Harbaugh has to cheat to win. BUSTED!

A Michigan hat tugged low, dressed all in blue and gripping a white 
playsheet — or is it? — the Wolverines analyst and Naval Academy graduate 
paces the sideline behind more prominent coaches Jim Harbaugh and 
defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

At various points, Connor Stalions would make a signal: point to his 
shoulder, gesture to the ground, tap his head. He was in constant 
communication with the full-time assistants around him, whispering to them 
as the opposing offense broke the huddle.

“He spearheads the operation,” one Big Ten school coach told Yahoo Sports 
in an interview Thursday. “I once told (Stalions), ‘We know what kind of 
sh** you are doing and it’s f***** up.’”

Multiple Big Ten staff members identified Stalions as Michigan’s sign-
stealing guru after the school was ensnared Thursday in an NCAA 
investigation. ESPN reported late Thursday night that the NCAA’s 
investigation into Michigan’s sign stealing is focusing on Stalions, who 
joined the Michigan staff in spring of 2022 as a recruiting analyst.

Stalions has subsequently been suspended by Michigan with pay.

Since his name emerged, Stalions has scrubbed his social media. He deleted 
his Instagram and Twitter accounts, which were active Thursday afternoon.

But well before the NCAA got involved, those within the league knew of 
Stalions and his sign-stealing expertise.

“We were told to be careful because they had a guy who could pick plays,” 
says one Big Ten head coach. “It was too late in the week to change our 
signals, but another staff did tell us about (Stalions).”

Stealing an opponent’s signals during a game or even from television 
broadcasts is quite common in college football and is not against NCAA 
rules. However, the NCAA’s investigation is more focused on how Michigan 
and Stalions gained information on their opponents to learn such signals.

If the school learned information through in-person scouting of future 
opponents’ games, that violates a near 30-year-old NCAA rule. If the 
school learned information through the use of recording or video devices, 
that violates another NCAA bylaw.

Harbaugh’s involvement or knowledge of the alleged scheme is unclear. In a 
statement Thursday, the head coach denied knowledge of stealing signs and 
in-person scouting of opponents.

In a statement, a Michigan spokesperson said the school will have no 
further comment on the matter as it is an ongoing investigation. The 
school is “committed to the highest ethical and integrity standards,” the 
statement said.

https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-opponents-were-aware-of-elaborate-scheme-
and-michigan-assistant-at-center-of-it-144142698.html