REPORT: Michigan Assistant Allegedly Bought Tickets to Scout Georgia In-Person
As the Michigan sign-signing stealing scandal continues to unfold, new allegations have arisen that the Michigan assistant at the center of the NCAA's investigation of Michigan's alleged sign stealing practices bought tickets to a number of games during both the 2021 and 2022 seasons that featured College Football Playoff contenders, including the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs.
On Monday, ESPN reported that Connor Stalions, the Michigan analyst who was recently suspended with pay due to the NCAA's investigation into potential illicit sign stealing committed by the Wolverines, purchased tickets to 30 games involving Big Ten teams. On Tuesday, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports built on those allegations by reporting that Stalion's sign-stealing efforts expanded beyond in-person scouting of Big Ten opponents. According to Dellenger, Stallions purchased tickets to additional games outside of the scope of the Big Ten that involved potential CFP contenders including Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, and Clemson. The Michigan analyst also reportedly purchased tickets to both the 2021 and 2022 SEC Championship games; games that both featured the Georgia Bulldogs.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh looks on from the sidelines during the Wolverines' game against Indiana on Oct. 14, 2023.
Stalions also reportedly purchased a ticket to attend the Tennessee-Kentucky game that was played on Oct. 28, 2022. The ticket was for a seat positioned directly across from the Tennessee sideline with a direct view of the Tennessee coaching staff's signals and was transferred by Stalions to another person who, according to sources cited by Yahoo Sports, did use the ticket.
Additionally, Stalions reportedly purchased another single ticket to the Oregon-Washington game played on Nov. 12, 2022 before immediately transferring the ticket to another person. Once again, the ticket was directly facing the sideline of Oregon, who was ranked No.15 in the AP poll at the time.
Sign stealing, be it in-game or after the fact during television broadcasts, has long been an open secret at all levels of football and is not expressly prohibited by the NCAA. However, the NCAA does have long-standing rules prohibiting in-person scouting of future opponents. Beyond that, using recording or video devices to scout opponents in-person violates an additional NCAA bylaw
Other Georgia News:
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- Player Profile: How Can Oscar Delp Contribute to Georgia's Success?
- Reminder of What Georgia Has With Delp, Luckie, and Spurlin
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