Connor Stallions was an analyst on the University of Michigan football team who played their home games in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He landed that job, after beginning his career at the Naval Academy. He landed a job at the University of Michigan due to his sign-stealing prowess and stole signs at Michigan.
There is some thought that all teams in college football were stealing signs, but a damning poll of college football coaches from The Athletic said the sign stealing was severe. It has been 1,827 days since Ohio State beat the University of Michigan in football. That continued today as Michigan won 13-10.
Connor Stallions Sign-Stealing Scandal Basics
Teams have up to eight coaches signaling in signs to confuse opponents. Connor Stallions said that he could decode the opposing team’s signals. Stallions is accused of using videotape sign stealing and is alleged to use other means. He was also videotaped in disguise on the sideline. All accusations against Connor Stallions have not been proven, and the NCAA has not ruled, but where there is smoke there is fire. The allegations against Connor Stallions were made public in October 2023, midway through Michigan’s championship season.
The Damning Athletic Poll
How serious was the sign-stealing scandal? Very serious according to a poll of head football coaches conducted by The Athletic. Coaches were asked to rate the seriousness of the sign stealing by Connor Stallions at the University of Michigan on a scale of 1-5. Five was the most serious in the November 2023 poll. Fifty coaches were surveyed in the poll. Twenty-three of them rated the a Five, the most severe on the scale. The average score from the coaches was 4.2. Only two opposing coaches rated the alleged sign stealing by Connor Stallions as less than a three.
Reminiscent Of the Houston Astros
What Connor Stallions was alleged to do is reminiscent of the Houston Astros cheating scandal. The Astros videoed opposing catchers from center field. They decoded the pitching signs and relayed the pitch to the clubhouse. Someone would bang on a drum letting the batter know, by the bangs on the trash can, what pitch was coming. This was a huge advantage for the batter and the use of video recording is reminiscent of the means Connor Stallions was alleged to have used.
Was Everyone Cheating?
It is also alleged, on the other side of the ledger, that all major college football programs were stealing signs in 2023, even Ohio State. This may be, but it is doubtful that other teams’ ploys were as complicated as the University of Michigan’s ploy alleged to be led by Stallions. If every division one team in football was stealing signs then it would make what the University of Michigan was doing somewhat more acceptable.
What Should Be Done?
When the NCAA dispenses its justice it should not punish current players. That would make no sense. Such punishments would include the death penalty, a postseason ban, or a reduction in the number of scholarships at the University of Michigan. A better series of punishments should target the actual perpetrators of the scandal. That would include a so-called “show cause” penalty that would effectively ban the accused coaches from ever coaching in college again.
Conclusion
It would be a shame if the University of Michigan were to receive the death penalty. If today’s version of the game is any indicator – college football teams need rivals. Indeed, in a rivalry anything can happen. It would be better for the NCAA to punish the coaches involved in the scandal. It is fair for fans to wonder when the NCAA will make its ruling. The NCAA has been sitting on the case for months as of November.
