committee does is evaluate what happens on the field during games. That’s why we are where we are.”

If the NCAA or Big Ten were to slap Michigan with a postseason ban, Michigan, which has been a CFP participant the last two seasons, would not be considered a potential CFP playoff team.

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis