CMU still silent on Connor Stalions, but details emerge into how he got on sidelines at MSU

It’s been more than 13 months since Connor Stalions was on Central Michigan’s sidelines during its game at Michigan State. CMU’s administration and head coach still haven’t said what happened.

They know what happened.

We’ve all known since late October of last year that a man who looked a whole lot like the disgraced former University of Michigan football staffer was dressed up in CMU gear on the sidelines on Sept. 1, 2023, at Spartan Stadium.

And CMU’s refusal to come clean — hiding behind the NCAA’s pending investigation and a no-comment policy on personnel issues — has created a bigger ordeal than the violation itself.

To a lot of folks, the Stalions sign-stealing saga is a Michigan football story. To the NCAA, it certainly is. After all, confirmation that Stalions was on CMU’s sidelines against MSU was revealed in a draft of an NCAA notice of allegations against Michigan, leaked to ESPN in early August.

Photo of former Michigan assistant Connor Stalions on the sidelines in Central Michigan gear as they faced Michigan State on Sept. 1, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

But what transpired on Sept. 1, 2023, in East Lansing is largely a CMU story.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, CMU quarterbacks coach and offensive play-caller Jake Kostner orchestrated the plan to have Stalions there.

Kostner remained on staff through the end of the Chippewas’ 2023 season and was listed as quarterbacks coach on the team’s website until recently.

CMU athletics spokesperson Greg Hotchkiss confirmed last week that “Jake Kostner has separated from the institution,” and then reiterated, “CMU does not comment publicly on personnel matters.”

But Hotchkiss did offer that director of football operations John Leister has been serving as quarterbacks coach and helping with the play calling…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cmu-still-silent-connor-stalions-184141277.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-10-09 18:41:41

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