NCAA joins CMU's own investigation of sideline sighting of CS
Even more reason that the Big Ten should just leave this to the NCAA.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:04 PM ^
I don't understand.
Is CMU's position: "We don't know who that guy is and no clue how he got on our sideline"?
Because if it's anything other than that, there's nothing left for them to investigate. They solved it.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:18 PM ^
I guess you can get people to sign statements saying they don't know. But yes, sometimes in life mysteries remain mysteries. My guess is that it was CS, namely because if it was a CMU employee they'd presumeably have simply said so. "Yep, that's Bill" would have taken them very little time.
However, if the person(s) involved in getting a sideline pass to CS all clam up, and if CS himself isn't talking, then it's going to be impossible to prove.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
Sure. So CMU did an internal investigation and came up empty handed? Durrrr, we don't know!
What could the NCAA possibly add to this then?
You ask the people who were standing next to Stalions (or whoever it is). If they say, "Who? Didn't notice," then it's the same answer when the NCAA asks.
If the NCAA thinks CMU is lying and hiding something, then they should be investigating CMU, not joining CMU in an investigation.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
Because one should always trust internal investigations
November 6th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
Right.
If the NCAA thinks CMU is lying and hiding something, then they should be investigating CMU, not joining CMU in an investigation.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:07 PM ^
I think the guy on the CMU sideline is most definitely D.B. Cooper!
November 6th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^
my conspiracy theory is CMU coaches asked him to be there, thus being implicit in the whole thing, which is why it’s taking so long for them to admit/deny it was him. trying to cover their arses
November 6th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
That's my read.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:12 PM ^
*Seth's conspiracy theory
November 6th, 2023 at 2:15 PM ^
I doubt any of the actual coaches were complict in him being there. I could see some other analyst asking him to be there and helping him get the gear and passes. coaching is usually a tight knit community where everyone is 2-3 degrees from each other and information is shared.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
It will be really dumb for coaches (the 10 that are allowed as "coaches") to get involved in any of these things. But one never knows.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^
Coach McElwain said, "Lets not jump the shark here.... No one by the name of Connor Stalions was on our sideline guest list for that game. We are looking into an individual by the name of Stonner Calions who was given a guest pass and some CMU attire. We will fully cooperate with the NCAA in the matter. Fire up Chips."
November 6th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Coming from a guy who has jumped on a shark before...
November 6th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
that's the joke dot com
November 6th, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^
If the misuse of "jump the shark" wasn't enough of a clue that this was a joke, I would have thought at least this sentence would have made it clear:
We are looking into an individual by the name of Stonner Calions who was given a guest pass and some CMU attire.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^
Good. We're getting into the "We're not happy with Michigan, so CMU is going to get pounded" state of things.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
It was 100% Stalions and somebody at CMU invited him and knows it was him. And as others have said, CMU is going to the least amount of work trying to figure out who it was. This isn't a legal trial and they're under no obligation to identify him. Lastly, if there's a "vast network" out there it's that sigh stealers from certain schools work together and share information.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
Let's get rid of the sign stealing terminology and call them code breakers. Neither term is a violation of NCAA rules, but "sign stealing" makes it feel like a crime!
November 6th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
I'm of the mindset that if that wasn't Stallions, CMU would've been easily able to confirm that by now and say "This guy is OUR staffer," or "this person is a guest of this coach, staff member, etc."
I have to believe CMU has already figured out who this is. They're just trying to figure out how they can possibly explain that this guy found his way onto their sideline.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
Stallions loves Michigan football more than almost anyone else on earth. So therefore it stands to reason that he hates Sparty and Ohio State more than anyone else on earth lol. Probably called up a CMU staffer and offered his services out of hate of MSU. Also im sure his grandiose vision of himself would lead to himself believing 1. he wouldn't get caught and 2. that he would actually create a tangible difference in the outcome of the game.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
Eh, as long as everyone says "I don't know for sure" convincingly enough I don't see how the NCAA can do a ton about it.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
That's not working for Harbaugh.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:01 PM ^
They’ll use the new Green Dudu Face Recognition A.I/ software and the case will solved.😂😂😂😂😂
November 6th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
Gonna be very interesting to see how this one plays out. I can’t believe I haven’t seen much chatter on Seth’s theory, i.e. that Stallions was working for CMU as their “sign guy” for the MSU game. I can’t think of an alternative that makes any rational sense. He already had his “vast network” in place. If the intent was to just scout MSU, he could have gotten a minion to video from the stands. He could have at the very least videoed from the stands himself. Why on earth would he go through the trouble of concocting an elaborate disguise (complete with official staff attire), stealing a restricted sideline pass, and positioning himself *right next to McElwain* (with whom him he was likely acquainted)? Video from the stands would have been 10x more useful from Michigan’s standpoint. Nah, CMU was 100% in on it. And there is ZERO chance anyone from Michigan approved it.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
The only possible explanation is "the guy's sort of touched." Because, you're right, Seth's hypothesis is by far the most likely... but I don't put it past Mr. Michigan Manifesto to do something that's unlikely.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
He could save a few hundred bucks by attending himself
November 6th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Its kind of weird though. Like if Stallion was hired to be their signs guy, wouldnt he be right next to their coordinators giving them tips like he often was for Minter? I still think its more likely he felt like he knew MSU signs and used a connection at CMU to get on the sideline and confirm or something like that.
Don't know why he wouldnt have just bought a $40 ticket in the stands for himself...but this guy doesn't seem like the brightest bulb in the world.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
He might have been right next to the coordinators at various times. All we’ve seen is a few clips.
