Media reacts to ESPN Michigan football Connor Stalions ticket bombshell
Michigan football is on bye this week, and yet, it’s the main character on college football social media.
Not good.
ESPN reported Connor Stalions, the Wolverines staffer allegedly caught up in the illegal sign stealing investigation, has left a paper trail of having purchased 30 tickets to 11 Big Ten teams’ games in the past three seasons. Sign stealing is legal if not done by a staffer in person, so there is perhaps some gray area, but we’ll find out more in the coming days or weeks.
Many in the media reacted to the news and weighed in with their thoughts. Here are some of the more prominent reactions.
Seth Fisher, MGoBlog
I think @PeteThamel got taken for a ride. Rule 1-11 is "Prohibited Field Equipment" and has always referred to equipment used on the field on gameday. It would be a major, unprecedented stretch to apply it outside of that context. For reference, 1-12 governs headsets. https://t.co/XeIhpIYNz7 pic.twitter.com/TPk7NEY3At
— Seth M. Fisher (@Misopogon) October 23, 2023
Derick Hutchinson, WDIV
At worst, Michigan broke a bunch of rules and will be punished harshly. At best, it's a horrible look and very obvious that everyone involved knew that what they were doing was wrong. This is taking away the joy of one of the best teams in program history. https://t.co/Rq1ZL6BhfT
— Derick Hutchinson (@Derick_Hutch) October 23, 2023
Sam Dodge, MLive
First question answered about in-person scouting. Next question is how much did Harbaugh and/or others know. https://t.co/DoJFLYJ12Y
— Sam Dodge (@SamDodgeMLive) October 23, 2023
Zach Shaw, 247Sports
He bought all these tickets in his own name?? Was “leaving a paper trail that could be figured out in four days” on his LinkedIn too? https://t.co/ykTAEhMCD0
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) October 23, 2023
Taylor McHargue
I will admit I thought this may have all been a non-story, but if they’ve got him on camera this may get ugly in a hurry https://t.co/8EfbRthPcs
— Taylor McHargue (@TMcHargue16) October 23, 2023
Chris Vannini, The Athletic
Report claims Stalions bought tickets in his own name, sent them to other people around the country, and at least one person filmed a sideline for an entire game on their phone.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 23, 2023
Anthony Broome, The Wolverine
Well, that was incredibly, inexplicably dumb of him to do. And the next question is who, if anyone, knew about it. https://t.co/6bB1B9lv61
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) October 23, 2023
Michael Spath
This doesn’t sound like nothing. I know fans will immediately go to distancing the Michigan coaches from Stalions but he’s not buying tickets for fun. There’s intent and it would be crazy to think everyone at U-M was in the dark. https://t.co/uAOv4oT75z
— Michael Spath (@MichaelSpathITH) October 23, 2023
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press
This appears incredibly damning and only heightens the already extremely important question of who else knew and participated in this plot. https://t.co/hhKVN6V6u0
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) October 23, 2023
Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports
😂😂😂😂. This is literally deja vu. Jealousy is a stinky cologne indeed.
Excusism Is A Deadly Disease in America. More Deadly Than Cancer , Covid or Nuclear War https://t.co/w5Sl5dVn3h https://t.co/zDg2gDKKAf
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 23, 2023
Josh Henschke, Maize & Blue Review
With that being said, unless Stalions is captured in the stadium clearly recording, the technicality of a vague rule that doesn't have an associated punishment has a ton of loopholes to punch through. https://t.co/6rcXmQg2Eq
— Josh Henschke (@JoshHenschke) October 23, 2023
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports
No matter the mounting evidence, or magnitude of rules broken, I will never care about an NCAA investigation.
That's The Tom Fornelli Promise.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) October 23, 2023
Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic
From four Big Ten schools, via sources:
– Connor Stalions bought tickets at opposing stadiums for non-Michigan games over the past three seasons, including the current one. Some tickets were under names of his family members.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 23, 2023
Source at one Big Ten school found in-stadium surveillance video footage that showed the person sitting in a seat bought by Stalions holding a smartphone pointed at the home team sideline, seemingly recording signs the whole game.
(Expecting that to be sent to NCAA)
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 23, 2023
