Last week, news broke that the Michigan Wolverines were facing an investigation from the NCAA related to allegations of sign stealing. And now, it looks like new evidence has emerged against Michigan.
According to a recent report, a low-level Michigan Wolverines staff member who was accused of traveling to games to steal opponents’ signs has been caught purchasing tickets to over 30 games over the past few years.
“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,” Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach reported for ESPN this week.
It’s worth noting that while sign stealing is not explicitly banned or forbidden in college football, in-person scouting of a future opponent is against NCAA rules. This appears to provide strong evidence that Michigan violated this rule.
“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,” ESPN reported.
This is certainly bad news for the Michigan Wolverines, who are currently undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country.
About Kevin Harrish