A Legal Battle Looms Over the Michigan Football Sign-Stealing Saga
By Leo Hainline
The University of Michigan football program is awaiting word from the Big Ten Conference on whether they will face disciplinary action for an alleged sign-stealing scheme, in which a member of its staff coordinated an operation to record the play call signals of future opponents.[1]
An outside investigation firm, which is rumored to have familial connections to Ohio State University’s head football coach Ryan Day, approached the NCAA with documents and videos obtained from the computer drives of multiple Michigan coaches.[2] The outside firm alleged that these documents and videos provided evidence of in-person scouting and video recordings of opposing coaches calling plays on their sidelines during the entire 2022-23 season.[3] Michigan went 13-1 and reached the College Football semifinal that year and also defeated rivals Ohio State, who were ranked second in the country at the time.[4]
Sign-stealing is not banned in college football, but in-person scouting of future opponents is prohibited by NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1.[5] The NCAA enacted this section to promote equity between well-funded programs and those with fewer resources, as some programs lack the bandwidth to send scouts to watch their future opponents in person.[6]
The NCAA football rule book also states that “any attempt to record, either through audio or video means, any signals given by an opposing player, coach or other team personnel is prohibited.”[7]
Connor Stalions, a Michigan administrative specialist, allegedly pioneered Michigan’s sign-stealing operation.[8] Photos have identified Stalions at a Central Michigan University game, disguised in Chippewa attire, prior to Central Michigan’s matchup against the Michigan Wolverines.[9]
The scheme also involved Stalions purchasing, under his name, tickets to prospective Michigan opponents’ games and giving them to Michigan staffers and other acquaintances to record the opponents’ sideline.[10]
Additionally, Stalions made a public Venmo transaction to a Michigan recruiting intern captioned as “GA” prior to the University of Georgia facing Ohio State in the college football semi-final.[11] Had Michigan won their semi-final matchup, the program would have faced the winner of this game.[12]
Stalions has since resigned from his position.[13]
Both the Big Ten Conference and NCAA may impose sanctions upon the Michigan football program and individuals involved in the sign-stealing scheme.[14]
Due to respective Big Ten and NCAA rules, the Big Ten can take swifter and more immediate action against any of its member schools.[15] Big Ten bylaws permit its commissioner to impose two-game suspensions and fines of up to $10,000 to participants involved in an in-person sign-stealing scheme, but the approval of the Conference’s joint group executive committee permits potentially harsher punishments.[16] The committee is composed of leaders from other Big Ten schools.[17]
In anticipation of potential punishment, Michigan consulted litigation law firm Williams & Connolly.[18] Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh already hired an attorney earlier this year regarding an NCAA investigation and three-game suspension that Harbaugh incurred earlier this year.[19]
Michigan could seek a preliminary injunction that would block any punishment levied by the Big Ten until further notice.[20] However, this type of injunctive relief is only granted in extraordinary circumstances.[21]
The University would likely argue that the Big Ten has not afforded the investigation sufficient process prior to imposing its punishment.[22] University of Michigan president, Santa Ono, recently urged the commissioner to allow for due process prior to making any formal decision.[23]
Michigan has also claimed that any disciplinary action against Harbaugh, who has denied any knowledge of Stalion’s sign-stealing scheme, “would exceed the commissioner’s authority under the sportsmanship policy” and would breach the conference handbook.[24]
The Big Ten is reported to make a determination on Michigan football’s future in the coming days.[25]
Leo Hainline is a 2L at Vanderbilt Law School and from San Francisco, CA. Before attending law school, Leo received a B.A. in both Political Science and Art History at Providence College, where he was also an editor of the sports section of the school’s newspaper.
[1] Christopher Breiler, Michigan Prepared for Legal Battle if Big Ten Moves to Suspend Harbaugh, FanNation Wolverine Digest (Nov. 6, 2023), https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-wolverines-football-jim-harbaugh-big-ten-santa-ono-tony-petitti-ncaa-investigation-sign-stealing-connor-stalions.
[2] Matt Bonesteel, The Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal: What You Need to Know, The Washington Post (Oct. 31, 2023), https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/10/26/michigan-sign-stealing-scandal/; Alex Raskin, Michigan Spying Scandal Takes Bizarre Twist as Wolverine Football Website Claims Rival Ohio State Coach Ryan Day ‘Hired Private Investigators to Probe Sign-Stealing Allegations’, Daily Mail (Nov. 4, 2023),
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/college-football/article-12710347/Michigan-spying-scandalWolverines-football-Ohio-State-coach-Ryan-Day-private-investigators.html.
[3] Bonesteel, The Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal: What You Need to Know, The Washington Post (Oct. 31, 2023).
[4] 2022 Football Schedule, Michigan Athletics, https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/schedule/2022.
[5] Bonesteel, The Michigan Sign-Stealing Scandal: What You Need to Know, The Washington Post (Oct. 31, 2023).
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
[11] Larry Brown, Connor Stalions’ Venmo Activity Raised Some Questions, Larry Brown Sports (Oct. 26, 2023), https://larrybrownsports.com/college-football/connor-stalions-venmo-activity-ga-payment/622952#:~:text=One%20particular%20transaction%20drew%20attention,Peach%20Bowl%20the%20following%20day.
[12] Brown, Connor Stalions’ Venmo Activity Raised Some Questions, Larry Brown Sports (Oct. 26, 2023).
[13] Ralph D. Russo, Michigan Prepared to Take Big Ten to Court if Punished Without Full Investigation, AP Source Says, The Telegraph (Nov. 7, 2023),
https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/michigan-prepared-to-take-big-ten-to-court-if-18476132.php#:~:text=Michigan%20could%20seek%20a%20court,law%20professor%20Gabe%20Feldman%20said.
[14] Russo, Michigan Prepared to Take Big Ten to Court if Punished Without Full Investigation, AP Source Says, The Telegraph (Nov. 7, 2023).
[15] Id.
[16] Id.
[17] Id.
[18] Breiler, Michigan Prepared for Legal Battle if Big Ten Moves to Suspend Harbaugh, FanNation Wolverine Digest (Nov. 6, 2023).
[19] Id.
[20] Russo, Michigan Prepared to Take Big Ten to Court if Punished Without Full Investigation, AP Source Says, The Telegraph (Nov. 7, 2023).
[21] Id.
[22] Carter Bahns, Michigan Responds to Big Ten Over Potential Sign-Stealing Punishment; State Legislators Call for Due Process, 247 Sports (Nov. 8, 2023), https://247sports.com/article/michigan-responds-to-big-ten-over-potential-sign-stealing-punishment-state-legislators-call-for-due-process-219866432/.
[23] Bahns, Michigan Responds to Big Ten Over Potential Sign-Stealing Punishment; State Legislators Call for Due Process, 247 Sports (Nov. 8, 2023).
[24] Id.
[25] Id.