REPORT: Michigan Wolverines Fire Connor Stalions Amid Sign-Stealing Scandal
According to a report from Yahoo Sports reporter Dan Wetzel, the Michigan Wolverines fired analyst Connor Stalions amid their alleged elaborate sign-stealing scandal on Friday.
His firing comes just weeks after the NCAA opened an investigation into the Michigan program.
Stalions, who had been suspended without pay during the investigation, was purportedly the mastermind behind the scheme.
That said, the NCAA has not presented Michigan with a notice of allegations or levied any penalties against the program as of yet. Michigan, however, is reportedly fully cooperating with the investigation.
Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions on the sidelines vs. Ohio State in 2022
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
Last week, details were revealed by ESPN about the depths of Stalions' involvement in the scandal, with the reports indicating that Stalions had bought tickets to over 30 games at 11 different Big Ten stadiums over the past three seasons.
And he did it using a credit card registered to his own name.
Since the investigation began, videos and photos have emerged of Stalions apparently helping Michigan assistants and coordinators decipher signals of opposing teams, including the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022.
The Wolverines, of course, went on to win that game 45-23, and would go on to win the Big Ten title and go to the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State was also reportedly one of several teams that informed TCU of the Wolverines' scheme, allowing the Horned Frogs to create fake signals. Ultimately, the Horned Frogs would take down Michigan in the semi-finals, and go on to the national title game.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has denied any knowledge of the scandal since the beginning, releasing a statement to that effect early on in the 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.
