UPDATE: Michigan football suspended staffer Connor Stalions resigns
Michigan Wolverines analyst Connor Stalions resigned on Friday, according to a Michigan spokesman. The clarification came after Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports reported earlier in the evening that Stalions had been fired.
Stalions had been suspended with pay since Oct. 20 after his name emerged as the person of interest in the NCAA’s unfolding investigation over an alleged illegal scouting operation at Michigan.
A report from Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic states that Stalions “refused to cooperate with any internal or external investigations or discussions.” He was set to meet with Michigan officials on Friday and did not attend, potentially on the advice of his legal counsel.
The investigation into Michigan’s sign-stealing operation was opened two weeks ago on Oct. 19. Stalions was named as the person of interest in the case due in large part to evidence that he purchased tickets to games of 12 of 13 Big Ten opponents over the last three seasons and other potential postseason opponents. The tickets were purchased in his own name and then transferred to others.
This week, Central Michigan University also opened up an investigation on a man resembling Stalions appearing on the sideline with a victors pass and team-issued gear for the Sept. 1 opener at Michigan State. No updates have been given on the state of their investigation.
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ESPN’s Pete Thamel also said in a hit on Friday evening on SportsCenter that the most likely course of action for immediate punishment by the Big Ten for Michigan would be a suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh that would not come before the Purdue game. Conference commissioner Tony Petitti was in Ann Arbor on Friday to meet with U-M president Santa Ono.
Big Ten coaches met with Petitti on Wednesday night and urged the league to take immediate action. Harbaugh was on the call but left after pertinent business was handled, leaving the floor open to the rest of the league to weigh in on the situation. Athletic directors met on Thursday and also urged for the conference to take action.
Leagues typically wait for the NCAA enforcement to come down before taking their own action, but given the nature of the timeline for typical NCAA investigations, there seems to be some doubt they would handle it swiftly. Petitti has told Big Ten admins and coaches that he believes the NCAA is working much quicker this time around.
Michigan returns to game action on Saturday night against the Purdue Boilermakers at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.
This story is developing.
