Report: Purdue surveillance footage reveals new evidence against Michigan, Connor Stalions

Purdue head coach Ryan Walters made headlines Thursday night when he said on his radio show that his team is learning a “new language” this week ahead of Saturday’s game against Michigan.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports revealed Friday afternoon why Purdue and Walters are so upset about the Wolverines’ alleged sign-stealing scheme.

According to Dellenger, Purdue found that Connor Stalions, who is at the center of the Michigan sign-stealing investigation, bought tickets to six Boilermakers games over the past two seasons.

Dellenger added that Purdue has surveillance video from Ross-Ade Stadium showing people sitting in the seats that were purchased by Stalions, filming the sidelines during the games.

Stalions bought tickets to Purdue games against Fresno State, Syracuse, Illinois and Ohio State this season, according to Dellenger, as well as tickets to matchups with Penn State and Northwestern last season.

Michigan and Purdue will face off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor. The game will be televised by NBC.

Ryan Walters said on his radio show on Thursday that the Boilermakers have had to make several changes ahead of the game.

“It’s unfortunate,” Ryan Walters said Thursday on his radio show. “And what’s crazy is they aren’t allegations. It happened. There’s video evidence, there’s ticket purchases and sales that you can track back. We know for a fact that they were at a number of our games. We’ve had to teach our guys a new language, in terms of some signals and we will operate differently offensively. You might see us in a huddle for the first time this season. It is what it is. But we’re excited to go play, and I think it’ll make for a great story.”

Stalions allegedly bought tickets to multiple Big Ten teams and possible College Football Playoff opponents as part of the sign-stealing plan, according to multiple reports. The NCAA is three weeks into its investigation, but the question remains if the Big Ten will step in.

Commissioner Tony Petitti has met with conference coaches and athletic directors over the last 48 hours. Wednesday, the coaches called for Petitti to take action against Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, wondering why it’s taking so long for the conference to step in, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported.

Then, on Thursday, Petitti met with Big Ten athletic directors to discuss the situation, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel. The ADs also urged the conference to take action and voiced support for whatever decision the league made on a penalty.

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.”