In the Netflix documentary “Sign Stealer,” released Tuesday, former Michigan football employee Connor Stalions denies the NCAA’s allegations that he led an illegal scouting operation, and his attorney accused the NCAA of using illegally obtained information in its investigation.
The documentary includes portions of Stalion’s interview with NCAA investigators in which he claims he did not instruct others to be at games to record opposing teams’ signs, but he admitted that tickets he purchased were used by people who sent him videos.
He told the filmmakers it was like “your aunt giving you a Christmas present.”
According to a ticket records request received in November, the Stalions purchased tickets to at least 12 Ohio State football games at Ohio Stadium between 2021 and 2023.
During the same interview with the NCAA, Stalions’ attorney Brad Beckworth said his client’s personal information was obtained illegally and that he believes Ohio State was involved.
“We believe that Connor’s personal, private information was misused by someone who did not have permission to do so,” Beckworth said. “If that’s true, that’s certainly a civil violation and potentially a greater crime. If it’s true that that came from someone associated or affiliated with Ohio State University, and we believe that was the case, then maybe that’s what I would focus on if I wanted to try to do the right thing. OK? Do you know if someone took that without Connor’s consent?”
The NCAA investigator declined to disclose where the information about the Stalions came from.
“We believe his email was hacked,” Beckworth told the documentary filmmakers.
An Ohio State spokesman said in a statement that Beckworth’s allegations “are simply not true and no one has presented evidence to prove otherwise.”
“We are concentrating on the season and have no comment on the film,” the spokesman continued.
In November, Yahoo Sports reported that there was no connection between Day and his family and the Big Ten’s investigation into Michigan.
Stalions initially purchased tickets to Ohio State’s October 2021 win over Maryland in Section 22AA, near the 50-yard line across from Ohio State’s sideline. He also purchased tickets to games against Purdue and Michigan State in 2021, Notre Dame, Arkansas State, Toledo, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Michigan in 2022, and Western Kentucky, Maryland and Penn State in 2023.
School records show that these tickets were either resold on the secondary market or given to others. Tickets for Ohio State’s 2023 win over Penn State and the 2022 win over Toledo were not scanned.
According to NCAA rules, “personal scouting of future opponents (in the same season) off campus” is prohibited, as is recording any signals from an opposing player, coach or team personnel. Decoding signals in other ways is permitted, and Stalions claims he has followed the rules strictly.
“First of all, I never scouted in advance,” Stalions said in the documentary. “Secondly, when it came to signals, I get signals like any other team does by watching TV replays and talking to other intelligence people on other teams. What set me apart was the way I organized that information and processed it on game day.”
Ohio State will play Michigan on November 30th at Ohio Stadium. The game will kick off at noon on Fox.
Ohio State Football Schedule 2024
- August 31: Ohio State vs. Akron; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- September 7: Ohio State vs. Western Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- September 21: Ohio State vs. Marshall; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- September 28: Ohio State at Michigan State; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
- October 5: Ohio State vs. Iowa; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- October 12: Ohio State at Oregon; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
- October 26: Ohio State vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- November 2: Ohio State at Penn State; Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
- November 9: Ohio State vs. Purdue; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- November 16: Ohio State at Northwestern; Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
- November 23: Ohio State vs. Indiana; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- November 30: Ohio State vs. Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
