CMU's silence speaks volumes
So we all know CS was on the CMU sideline during the MSU game. But CMU's failure to admit this and explain why it happened speaks volumes. My guess is they're afraid to acknowledge they hired Stalions to be an in-game consultant for the team, or that he snuck into the game incognito. Either scenario would likely be some kind of violation. It explains why McElwain looked so uncomfortable talking about it during his press conference. Makes me wonder if he'll be facing a suspension as well.
What's your theory?
November 12th, 2023 at 9:02 AM ^
Beat Maryland!
November 12th, 2023 at 2:05 PM ^
Exactly. The poster should be training as hard as he can for the Maryland game rather than talking about football.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:02 AM ^
Non-zero chance that McElwain didn't know anything, wasnt prepped for the question and just stumbled in his response.
November 12th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Yeah, right. Just like he “stumbled” onto that shark.
/s
November 12th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
That shark was asking for it
November 12th, 2023 at 9:03 AM ^
CMU invited him
November 12th, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
But someone was following him! Ie pi firm following him….
November 12th, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
"So we all know CS was on the CMU sideline"
No we don't. Brian has a source that thinks so but there's been no confirmation in any direction. It certainly could have been him, but given the number of human beings on this planet who are NOT Connor Stallions, it seems just as likely it was some other nondescript youngish white dude.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:06 AM ^
Agree. This has never been verified. Facial recognition dude from MSU only placed the probability at 60% as I recall. Not a lot north of a coin flip.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:13 AM ^
IIRC, 60% WITH a disguise. If he was invited there… why a disguise? Sunglasses at night?
Maybe he just has a James Bond complex (or, more aptly, Fletch), but this defies normal explanation.
November 12th, 2023 at 10:50 AM ^
The best part about this was how the MSU professor tried to explain it away by saying the software can’t handle disguises and “it would be 100% if it’s the same picture” lmao.
November 12th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
A few online pics showed the blue glint near where the video camera would be on sunglasses. Not sure if doctored but you can find them.
November 12th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
+1 for the Fletch reference :>)
I think it was actually John Cochtoasten in CMU disguise
November 12th, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
Or Dr. Rosenpenis
November 12th, 2023 at 1:36 PM ^
Yes, he was there to work for EMU and probably got paid. The disguise was used to prevent his real employer from finding out.
November 12th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
I don't understand why the person it really is just doesn't come out and speak up......unless of course it is CS....
November 12th, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
Generic pic of 20 something white guy with shortbeard, hat and sunglasses. Could be almost anyone.
November 12th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
My first thought was Dylan McCaffrey.
November 12th, 2023 at 2:07 PM ^
Fair. But I think about 2.3 billion human beings in China and India can be ruled out.
November 12th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
The thing is, if it wasn't him, CMU would have long ago had an answer, "It's this guy." Someone invited him (how else would he know/have the exact shirt) and the Chips are just going to shut up and hope this fades away.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
All I know is that if it was indeed Stalions and they haven't already come out and said he had unauthorized access.... it strongly suggests it was at the behest of someone on CMU, rather than Michigan
November 12th, 2023 at 9:15 AM ^
So Stalions had a side hustle. Since the vacuum cleaner thing wasn't going well a man has to do what he has to do.
November 12th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
I don’t know. He fixed my Dishwasher just fine.
November 12th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^
It doesn't appear as though the person identified as Stalions is hanging out with CMU's HC, OC or DC. I can't see what advantage his presence on the sideline gave CMU.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:06 AM ^
McElwain is not in the Big Ten and thus doesn't have to worry about Tinpot Tony, the dickless dictator. That said, a suspension would give him time for a little sportfishing. Perhaps he looked uncomfortable because he was conflicted.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
To be fair, CMU's AD relies pretty heavily on buy games from B1G teams for what I'd assume is a good chunk of their annual revenue. So they need to be in the conference's good graces on some level.
November 12th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
Those games aren't regulated by the Big Ten. They're nonconference games. CMU only has to get along with individual Big Ten teams.
November 12th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Is "sport fishing" the McElwain equivalent of "sport fucking"?
