Stalions suspended with pay for duration of investigation
Don't shoot the messenger
October 20th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Bang.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
...pending the results of the investigation.
So when he's cleared in 2026 he'll be back on the sidelines?
October 20th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
That seems soon.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
This was Ryan Day’s entire objective, to have our secret sign stealing weapon sidelined for the game
October 20th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
If he is able to ruffle the rival fanbases like this, I say we hire him to replace Warde
October 20th, 2023 at 4:12 PM ^
That's going to be a long, long paid vacation. Maybe he can take up pickleball or knitting.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^
He did volunteer work for Michigan on his own dime before he was hired. I don't think either of those are going to satisfy.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:52 PM ^
I regret that I have but one upvote to give.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
Well urban should get a show cause for doing the same thing then.
i would give stalions a raise
October 20th, 2023 at 5:55 PM ^
Both the ncaa and warde are proving to be more and more worthless and even obstructionist to umich s success everyday.
October 20th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
Why though?
October 20th, 2023 at 3:07 PM ^
To give him more time in the shadows to expand the network obviously
October 20th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
SI.com is already reporting that Connor Stalions is the focus of the NCAA's investigation and has already sought access to Stalions computer:
Makes sense that Stalions would be isolated from the rest of the team while an active investigration is ongoing.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
has already sought access to Stalions computer
I would tell them to go pound sand.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
I wouldn't. Give 'em the laptop. All signs point to nothing bad being on it.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
All signs point to nothing bad being on it.
Are you sure? There may be Rutgers game footage on it. No one needs to see that....
October 20th, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
yeah, possibly not the best tactic.
But I'll alter my suggestion...hand it over and say, "Here. Here's your cheeseburger."
October 20th, 2023 at 3:48 PM ^
BUT PRON???
October 20th, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
As a lawyer, I disagree. Stand firm unless the NCAA presents a clearly credible need for information on the laptop. Otherwise, what I have seen in practice is that there is *always* something the opposition can point to as damning evidence, even if it really isn't problematic.
Consider, for example, that Stalions might have friends who attend other games and who sometimes send him iPhone video from those games. This situation is both extremely plausible (lots of people attend games, take videos, send videos, and that number climbs when the group consists of friends of a football analyst) and *arguably* inconsistent with the NCAA rule, which is ambiguous as to whom it applies and what types of scouting it purports to prohibit.
Part of the problem here is that the rule, if read broadly, seems to prohibit things that occur very commonly: attending football games and sharing information about them. If the rule is construed to only prohibit attendance by staff (which I think was the real intent), then no problem. But if it applies to others, then Stalions' communications outside the department might have something the NCAA could use.
The best play here would be for Warde to say we will cooperate if and when the NCAA provides compelling and credible evidence of wrongdoing.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:42 PM ^
Lawyer here too. Disagree.
Your view treats the NCAA as a regulatory agency. Thats not the right view. Its a voluntary association to which Michigan gladly agrees to be a member. Its not a question of fighting their power; its whether we want to respond to their request bc thats what we would expect other members to do, if the NCAA was investigating them for conduct against UM. By agreeing to be a member, we agree to cooperate in their investigations
Its somewhat like your country club. If they ask to check your golf bag for an illegal club, you can tell them, hell no. And they can tell you, ok, you arent welcome to play on their course anymore. Your choice, then their choice. Do you want to be a member or not? And if so, you have to submit to their rules.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:16 PM ^
This is an investigation without a publicly substantiated legal predicate. What violation of any NCAA rule is Michigan accused of breaking? Is it a level 1 or 2 violation? What happens if the staffer identified as a target of interest is found guilty of conducting in-person scouting services if the school has already suspended him from his position? How does that relate to benefitting the school from a competitive advantage?
Why does the NCAA find it imperative to disclose the nature of this investigation to the Big Ten and have it alert upcoming schools on Michigan's football schedule of its pending status? How is that fair under any legal consideration? Doesn't this approach impact Michigan whether or not any evidence of wrongdoing on its part is found?
October 20th, 2023 at 5:59 PM ^
agree 100 percent.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^
So the NCAA is going to tell Michigan that it isn't welcome at the country club anymore? Terrible analogy, and as Brian says not happening. They can hasten the day the NCAA is no more, though, at least where football is concerned. This kerfuffle, again, points out that you can't run an enormous and very complex business like a country club anymore.
