Report: Connor Stalions Never Filed Any Expense Reports During Michigan Tenure

Former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions didn't file any expense reports with the school in the 17 months he was employed within the football program, according to the Associated Press' Larry Lage.

"The Associated Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Stalions' expense reports while he was employed from May 2022 through Nov. 3, 2023," Lage reported. "There are no responsive records, Patricia Sellinger, chief freedom of information officer at the school, replied in an email sent Wednesday."

Once the sign-stealing scandal surrounding the Wolverines broke, head coach Jim Harbaugh denied any knowledge of an intentional scheme to decipher opponents' signals by illicit means.

Upon Stalions' resignation, his lawyer also issued a statement to The Athletic saying in part that "neither Coach Harbaugh, nor any other coach or staff member, told anyone to break any rules or were aware of improper conduct regarding the recent allegations of advanced scouting."

ESPN's Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach reported in October that Stalions had purchased tickets to games for 12 of Michigan's 13 fellow Big Ten schools as well as tickets for games that included potential opponents for the Wolverines in the College Football Playoff.

Will Hobson of the Washington Post followed up to report an outside law firm presented the NCAA with detailed information regarding the alleged sign-stealing operation. The documents included "a detailed schedule of Michigan's planned sign-stealing travel for the rest of this season, listing opponents' schedules, which games Michigan scouts would attend and how much money was budgeted for travel and tickets to scout each team."

Those involved had set a budget of $15,000 to have representatives present at 40 games involving 10 different teams this season.

The absence of a clear paper trail linking Michigan with the live-scouting apparatus doesn't totally close the book on the matter. There's the obvious question of how it was funded in the first place, with Hobson noting Stalions was listed as having a $55,000 salary in 2022.

This isn't definitive proof one way or the other as to the culpability of Harbaugh and other Michigan coaches, either.

For now, Harbaugh will continue to serve his three-game sideline ban. He said he intends to be at Friday's court hearing, where Michigan is seeking a restraining order to void the punishment.