CMU probes Stalions’ potential sideline presence
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Adam Rittenberg
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Adam Rittenberg
ESPN Senior Writer
- College football reporter.
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
- Graduate of Northwestern University.
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Pete Thamel
Central Michigan is investigating photos that show a man resembling Michigan Wolverines staff member Connor Stalions on its sideline for the Sept. 1 opener at Michigan State.
Athletic director Amy Folan, in a statement to ESPN, said the school became aware of the photos late Monday. The man resembling Stalions is dressed in Central Michigan-issued gear and standing alongside several of the team’s coaches, while wearing a bench credential.
The credential reads “VB” and appears to be designated for the visiting bench area, which is different than a general sideline pass. It gives access to the designated area between the 20-yard lines, which is reserved for players, coaches, trainers and equipment staff. Schools are given a finite amount of passes for each game.
“We are in the process of determining the facts surrounding them,” Folan’s statement reads. “As this process is ongoing, we have no further comment at this time.”
Stalions is at the center of the NCAA’s investigation into off-campus scouting and signal stealing. Michigan has suspended him with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation, which launched Oct. 17.
Photos obtained by ESPN show a man wearing sunglasses — during a night game — and holding a possible play sheet. The man appeared to shield his face any time a play ended near where he was standing, but was shown by FS1 cameras several times during the game broadcast.
According to NCAA rules, the “team area” during games includes a maximum of 50 non-squad members “directly involved in the game.” Those not in full uniform wear special credentials assigned to the team area that are numbered 1 through 50.
“No other credential is valid for the team area,” according to NCAA Rule 1-2-4-b.
Michigan State is aware of Stalions’ potential presence at the opener, and sources at MSU told ESPN that the school is discussing potential next steps and is prepared to cooperate with any formal investigation that arises from this.
Sources told ESPN that Stalions purchased tickets at 12 Big Ten schools and for several other games involving potential Michigan opponents. A former Division III football player and coach told ESPN that Stalions compensated him to attend games involving Michigan opponents and record their sideline with his smartphone.
The Central Michigan allegation is the first that potentially places Stalions on the sideline of a game involving a Michigan opponent. Michigan beat Michigan State 49-0 at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 21.
Central Michigan faced Michigan State the night before Michigan began its season against East Carolina. Photos show Stalions on the Michigan sideline for the Sept. 2 opener.
Central Michigan has multiple staff members with ties to Michigan.
The man who resembles Stalions appeared on the sideline near offensive line coach Tavita Thompson and CMU director of recruiting Michael McGee for much of the game.
Central Michigan hosts Northern Illinois on Tuesday night.
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Greg Wyshynski
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the NHL is warning teams against taking warmups without helmets, a growing trend this season that violates NHL rules.
Daly told ESPN that the league is sending out a memo to remind teams that helmets are mandatory in warmups for “all players who entered the NHL beginning with the 2019-2020 season or later,” per Rule 9.6.
The Ottawa Senators skated out for warmups without helmets in a game at the Vegas Golden Knights last Wednesday, having lost in their past six trips to T-Mobile Arena. Forward Shane Pinto told TSN that the players decided at a team dinner to change their Vegas luck by doffing their helmets. “It was pretty cool to do,” he said.
The Senators won the game 4-3 in a shootout.
The San Jose Sharks also went without helmets in warmups in Vegas, having lost five straight road games to the Knights. Alas, their luck didn’t change, losing 4-3 to their division rival. Forward Will Smith said there was no particular motivation for it.
“It was a team decision. It was Saturday night in Vegas, so I think all the guys were pretty easy to [do] it,” he said.
On Tuesday night, the New Jersey Devils skated out wearing hats instead of helmets, in honor of defenseman Brenden Dillon‘s 1,000th NHL game.
Rule 9.6 reads:
“It is mandatory for all players who entered the NHL beginning with the 2019-2020 season or later to wear their helmet during pre-game warm-up. To be clear, all players who entered the League prior to the 2019-2020 season and who are currently playing are exempt from this mandate.”
The NHL amended its rules in 2022 to mandate helmet usage in warmups out of player safety concerns, in particular with rookies who took the ice without helmets before their debut games as part of a longstanding NHL tradition. Much like the league’s visor rule, some veteran players were “grandfathered” in and exempt.
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