The lengths to which Connor Stalions allegedly went in Michigan’s supposed sign-stealing operation are coming to light, as is the mounting evidence against the school’s football program.
Stalions purchased tickets for more than 30 games over the last three years at 11 different schools in the Big Ten, according to a report from ESPN.
The Michigan staffer forwarded the tickets he had bought — in his own name — to at least three other people in different parts of the country all in an effort to scout other teams.
After Stalions’ name was first revealed as part of the NCAA probe into Michigan’s scouting operation, schools around the Big Ten began tracking Stalions’ purchases on Friday and seemingly discovered a pattern where one or both of the teams playing was an upcoming Michigan opponent.
The tickets Stalions purchased were never for a game Michigan was playing in and the tickets were used to get into the game by individuals other than Stalions.
The NCAA is also expecting to be sent video evidence this week of a person in one of the seats purchased by Stalions appearing to use his smartphone to record the home team’s sideline for the entire game.
Scouting future opponents in person has been prohibited by the NCAA since 1994, and if Michigan did indeed use video to capture opponent’s signs, the school could be looking at a violation of Article 11 subsection H of the NCAA football rulebook, according to ESPN.
“Any attempt to record, either through audio or video means, any signals given by an opposing player, coach or other team personnel is prohibited,” the rule states.
Stalions would often use his own credit card to purchase tickets and used secondary ticket sellers SeatGeek and StubHub, according to ESPN.
The seats purchased would be located near the 45-yard line and up high enough to have a view of the opposite sideline.
The Michigan staffer had even purchased tickets on both sides of the stadium to last Saturday’s game between Ohio State and Penn State in Columbus, ESPN reported.
However, the tickets were not used.
News first became public on Thursday when Yahoo! Sports reported that the NCAA had begun investigating Michigan, just a day after the school and Big Ten had been notified.
Stalions’ name was linked to the investigation on Friday, and the university suspended him with pay on the same day.
The Wolverines are ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll and are expected to make another appearance in the College Football Playoff.
But the repercussions from the second scandal this season are unknown.
One person told ESPN last week that this “is worse than both the Astros and the Patriots.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has denied any knowledge of sign stealing, but the new information could open up Harbaugh to punishment under NCAA rules.
NCAA bylaw 11.1.2.1 states a head coach “can be responsible for the actions of his staff and individuals associated with the program.”
Harbaugh had already been investigated — and later suspended for three games in a self-imposed punishment by the school — for violations of recruiting policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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