Central Michigan sought assistance from former Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions to help the Chippewas’ coaching staff in the 2023 season opener against Michigan State, according to reports from CBS News Detroit.
Central Michigan received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA in June detailing the nearly two-year-old incident in which a man believed to be Stalions appeared on the Chippewas’ sideline. A man resembling Stalions was seen wearing Central Michigan apparel and sunglasses with a recording device on the Chippewas’ sideline.
The NCAA began investigating the matter in October 2023, shortly after the photos surfaced online and drew national attention.
Two sources at Central Michigan told CBS News Detroit that a member of the school’s coaching staff “initiated contact with Stalions and then-head coach Jim McElwain was likely aware of and approved of the arrangement to secure Stalions a sideline credential and outfit him in CMU-issued gear.”
One of the sources also confirmed to CBS News Detroit that Stalions’ presence on the sideline was to specifically assist the Chippewas in their game against the Spartans.
McElwain, who resigned following the 2024 season, claimed he had no knowledge of the identity of the man on the Chippewas’ sideline.
“We … were totally unaware of it,” McElwain told reporters. “I certainly don’t condone it in any way, shape, or form, and I do know that his name was on none of the [sideline] passes that were let out.”
Stalions, the focal point behind Michigan’s sign-stealing saga, resigned from his position as a team analyst in Ann Arbor during the 2023 season amid the NCAA’s investigation. Stalions served as an analyst with the Wolverines for three seasons under former head coach Jim…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/central-michigan-sought-help-from-connor-stalions-during-michigan-sign-stealing-scandal/
Author : Brad Crawford
Publish date : 2025-08-18 13:01:00
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