James Atama
As Michigan awaits its impending sanctions from the NCAA related to a sign-stealing scandal, former Michigan analyst Connor Stalions gave an extensive interview with On3, where he addressed various topics but notably skirted the specific allegations against him. He asserted that most college teams are privy to each other’s signals, claiming that “95% of teams have 95% of teams’ signals,” and emphasized that his role was more focused on safeguarding Michigan’s own signals rather than illegally stealing those of opponents.
Stalions described the dynamic of the “cat-and-mouse” game in football, explaining that protecting one’s signals is crucial. He noted that during 2018 and 2019, Michigan was heavily targeted by Ohio State, leading to a significant disadvantage in the games they played. In contrast, he believes the tide turned in 2021 under defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald when Michigan successfully secured its signals and maintained an advantage over Ohio State.
He reflected on the 2021 game, where Michigan triumphed 42-27, by pointing out that Ohio State’s reliance on deciphering Michigan’s signals was disrupted. Stalions argued that the signal-calling game became equalized, leaving Ohio State in a position of discomfort as they had to call plays without their usual informational advantage.
In response to comments from former Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, who implied Michigan’s knowledge of an untested play signaled illegal sign-stealing, Stalions explained that he could film Ohio State’s unchanged signaling patterns throughout the season, making it easier to anticipate certain plays.
Looking ahead, Stalions expressed his ambition to eventually become head coach at Michigan, although he’s open to coaching elsewhere, provided it’s not at Ohio State or Michigan State. He jested about the unlikelihood of Ohio State hiring him, given that his coaching strategy would involve a strong focus on beating the Wolverines.
As for his current situation, Stalions is awaiting potential penalties from the NCAA, which could impact his future coaching opportunities. However, he maintains his loyalty to Michigan, predicting the Wolverines will win the national championship this year, likely facing Texas in the title game. He also forecasted that 2023 will be the year Michigan and Ohio State will compete against each other multiple times in the same season, potentially in both the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.
