Arizona tempers football program's connection to alleged Michigan sign stealer

Connor Stalions, a University of Michigan football analyst who is at the center of the program's sign-stealing scandal, reportedly has ties to Arizona Wildcats head coach Jedd Fisch, but the UA disputed Stalions' high-level involvement with the program.

In text messages between Stalions and "a then student at a Power 5 school, who was looking to break into the college football industry," in 2021, the 28-year-old boasted his connections with various football coaches, including Fisch, according to report by Sports Illustrated's Richard Johnson on Wednesday.

When Stalions, a retired U.S. Marine Corps captain and former Michigan volunteer assistant coach, was stationed at Camp Pendleton during his service years, he reportedly trekked to Tucson, when Fisch was first hired by Arizona in 2021. According to the SI report, Stalions said he became essentially the "assistant to Fisch’s chief of staff, with a hand in the Wildcats’ roster management." When Fisch was an offensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams, Stalions allegedly went over to his house in California to "help him organize his coaching materials," SI reported.

The Star reached out to multiple UA football staffers but none would comment. Fisch is expected to publicly address the subject during his news conference on Thursday ahead of Arizona's game against No. 11 Oregon State in Tucson on Saturday. 

Fisch didn't benefit from Stalions' intricate scheme at Arizona or Michigan, where Fisch served as offensive coordinator for two seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2015 and 2016, the UA told SI. A UA spokesperson referred the Star to the statement the UA provided Sports Illustrated, stating Stalions' connection with Fisch was “organizing some materials for head coach interviews in 2018."

"Stalions has not been a chief of staff nor any other type of member of Fisch’s staff during his three seasons as the head coach at Arizona," the UA told SI. 

An NCAA rule implemented in 1994, scouting future opponents in person at games is prohibited. A report by ESPN stated Stalions, who mostly worked with Michigan's recruiting department since last year, purchased tickets to more than 30 games at a dozen other Big Ten schools and paid people via Venmo to attend the games and record future opponents' coaches relaying hand signs on the field. 

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An anonymous source from the Big Ten told ESPN the Michigan sign-stealing scandal "is worse than both the Astros and the Patriots — it's both use of technology for a competitive advantage and there's allegations that they are filming prior games, not just in-game."

"If it was just an in-game situation, that's different," they told ESPN. "Going and filming somewhere you're not supposed to be. It's illegal. It's too much of an advantage."

Harbaugh, who was suspended the first three games of the season for recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic, said, “I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rules" in a statement released in recent days over social media.

Said Harbaugh: "I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment." 

Harbaugh could face repercussions for violating NCAA bylaw 11.1.2.1, which states a head coach “can be responsible for the actions of his staff and individuals associated with the program.”