Michigan football received the notice of allegations from the NCAA on Sunday as it pertains to Connor Stalions’ alleged illegal sign-stealing operation. Like the NCAA, his lawyers aren’t going quietly into the night.
Brad Beckworth and Nathan Hall provided a statement to The Athletic (subscription required) that accuses the NCAA of unfairly targeting former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh as well as their client.
“This investigation has been a witch hunt from day one intended to besmirch Michigan and Coach (Jim) Harbaugh,” attorneys Brad Beckworth and Nathan Hall wrote in a statement to The Athletic. “Connor is a scapegoat in the NCAA’s ongoing quest to show that it has a purpose in today’s sports world.”
The statement continued:
“The NOA says Connor’s friends and family sent him film from games they attended with tickets Connor purchased,” Stalions’ lawyers wrote. “But there is no rule against that.” The lawyers went on to say the “only ‘scouting’ that took place in this case happened on Michigan’s campus from behind Connor’s computer.”
There has been little argument thus far, outside of Michigan message boards, that Stalions didn’t violate the advanced scouting rule, also known as NCAA bylaw 11.6.1. That bylaw prohibits in-person scouting by institutional staff members, but Beckworth and Collins argue that since Stalions wasn’t in-person according to the evidence of his scheme, it doesn’t qualify.
It’s unclear if Michigan will argue similarly or if it will attempt to appease the governing body. But it appears all but certain that Stalions and his legal counsel will fight the NCAA on this.
Meanwhile, the Netflix documentary on the subject, “Sign Stealer,” is set for a Tuesday release.