November 12th, 2023 at 9:06 AM ^
McElwain knew whoever it was on the sideline, which is why he's uncomfortable talking about it. There's no way CS smuggled himself onto the field and hung out next to coaches without somebody noticing this random guy. No way.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:09 AM ^
Wasn't there a picture of them standing right next to each other?
November 12th, 2023 at 9:44 AM ^
Well, it may be that security at CMU is somewhat porous. At UMD, it would be next to impossible to get near the field, much less on the Maryland sideline, for a B1G game. But early in the season for the games against nothing teams things can be somewhat lax regarding who comes and goes through the tunnel. Maybe CS could have pulled it off--but it would have been a longshot.
Just my perspective from 10+ yrs around the Terps sidelines.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:11 AM ^
It was reported that the NCAA was investigating. If that's true, doesn't CMU have to keep quiet about it? That was the story of why we couldn't respond in those first two weeks before the Big Ten got involved.
November 12th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
If that's the case, it's good news because the NCAA would have already given the info to Thamel if it were detrimental to Michigan.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
It all depends on who talks I’d say. Accept for the second that it was in fact him. Whether or not CMU knew, though I’m sure they’d have to have known, how could it be proven that he was in fact there? Those images of the sideline guy could technically be anyone.
Maybe emails between Stallions and CMU folks? But CMU might not have been as dumb as Stallions so let’s say they just texted or called him to be safe. What does that leave? Probably not much. This isn’t a federal crime, no one is going to get his phone records or some shit. So it comes down to either CMU or Stallions admitting he was there. my guess is the silence is a tactic. Say nothing. Admit nothing. Wait it out.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:17 AM ^
Vacune cleaners suck.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:28 AM ^
They certainly sound scary.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:17 AM ^
Honestly, at this point, every time someone brings this up, I start laughing. Yes, I am certain Stalions probably needs some professional help, but if that was him at the CMU-MSU game and it is confirmed one day, certainly the hustle was not to be denied and we may have to grudgingly respect it to some extent.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
Grudgingly respect it?
Misguided for sure, but dude did more to try help the UofM football program than 99% of us typing away on these forums.
Have to respect the hustle, odd as it was.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:23 AM ^
Nothing we type on a forum is going to become a multi week national media circus. There is such a thing as trying too hard.
November 12th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
True, but Stalions shouldn't have become a multi-week national media circus either.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:58 AM ^
Your take is misguided. It was his hustle, and only his hustle, that has caused all of this turmoil. His "Vast Network" of people at other games is the only thing that is an issue in this. It's established that everyone tries to get the other teams' signs, but you're not allowed to send people to games to get them.
November 12th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
Other way around. It's actually unclear if the "vast network" violated the rules or not. But if he attended the CMU game, that's a definite violation.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:23 AM ^
My theory...nobody gives two sh*ts about a MAC school, so IF anything comes of it, I think it would be in a sweeping realignment of scouting/comms driven by the NCAA. As in, 'we are switching to comms next year, and BTW Jim McElwain is paying a fine.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
I am Spartacus…
November 12th, 2023 at 9:29 AM ^
CMU's silence is in compliance with NCAA rules for an ongoing investigation. I can see why you're broke.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
The 'ongoing investigation' is a convenient guise for CMU so that they don't have to admit wrongdoing. If there was nothing to investigate and it wasn't him on the sideline they would have publicly said so by now.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
My theory is someone told him to keep his mouth shut because anything he said that turned out to be wrong would be damaging, and there was little to be gained by addressing the issue.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:52 AM ^
I remember reading something in the Big Ten's letter to UM regarding Harbaugh's suspension and it got me thinking...
The Conference also reviewed photos and videos from the public domain (and thus available to the University) that show the staff member dressed similarly to University coaches standing adjacent to and communicating with coaches during games in timeframes in which the impermissible scheme occurred. One photo was taken from the staff member’s since-deleted Instagram account showing him during the October 2, 2021 game at Wisconsin standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the University’s then-defensive coordinator.
How could Stalions be standing "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the Wisconsin defensive coordinator without anyone on Wisconsin's staff being aware of this? Wouldn't someone question why this stranger was standing right next to the DC?
I honestly think the Big Ten may have opened up a very messy can of worms by pursuing this vindictive course of action against UM. Tony P may end up suspending quite a few more coaches in the not too distant future.