Michigan staffer from sign-stealing probe believed to have bought tickets to Alabama football game

Michigan staffer Connor Stallions is believed to have purchased tickets to an Alabama football game, sources told The Tuscaloosa News.

The exact game is not known.

Stallions is reported to have devised an in-person scouting scheme that 12 of 13 possible Big Ten schools connected to Stallion as well as programs outside the Big Ten, including the 2021 and 2022 SEC Championship Game as well as a Tennessee game in 2022. The 2021 SEC title game included Alabama.

Sign stealing is not against NCAA rules, but it is against NCAA rules to scout future opponents in person.

Nick Saban said Wednesday he didn't know anything about anyone coming to the SEC Championship Game nor did he have a lot of information on the sign-stealing investigation.

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The Big Ten announced a week ago it had been notified of the NCAA's investigation into allegations of sign stealing. Stallions has been suspended without pay, Michigan announced Friday.

"The university is fully cooperating with the Big Ten and NCAA," a Michigan spokesperson said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press last week. "The investigation is ongoing and will not impact Saturday's game. At the University of Michigan, we are committed to the highest ethical and integrity standards for all members of our community."

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh also released a statement in which he said he did not have any knowledge or information about Michigan football illegally stealing signals "nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment."

The investigation into Stallions has prompted a discussion among football coaches whether helmet communicators should be brought to the college game. That would eliminate the possibility of sign stealing because coaches could communicate directly to a player on the field through his helmet.

"I do think the helmet communicator is probably a real positive thing for the game," Nick Saban said Wednesday. "You can't steal signs and do any of this stuff if you have a helmet communicator. I think it would be a good thing. I think it has worked out well in the NFL, and I also think it would be good to have one guy on defense you could tell that guy what the call is and not have to go through all this signaling process."

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Michigan staffer believed to have bought Alabama football tickets