October 20th, 2023 at 6:05 PM ^
If someone was coming after me and I needed a lawyer, I’d go with the other guy. Michigan should do what it is legally required to do and nothing more. Your country club analogy doesn’t apply. Michigan isn’t getting kicked out of the NCAA, and NCAA doesn’t behave like it’s managing a country club. In fact, the NCAA has already demonstrated that it might be carrying a grudge against Harbaugh and Michigan. Ef em.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:06 PM ^
Not a lawyer. If they punish them for not cooperating, which Warde won't do because he is just guy, UM can sue them. Would UM do it? No. But, this is America and anyone can sue. UM can tie up NCAA, bring out everything in discovery about all other cases etc. Someone has to stand up to these assholes. You threaten them and they are more likely to drop it because they know they have dirty laundry.
Having said that, I don't see Warde standing up to NCAA.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:03 PM ^
In which case, the NCAA will just say, "nevermind."
October 20th, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
Failure to cooperate is a Level 1 NCAA violation. Those advocating to simply tell the NCAA to stuff it are taking the bait and cutting off your nose to spite your face.
There are many ways to protect your interests without telling them to pound sand or incurring a violation for failure to cooperate.
*Lawyer (who has defended internal, corporate and government investigations of most every type).
October 20th, 2023 at 9:22 PM ^
The NCAA is a monopoly. It is more like the government than a club. You can't just opt out. As far as I know there are no major schools who offer athletics who aren't members. I don't think a school can leave the NCAA and still play NCAA member schools.
The problem with dealing with an organization that doesn't face competition is you get things like lack of due process, leaks, violations of their own protocols for investigations, unequal enforcement, etc and you have limited recourse.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Given the lack of integrity the NCAA has shown in leaking these investigations, I would be very careful in how and when they get access to anything. Sealed room with someone watching them.
October 20th, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^
Would gladly send them my Kaypro boxed in the garage as a substitute.
October 21st, 2023 at 9:14 AM ^
If he was in Navy Intelligence, pretty sure he won’t leave a trace behind.
October 21st, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
Giving access to your phone or computer is always bad. Even if you’re innocent on one thing, someone can always spin up a new allegation. Just image all the shit that’s probably on your own computer: your texts or emails with friends, probably lots of “Locker room talk,” maybe some porn or financial information that you don’t want people digging into, etc.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^
Wondering if this is what Weiss was digging for. Anyone know what he and ralph are doing now? Working for ncaa? No programs letting them on staff
October 20th, 2023 at 10:22 PM ^
You forgot to inquire about the Russians...
October 20th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
The Wolverine is reporting that the computer has already been given to the NCAA. Also saying the NCAA still has not given Michigan any evidence.
It's paywalled, but this is the tidibit...
There was an ESPN report today that the focus was on Michigan analyst Connor Stalions, and that the NCAA asked for (and received) a computer from him. That we can confirm. But as of this morning, U-M was still waiting for evidence from the NCAA or the Big Ten of wrongdoing.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
Incredible that the NCAA and B1G won't supply any evidence. I mean, I know it's the NCAA, but sheesh, this is quite ridiculous.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:13 PM ^
They need to have evidence to give to them. This all started when Don Brown left and they hired Mike McDonald and Jesse Minter after him. How dare Michigan have a varied defense that takes our advantage away?
October 22nd, 2023 at 7:02 PM ^
Their evidence is Michigan playing great defense and other schools complaining. None of us can say for sure what they might find in this investigation.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
" ... the NCAA asked for (and received) a computer from him."
Yeah, but how long before the NCAA can find someone in their storied organization who knows how to turn it on?
'Cause, y'know ... all those buttons are confusing!
October 20th, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
I get the NCAA being dickheads to us because Harbaugh wants players to get a share of revenue.
However, the BigTen being dickheads and not providing any evidence is bad. I wish we had a conference that went to bat for its teams.
October 20th, 2023 at 6:13 PM ^
October 20th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
NCAA loves them a good fishing expedition.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
Well they didn't say which computer of his they gave the NCAA. I'm hoping it was this one.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:56 PM ^
October 20th, 2023 at 8:41 PM ^
Hey, how did you steal that from my attic?
October 20th, 2023 at 10:58 PM ^
With or without the floppy discs?
October 20th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
I'm guessing this guy is good enough to make sure there's nothing on his laptop
October 20th, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
Throw the feds off his trail while he goes to the OSU/PSU game this weekend
October 20th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Probably because they’ve seen the evidence the ncaa and big ten have and he did break the rules