Report: Michigan fires Connor Stalions amid sign-stealing investigation

Michigan and analyst Connor Stalions have parted ways, Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel reported Friday night. He is at the center of an NCAA investigation into the program regarding sign-stealing and the university previously suspended him without pay.

Michigan later released a statement and clarified Stalions resigned his position, effective Friday afternoon.

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The NCAA opened its inquiry into the Michigan program last month regarding a nearly 30-year-old rule regarding in-person scouting, Yahoo Sports reported. It later came out that Stalions was the focal point of the investigation, and multiple reports said he allegedly bought tickets to Big Ten opponents and possible College Football Playoff opponents as part of the sign-stealing scheme.

After the news came out about the investigation, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced Stalions’ suspension with pay pending the results of the investigation.

News of Stalions’ resignation comes the same week Big Ten coaches and athletic directors met with commissioner Tony Petitti about the situation. On a Wednesday call — which included Jim Harbaugh, who hung up to let the other speak freely — coaches urged Petitti to take action against the Wolverines.

A day later, the athletic directors echoed a similar sentiment and discussed a possible suspension for Harbaugh rather than punishing the players. No decision was made, though.

“The athletic directors had a clear message — we believe the conference needs to step up,” a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

One of the more powerful messages from the ADs meeting came from Michigan State’s Alan Haller. He noted the challenges the Spartans had when they played a game shortly after news of the investigation broke. Rather than relay signs from the sideline, Michigan State had the quarterback run over to receive them.

Haller also pointed out the Big Ten’s handling of last year’s incident at The Big House, which resulted in multiple suspensions he said came down before the investigation was over. He added those punishments were handed out after the conference told MSU to do so.

How Tony Petitti fits in to the sign-stealing investigation into Connor Stalions, Michigan

Petitti was on Michigan’s campus on Friday for the Big Ten field hockey championships, and was expected to meet with UM president Santa Ono, The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reported. During his meetings with the coaches, Petitti didn’t tip his hand on how the conference would handle the situation. He also told the athletic directors he met with the NCAA and might end up doing so again.

Petitti has the authority to punish Michigan because of the Big Ten’s sportsmanship cause, which is about the “integrity of competition” in the “competitive arena,” if the discipline is “standard” or “major.”

“Standard action includes a fine not exceeding $10,000 and a suspension of no more than two contests,” Wetzel and Ross Dellenger wrote. “Major action is anything exceeding those penalties and is subject to approval from the Big Ten executive board of presidents.”