Central Michigan tries to get ahead of Connor Stalions documentary fallout

The Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal is a big problem for the Michigan. The Wolverines aren't the only program involved, though.

Stalions — who reportedly operated an intricate sign-stealing operation at Michigan that led to multiple firings and resignations as well as a newly released notice of allegations against the Wolverines from an NCAA investigation that could have massive consequences — was reportedly seen wearing a disguise on the Central Michigan sideline when the Chippewas played Michigan State, in East Lansing, last season.

“We obviously are aware of a picture floating around with the sign-stealer guy,” Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain had said at the time, according to The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach and Chris Vannini . “Our people are doing everything they can to get to the bottom of it. We’re totally unaware of it. I certainly don’t condone it in any way, shape or form. I do know his name was on none of the passes that were let out. We keep tracing it back and tracing it back and try to figure it out. It’s in good hands with our people. Again, there’s no place in football for that.”

That was last fall, but CMU is now back in the spotlight because of the newly released Netflix documentary that focuses on Stalions called "Untold: Sign Stealer." In the documentary, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a Michigan fan, said that Stalions had revealed to him that he was indeed on Central Michigan's sideline.

That has led to the Chippewas releasing a statement, via ESPN's Adam Rittenberg:

“We are aware of inferences made in the new Netflix documentary regarding former University of Michigan football staff member Connor Stalions accessing the CMU sidelines during our opening game last September,” the statement read (h/t On3 ). “For the past ten months, CMU has fully cooperated with the NCAA’s ongoing investigation, and we will continue to cooperate with the NCAA as it works to complete its investigation.

Rittenberg and Mark Schlabach also revealed in adjacent reporting that Stalions had told NCAA investigators that "he never participated in advanced in-person scouting and didn't purchase tickets for others to attend games of the Wolverines' future opponents to record their signals."

The notice of allegations from the NCAA disagrees with Stalions' claims of innocence. In fact, they allege that Stalions "conducted and/or directed and arranged for other individuals, including football staff members, to conduct at least 58 instances of off-campus, in-person scouting of at least 13 future regular-season opponents over at least 53 football contests."

It's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out, but Central Michigan is going to have a hard time distancing itself from this scandal.