In the Netflix documentary “Sign Stealer,” released Tuesday morning, Connor Stalions addressed for the first time the allegations that he showed up in disguise on the Central Michigan sideline during last year’s game against Michigan State, without giving a clear answer.
Screenshots of the September 2023 broadcast of the game first appeared online last October. The athlete more photos of a person who looked similar to Stalions wearing CMU gear, with a goatee, hat and sunglasses. This was one of the strangest twists in the saga and went a step further than the claims that Stalions had collected videos of opposing teams’ signals taken by people with tickets purchased in his name.
Several Central Michigan coaches, including head coach Jim McElwain, previously coached at Michigan when Stalions was in the program. CMU has not yet confirmed or denied that the person in the screenshots was Stalions, who showed up clean-shaven at the Michigan game the next day.
In the documentary, Stalions is presented with a picture of the supporting character and he holds it up next to him in one scene.
“I don’t even think this guy looks like me,” Stalions says, laughing.
Towards the end of the documentary, a video recording of Stalion’s NCAA interview shows an investigator asking Stalion if he was at the MSU-CMU game.
“No, I don’t remember attending a specific game there,” Stalions replies.
When the investigator questions Stalions again, one of his lawyers replies: “He answered the question. He said he couldn’t remember any specific game.”
At this point, Brad Beckworth, Stalions’ other attorney, says the interview needs to end before he can claim that Stalions’ personal information was stolen and ask if anyone from Ohio State was involved. At this point, the documentary ends.
NEW: @TheAthletic has received additional photos of the person with the goatee and sunglasses on the sidelines of Central Michigan Stadium at Michigan State.
The CMU is investigating whether this is Connor Stalions.
Story: https://t.co/79siEcZ89r pic.twitter.com/R5AyslTIWF
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023
Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports claims that in an earlier scene, the stalions told him that it was actually him who was standing on the sidelines.
“I know the answer to that because he told me,” said Portnoy, a Michigan State University graduate. “…Yes, that was Connor on the sidelines.”
ESPN reported earlier this month that the NCAA’s preliminary ruling on the allegations against Michigan determined that the person in the screenshots was Stalions.
Central Michigan released a statement Tuesday morning following the documentary’s release: “We are aware of the conclusions in the new Netflix documentary regarding former University of Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions, who walked onto the CMU sideline during our opening game last September. For the past 10 months, CMU has cooperated fully with the NCAA’s ongoing investigation, and we will continue to cooperate with the NCAA as it works to complete its investigation. NCAA bylaws specifically prohibit CMU from commenting publicly on the specifics of the case at this time. We are committed to bringing this matter to a fair and expeditious conclusion and sharing what we know. We appreciate the patience and support of our community.”
Michigan State University officials declined further comment Monday when informed of the contents of the documentary, citing the ongoing investigation. Stalions also did not respond to a request for comment.
Regarding a report in July that Central Michigan quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner had been fired, a CMU spokesperson said Kostner “remains on the roster.” Kostner is one of several CMU employees who previously worked with the Stalions at Michigan.
Alan Haller, athletic director at Michigan State University, told the Lansing State Journal in July: “I’m interested in the outcome of the investigation. And it could affect our relationship with Central Michigan.”
Having team personnel on the sidelines during an unrelated game violates NCAA rules on in-person scouting. In 2015, Baylor itself imposed a half-game suspension on then-assistant coach Jeff Lebby for standing on the sidelines during a game between Oklahoma and Tulsa. Lebby was in town for a wedding and was given free sideline tickets by his former colleague Philip Montgomery, then Tulsa’s head coach.
When Stallions’ photos were released last year, McElwain said he was unaware of them and did not approve of them.
“We’re not aware of it, not aware at all,” McElwain said last year. “I’m not condoning it in any way. All I know is his name wasn’t on any of the passes that went out. Now we’re just following it up and trying to figure it out. It’s in good hands with our guys and again, there’s no place for that in football.”
Required reading
(Photo: Netflix)
