Plenty of people expected last Friday to be the last time we heard of the Connor Stalions saga. However, with each day that passes, you get the feeling this is far from over.
The former Michigan football assistant was given an eight-year show cause penalty as part of NCAA sanctions handed down by the Committee on Infractions.
Michigan football was fined $20 million, a crazy amount compared to others like Tennessee, while head coach Sherrone Moore was suspended three games for deleting text messages that were still turned over to NCAA investigators.
In the NCAA's 74-page report, one issue that was addressed, among many, was the presence of Connor Stalions on the sideline of a Central Michigan-Michigan State game in September of 2023.
The NCAA found, according to a witness, he was there to scout plays for Michigan.
"On one occasion in 2023, Stalions personally engaged in-person scouting when he stood on Central Michigan University's sideline wearing a bench pass and disguised in Central Michigan-issued coaching gear during the institution’s contest against Michigan State. According to interview statements by a former football staff member, Stalions attended that game in part to decipher Michigan State’s signals, but also to help a Central Michigan staff member with play calling," The NCAA report said.
Yet, according to CBS Detroit Crime Reporter Gino Vicci, Stalions was there because Central Michigan hired him to be there.
"A Central Michigan University source has confirmed that CMU football coaching staff requested former University of Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions to assist its staff during CMU's 2023 season opener against Michigan State University on Sept. 1, 2023.
"Two sources with direct knowledge of the incident confirmed to CBS News Detroit that a CMU coach initiated contact with Stalions and that 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."
The football staff arranged for him to get on the sideline. The report also alleges that Jim McElwain likely knew about it, even though he acted like he didn't, and even mocked Stalions in public over the disguise.
McElwain resigned after last season. Central Michigan is currently under NCAA investigation. Stalions could have gotten information that helped him for Michigan, but Michigan football didn't send him there.
It doesn't change much, but it's another instance of the NCAA not telling the full story or completely understanding what happened, such as other instances where the NCAA used the statements of a proven liar as evidence, even though this witness lied to them about Chris Partridge and "Uncle T."
As I said, this feels far from over.