Michigan releases statement on Connor Stalions’ resignation amid sign-stealing investigation
Michigan released a statement Friday night regarding Connor Stalions’ departure from the football program. The university said he resigned his position.
Stalions is at the center of an NCAA investigation into alleged sign-stealing violations. The university previously suspended him with pay pending the results of the inquiry.
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“Connor Stalions resigned his position with Michigan Athletics this afternoon,” the statement read, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “We are unable to comment further regarding this personnel matter.”
The NCAA opened its inquiry into the Michigan program last month regarding a nearly 30-year-old rule regarding in-person scouting, Yahoo Sports reported. It later came out that Stalions was the focal point of the investigation, and multiple reports said he allegedly bought tickets to Big Ten opponents and possible College Football Playoff opponents as part of the sign-stealing scheme.
More on the sign-stealing allegations Connor Stalions and Michigan, possible next steps
News of Stalions’ resignation comes the same week Big Ten coaches and athletic directors met with commissioner Tony Petitti about the situation. On a Wednesday call — which included Jim Harbaugh, who hung up to let the other speak freely — coaches urged Petitti to take action against the Wolverines.
A day later, the athletic directors echoed a similar sentiment and discussed a possible suspension for Harbaugh rather than punishing the players. No decision was made, though.
“The athletic directors had a clear message — we believe the conference needs to step up,” a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Petitti was on Michigan’s campus on Friday for the Big Ten field hockey championships, and was expected to meet with UM president Santa Ono, The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reported. During his meetings with the coaches, Petitti didn’t tip his hand on how the conference would handle the situation. He also told the athletic directors he met with the NCAA and might end up doing so again.
Petitti has the authority to punish Michigan because of the Big Ten’s sportsmanship cause, which is about the “integrity of competition” in the “competitive arena,” if the discipline is “standard” or “major.”
“Standard action includes a fine not exceeding $10,000 and a suspension of no more than two contests,” Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel and Ross Dellenger wrote. “Major action is anything exceeding those penalties and is subject to approval from the Big Ten executive board of presidents.”