NCAA Interview Leak Reveals How Conor Stalions Obtained Signals

How will former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions be portrayed in “Untold: Sign Stealer?” Director Micah Brown, a former Kansas receiver, believes the answer is fair. Stalions, who resigned on Nov. 3 amid an in-person scouting scandal during Michigan’s national championship season, tells his side of the story amid a continuing NCAA investigation. Brown uses ample sources in the documentary to present both sides of the narrative, delving into the gray areas of stealing signals in football.

Michigan was recently served a notice of allegations by the NCAA, keeping this scandal fresh in the news cycle. “It’s a polarizing topic because a lot of people were unfamiliar with it when it came out,” Brown told Sporting News. “I played college football, so I was very familiar with the idea that people would trade information. As a player, I knew the importance of protecting play sheets at all costs because signaling exists for a reason, and people would try to obtain it.”

In Stalions’ case, the controversy isn’t about whether he acquired the signals but how he did it. The documentary provides some answers, but not all. “Untold: Sign Stealer” serves as a biopic of Stalions, covering his childhood as a Michigan fan and his early methodology for stealing signs, which started during his stint with Navy when they played Ohio State on Aug. 30, 2014.

Nearly a decade later, Stalions found himself at the center of a scandal during Michigan’s national championship season. He purchased tickets to games at other Big Ten stadiums and admits to obtaining videos from those games. However, he denies using the information obtained and being present in person at the Central Michigan game against Michigan State on Sept. 21, 2023. Stalions defends himself in the documentary, claiming, “I’ve never advance scouted. I obtained signals the same way every other team does through watching TV copies and talking to other intel guys on other teams. What set me apart was the way I organized that information and processed it on game day.”

The documentary details an underground network analysts use to steal signals in college football. According to Brown, “what Connor has is a unique football mind. Many people around the country do similar things, but Connor was unique in his ability to retain and organize that information.” This intricate sign-stealing system pushed boundaries and is elaborated upon in the documentary.

The most talked-about piece in “Untold: Sign Stealer” is Stalions’ interview with the NCAA on April 24. Portions of the interview are shown in the documentary, allowing viewers to interpret his responses to questions about purchasing tickets, the Central Michigan game, and an allegation from Stalions’ attorneys. They contend that Stalions was a victim of a data breach, accusing a party tied to Ohio State of responsibility for that breach. The NCAA recently imposed a four-year show-cause penalty on former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for a separate investigation, and Michigan received an official notice of allegations last week regarding the in-person sign-stealing scandal.

“Nobody has ever seen how an NCAA interview is conducted,” Brown said. “It’s an intimidating process, especially for a young person being questioned in that setting with the feeling of facing a formidable authority.”

Brown’s favorite part of the documentary involves a disguised internet message board poster named “Brohio,” integral to uncovering details about Stalions and the NCAA investigation. The documentary includes perspectives from national writers such as Dan Wetzel, Will Hobson, and Nicole Auerbach, along with Michigan beat writer Isaiah Hole. “Brohio” effectively poses thought-provoking questions and debunks conspiracy theories surrounding the investigation.

“The internet sleuth angle was one of my favorite parts,” Brown said. “Creating a multi-perspective story showcases complex, high-quality journalism from individuals who aren’t full-time journalists. It speaks to the intensity of college football rivalries, especially Ohio State-Michigan. That was the craziest part.”

The documentary is poised to heat up the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry further. The Wolverines have won the last three meetings in the series, while Ohio State has dominated with a 17-5-1 record on the field since 2001, notwithstanding the vacated 2010 victory due to TattooGate.

“I think it is great for the rivalry,” Brown said. “Rivalries thrive on stories and history. This scandal adds another layer to what makes college football so special.”

Will Michigan face consequences from the NCAA? That remains unclear. The documentary sidesteps directly implicating Harbaugh in the depth of Stalions’ sign-stealing operation, but it does raise questions about funding such an operation by a low-level staffer. Brown crafts a balanced story, despite forming a friendship with Stalions during the film process. Stalions is now coaching as the defensive coordinator for Mumford High School in Detroit.

How will viewers outside the Ohio State-Michigan bubble perceive Stalions after watching the documentary? “The film leaves that question open,” Brown said. “We wanted to present a complicated character, allowing everyone to form their own opinion.”

Source: Sporting News