Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Central Michigan University is currently under scrutiny due to a recent Notice of Allegations from the NCAA related to its involvement in a sign-stealing scandal. This situation ties back to a former assistant coach from the University of Michigan. The notice was delivered to Central Michigan on June 27, marking the beginning of a 90-day response period for the university.
According to the NCAA’s dashboard of active investigations, the inquiry into Central Michigan began on October 31, 2023. This is significant as it coincides with the emergence of photos showing Connor Stalions, a former defensive analyst for Michigan, allegedly on the sidelines at Central Michigan’s season opener against Michigan State later that same day. In the photos, Stalions appeared to disguise himself, sporting facial hair and mimicking the attire of Central Michigan’s coaching staff. He was also seen wearing sunglasses that had a light, suggesting he might have been using a recording device.
During a recent interview for a Netflix documentary, Stalions stated he couldn’t recall attending a specific game at Central Michigan and even claimed, “I don’t think this guy looks like me.”
Addressing the allegations, Central Michigan released a statement last November, acknowledging the situation presented in the Netflix documentary regarding Stalions’ presence on their sidelines. The university emphasized their full cooperation with the NCAA throughout this ongoing investigation and pledged to continue doing so.
Additional reports have indicated that Stalions was involved in purchasing tickets to games against Michigan’s opponents. He presumably passed these tickets to associates who recorded the teams’ signals. This practice was alleged to have given Michigan a notable edge by decoding the plays from these signals.
The NCAA’s enforcement branch is expected to reach a conclusion regarding potential penalties before the start of the upcoming season. In preparation for possible consequences, Michigan has proactively suspended coach Sherrone Moore for the first two games of September. Moore, a top assistant under former head coach Jim Harbaugh, was in place during the timeframe when the alleged sign-stealing occurred.
At the time of Stalions’ supposed appearance at the Central Michigan game, the team was under the direction of former Michigan offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. Moreover, the quarterback coach then was Jake Kostner, who had previously worked alongside Stalions as a student assistant at Michigan from 2015 to 2018. Kostner has since resigned prior to the upcoming 2024 season, and McElwain retired after last season.
