NCAA enforcement staff swept into Ann Arbor last week to investigate allegations claiming The University of Michigan’s Football staff stole signs from opponents using prohibited methods.
The investigation came after claims that Michigan’s offensive analyst, Connor Stalions, allegedly bought more than 30 tickets to opponents’ games and paid people to record future Michigan opponents in person and upload the footage to a shared photo album. Connor has been called a quote “psycho” by some, and was allegedly working on a manifesto to run the Michigan football program. The document was between 550 and 600 pages long and contained a blueprint for the program's future. Stalions called the document quote "the Michigan Manifesto." Stallions was suspended with pay pending the NCAA investigation.
Since the emergence of this formal inquiry, Texas Christian University, Horned Frogs staff members came forward and said they had knowledge of Michigan’s sign-stealing antics before the 2022 College Football Playoff game. They claimed to have been “tipped off,” and decided to use quote “dummy signals” during the game instead. TCU won the match 51 to 45, much to viewers' surprise, although one could speculate this had something to do with it.
While the NCAA doesn’t have strict rules against stealing signs, they do prohibit deep, in-person scouting and using quote “illegal technology” to record opponents’ signals for later review–which is what Stalions allegedly did.
Looking ahead, NCAA investigators may interview Michigan coaches once they return from recruiting trips. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has already denied any knowledge of sign-stealing efforts and says quote, “I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.”
Michigan is currently the #2 ranked team in the country, tied with Georgia as the favorite to win the national championship.
For now, the only punishment for Michigan football’s 2023 season would come from the Big Ten commissioner. The NCAA’s investigation will likely go into 2024, and once a final notice of allegations is submitted, Michigan will have 90 days to respond.
No matter the outcome, the sign-stealing scandal has football staff from all over pointing to in-helmet communication as the solution.
