Michigan has no records of Connor Stalions filing any expense reports, FOIA request shows
Connor Stalions, the former Michigan football recruiting staffer who is now the center of the NCAA's investigation into the Wolverines' alleged sign-stealing, did not file any expense reports while he was employed by the football team from Sept. 1, 2021-Oct. 15, 2023, according to documents obtained by the Free Press.
The Free Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request for all expense reimbursement submissions from Stalions, but the request was denied because the university said it has no record of any such request.
"There are no responsive records," FOIA coordinator Shannon Hill wrote in an e-mail to the Free Press.
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Stalions allegedly purchased tickets located on the sideline of U-M's future opponents, which he would send to accomplices for them to attend games, record videos of the team's sideline with their phone, then send back to Stalions to time-up the game tape and decipher the signals.
According to reports, there's evidence Stalions purchased 35 tickets at more than 17 different schools dating back to the 2021 season. The NCAA has also handed the Big Ten evidence of the scouting scheme that included a budget, which was originally reported to be up to $15,000 for this season.
Before he was suspended with pay on Oct. 20, Stalions was paid $55,000 annually as a recruiting analyst, according to U-M's public data.
The Lake Orion native and U.S. Naval Academy graduate resigned on Nov. 3, a team spokesman confirmed to the Free Press. Stalions later released a statement saying he did "not want to be a distraction from what I hope to be a championship run for the team" before he added he "will continue to cheer them on."
League's commissioner Tony Petitti made it clear there has not been evidence presented that shows Harbaugh had direct knowledge of the scheme. But Harbaugh was suspended as the head of the football program.
"I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter," Harbaugh wrote in a statement when the allegations of sign-stealing first arose last month. "I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed staff members or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action."
Harbaugh, who missed last week's win against Penn State as part of the suspension, will seek a temporary restraining order against the suspension in front of Judge Timothy Connors in Washtenaw County Circuit Court at 9 a.m. Friday.
If granted an injunction, Harbaugh would be allowed to coach Michigan's final two games of the regular season: Saturday at Maryland and then against undefeated Ohio State on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U-M: Former staffer Connor Stalions did not file any expense reports
