The Michigan sign-stealing scandal was already shaping up to be one of the weirder college football stories in years, but this week took it to a new level. And even Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain seems perplexed by the entire situation.
On Monday, photos started floating around of someone on the CMU sidelines from the Sept. 1 matchup with Michigan State, and many believed that the unknown person was indeed now-suspended Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions. The guy looked out of place wearing sunglasses in a night game and held a strong resemblance to Stalions — who is at the center of the Michigan scandal.
Come Tuesday, McElwain spoke to reporters about the photos and he came awfully close to confirming that it was indeed Stalions. He referred to the photo subject as the “sign stealer guy.”
Full quote from CMU Head coach Jim McElwain: pic.twitter.com/AjKf37JhRf
— Kennedy Broadwell (@BroadwellK) November 1, 2023
McElwain went on to say that Stalions’ name was not on the pass list for the game. But at the very least, CMU is admitting that it doesn’t know who that person was. He was very clearly trying to blend in as a member of the CMU staff, holding a clipboard and standing near other coaches. That CMU couldn’t immediately come out and say who it was is telling.
NEW: @TheAthletic has obtained more photos of the goatee'd sunglasses person on the Central Michigan sideline at Michigan State.
CMU is looking into whether this is Connor Stalions.
Story: https://t.co/79siEcZ89r pic.twitter.com/R5AyslTIWF
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023
The entire press conference had college football fans in disbelief.
This was how Twitter reacted
Ok so, I can only interpret this to mean Central Michigan believes Stalions is the guy in the picture because they know it’s not one of their guys https://t.co/zcK1nUeSfB
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 1, 2023
So you don’t know who it is your sideline? Or how he got there?
And you coached with Harbaugh at UM?🧐🤷🏼♂️
This story could get much deeper… looks like True Detective season 4 is in the works https://t.co/hPw7FPs2YH
— Bobby Carpenter (@Bcarp3) November 1, 2023
When the dude's just hanging out on your sideline next to your top assistants and your response is: https://t.co/3NSR9do5fG pic.twitter.com/476nUc1vX0
— Michael Citro (@Mike36fan) November 1, 2023
This sounds like they know it was him. Wild. https://t.co/5sAJil7TgU
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) November 1, 2023
“Sign stealer guy” https://t.co/UyJpLQ8Qob pic.twitter.com/f8TZalV6NM
— David Soderquist (@HightopDave) November 1, 2023
“The sign stealer guy”
This story will end up as one of the craziest in college football history https://t.co/nMYEVh2KHN— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) November 1, 2023
Look. In McElwain’s defense. It is entirely possible for a questionable-looking sunglasses-wearing young man to find his way onto a college football sideline without a field pass. https://t.co/DAb9mAOG1I
— Don Billingsly (@wpensyl) November 1, 2023
Sure seems like McElwain thinks that's Connor Stalions in the photos. So…
1.) How does a guy you don't know as a staff get right up alongside your assistants?
2.) How does he even claim the pass? You need photo ID + request from a prof. organization, just to get media pass… https://t.co/UBi5kg2l8F— Donnie Collins (@PennStateTT) November 1, 2023
So if you're keeping track, we are now on Day 2 of "Wait, it ACTUALLY might be Connor Stalions?" https://t.co/f4XZAVpxr4
— Jonathan Smith (@DegenerateTBone) November 1, 2023
