On Monday, ESPN reported that Michigan staffer Connor Stalions purchased tickets to more than 30 Big Ten games at 11 different Big Ten venues over the past three seasons as part of an alleged sign-stealing operation.
Since ESPN's report, several photos and videos of Stalions on the Wolverines' sideline have surfaced on social media that show him near – or, in some cases, interacting with – Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. One of those games was Ohio State-Michigan in 2022, where the maize and blue appeared to be a step ahead of the Buckeyes in a matchup that ended 45-23 in favor of the Wolverines.
Stalions' appearances on the Michigan sideline and numerous interactions with Harbaugh, Moore and Minter have led many to wonder why a "low-level staffer" would need to be readily available for the Wolverines' top coaches, particularly in some of Michigan's most important games on the season. Have the interactions been for a purpose, passing along information obtained from his over 30 non-Michigan Big Ten games, or were they merely coincidental?
We've collected some of the tweets, photos and videos of Stalions that have recently emerged on social media for the Eleven Warriors community. For research purposes, of course.
From the 11W Archives
From the 11W photo archives, here's Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, the man at the center of allegations of cheating by the school standing a few feet away from the head coach, who surely had no idea any of this was going on. pic.twitter.com/vHgTr4eaGD
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 23, 2023
Computer, Enhance!
Looking at photos from last year's game, Conner Stalions (mouth open, closest to the field) is right next to Michigan DC Jesse Minter when Ohio State has the football, and right next to then-co-OC Sherrone Moore when Michigan had the football. pic.twitter.com/4XYd0tXGSO
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) October 24, 2023
What's happening here... hmmmm?
In this clip of the 2022 Michigan vs Ohio State game, you can watch Connor Stalions talk to Jesse Minter, then Jesse Minter talks into his headset, and then you can see someone next to Jesse hold up a sign. It happens again on the next play. https://t.co/D0wd7fla9n pic.twitter.com/LmBVsdkCCv
— Bella Edwards (@Bella_Cosmos) October 24, 2023
Caught In The Act?
Video from last year's OSU vs Michigan game appears to show Connor Stalions who is at the center of the alleged sign stealing operation standing next to the UM defensive coordinator.
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) October 24, 2023
See their pre-snap interaction:
Here is better quality video and story https://t.co/aOX1HCRdmN: pic.twitter.com/Q6nNYt2t9x
Ahhhh neck is broken ! https://t.co/WlKbTbX2Y1
— Garrett Wilson (@GarrettWilson_V) October 24, 2023
Wowwww https://t.co/hsMJ4SHJI6
— Dawand Jones (@dawandj79) October 24, 2023
What a Tangled Web We Weave
Michigan staffer Connor Stalions made a public Venmo transaction to Michigan Recruiting Intern Chase Evans with the description GA, the day before last years Peach Bowl. https://t.co/pHpzvLjbQy
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 24, 2023
Against Rutgers? Really?
Here's a picture we found of #Michigan football analyst Connor Stalions standing next to Harbaugh against #Rutgers.
— Rutgers Scarlet Knights | TheKnightReport.Net (@RutgersRivals) October 24, 2023
Looks pretty clear to us that he knew the signals. pic.twitter.com/BDDlf4nJXT
Schiano Knew
This Greg Schiano halftime interview vs. Michigan seemed very odd at the time... pic.twitter.com/TaSDkWyT78
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) October 19, 2023