Altogether, Stalions was clearly quirky, brash, and careless, but I would not say anything else he has done leads me to believe he was flat out irrational. Sneaking onto the CMU sideline in a “disguise” and stealing a restricted pass— just to get live info that is *less* valuable than a video from your minions— is clearly irrational. What’s not irrational is doing a favor (or being paid even) for some people you know on the CMU staff, particularly if you are the sort of person who has grandiose beliefs about your abilities and training. It was probably a verbal agreement though, which means we may never know for certain.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:09 PM ^
So I understand that in-person scouting by football staff is against the rules, clearly. and this is the one piece of evidence we've seen in public that a football staff did go to a future opponent's game.
but does the in-person scouting rule prohibit any staff from attending any competitor's game under any circumstances?
for example is there any chance stalions could say he was attending because a friend on the staff invited him, or he was interviewing for a job or scouting a potential transfer portal recruit or or or or or - anything that WASN'T scouting an opponent?
what level of evidence would the ncaa need to say that his attendance on the sideline broke the actual rule?
November 6th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
for example is there any chance stalions could say he was attending because a friend on the staff invited him, or he was interviewing for a job or scouting a potential transfer portal recruit or or or or or - anything that WASN'T scouting an opponent?
No. This was specifically what happened with the Baylor example that got somebody a half-game suspension.
Simply being there in person is prohibited.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
thanks - the baylor suspension was specifically because being there in person violates the in-person scouting rule by definition? sorry i'm not familiar with that case.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
ah i found it. Yeah it looks like just showing up casually gets you in trouble. although in that case the suspension was levied by the b12, not the ncaa.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^
There has to be more to it, right? What if a coach's kids plays for another team. The coach can't go watch his kid play?
November 6th, 2023 at 2:14 PM ^
to answer your question, Yes.... being at the game of a future opponent is considered scouting in person and is in violation of the NCAA rule.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:18 PM ^
So how does assistant AD at OSU Urban Meyer get away with attending future opponent games on Big Noon Kickoff?
November 6th, 2023 at 4:01 PM ^
That can't be questioned, OSU is above all that.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^
That is a spectacular point! Wasn't Urban supposedly involved in the game plan with Day for the game last year. Remember how bothered he was that the plan wasn't working.
Someone needs to get on this angle and start researching it immediately! The B1G may have a really big problem on their hands if they keep going down this path.
Of course, if they suspended Day for the game, they probably would have Urban stand in for him making the OSU faithful happy!
November 6th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Has no one considered the possibility that his sunglasses were actually blackout shades to ensure that he couldn't see anything and therefore wasn't actually scouting?
#WeAreMAnon
November 6th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
Pulitzer Prize material right here.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:11 PM ^
My WMU connection requires me to laugh and point at CMU.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
Right. This is Seth's hypothesis.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
Yes. I read it in a subsequent comment here and tried to 'oh shit' my way out of inadvertent plagiarism.
November 6th, 2023 at 4:20 PM ^
Yes, most definitely Seth, but I think he mentioned it on a podcast.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:12 PM ^
It is very clear at this point someone at CMU knows Stalions got on the sidelines and McElwain realizes the same rule that's getting Harbaugh (you're guilty for anything your staff does) applies to him and CMU and him are trying to figure this all out.
If it was someone on their staff they'd just name him, and the gear + access on the sidelines during a road game makes it clear it wasn't some accident.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
If McElwain really wasn't involved, why wouldn't he just self-report this to the NCAA? Self-reporting is done all the time and is an NCAA expectation.
I mean, maybe he did, and that's why the NCAA is "joining" them in the investigation, but what else is there left to investigate at that point on the CMU end? Unless it's part of the investigation against UM, and so now CMU is actually joining the NCAA investigation into UM.
This part of the story really is making very little sense.
November 6th, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
I'm not super up-to-date about the reporting rules but we found out about Stalions at CMU because the NCAA found out, not because CMU self-reported. That's the idea about it - you self-report violations you find so the NCAA doesn't have to look for it, and in return they usually give you a slap on the wrist. This game was months ago and CMU didn't say a thing, and likely wouldn't have had someone not outed them. At that point you've got nothing to self-report and a lot of evidence you let some weirdo onto your sideline who "steals signs" and likely talked to some of your guys about what MSU was going to use.
And with that revelation now you've got the NCAA sniffing around to find out why you had this guy on the sideline, in the gear and the pass, etc. CMU "joining" here feels a bit like a euphemism because it's more likely the NCAA is going to start digging into why he's there and CMU wants to mitigate as much as possible. Because if CMU is now involved then the whole "UM is the only cheater in the country" line of bullshit from the Thamel types starts to fall apart and the NCAA has to deal with a much bigger issue that they'll absolutely start to lose in the court of public opinion.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:17 PM ^
CMU knows exactly who it is. They gave the guy a sideline pass, gear, coaches and a bunch of people standing next to him. I really think Seth is right and they hired him to help with the signs and now that the B1G wants to nuke a school over it, they're scared to come out and say that.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:29 PM ^
I think it's most likely one of CMU's staff guys invited him to help out in this game and McElwain realizes he's on the hook just like Harbaugh so he's stalling.
I fully expect that rule about coaches being liable for their underlings to disappear quickly as more of them realize that the weirdos they hire are now ticking time bombs and not just plausible deniability ciphers.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
Let's suppose Seth's theory is right ---- doesn't that simply invite MORE questions?
- How does CMU even get the idea to hire Stalions in the first place? Sure, maybe they want a "signal decoder", but how did they hear about Stalions specifically?
- And even if they get the idea, would they hire him without getting any outside validation (besides whatever Stalions says) that he actually knows what he's doing? E.g., this is similiar to "checking a job candidate's references."
- If they do validate --- who was validating Stalions (provide a reference on him)?
November 6th, 2023 at 2:53 PM ^
CMU has staff that was at UM same time that Stalions was obsessively hanging around doing volunteer work.