Michigan staffer reportedly bought 30+ tickets over 3 years; video evidence emerges
Suspended Michigan staffer Connor Stalions is the focal point of the NCAA investigation into Jim Harbaugh’s program on allegations of sign stealing and in-person scouting of future opponents. New details have emerged in the story in a recent ESPN report.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach, Stalions purchased tickets in his own name for more than 30 games in the past 3 seasons. Those games came at 11 different B1G programs with Thamel citing sources at 11 different B1G schools.
Thamel went on to report that the scope of the alleged sign-stealing operation includes video evidence of electronics prohibited by the NCAA to steal signs and “a significant paper trail.” It is also alleged Stalions forwarded the tickets he purchased to at least three individuals in different parts of the country.
Sources: Michigan staffer Connor Stalions bought tickets for more than 30 games at 11 Big Ten schools over the past three years. Also, video evidence of sideline taping is expected to be sent to the NCAA this week, caught by stadium surveillance this year. https://t.co/8wmMRppR7u
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 23, 2023
Per Thamel, the NCAA is expected to obtain video evidence this week that illustrates the use of illegal technology in scouting tied to Stalions’ ticket purchases. One opposing B1G school reportedly reviewed in-stadium surveillance video from a game this season and captured the person in the seat purchased by Stalions appearing to hold his smartphone up and film the home team’s sideline the entire game.
Thamel’s story included that Stalions purchased tickets on both sides of Ohio Stadium (across from each bench) for the Week 8 game between Ohio State and Penn State. Sources indicated to Thamel that those tickets purchased by Stalions were not used on Saturday after Stalions’ name first emerged publicly in Friday’s ESPN report.
We’ll see how this develops moving forward, but things do not look good per the details of ESPN’s latest report.