by Kyle Golik
I am not one who wants to condemn an individual for life. I feel that lifetime bans in any vocation should be handed out in rare circumstances where an individual has seemingly went over the line with no point of return. I feel the news of former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions accepting a job as an assistant head coach at Belleville High School (Belleville, Michigan) is, on the surface, seemingly one of a disgraced former coach looking to redeem himself.
When you peel a layer off the top, however, you realize Belleville has the nation’s top overall prospect in quarterback Bryce Underwood, who is currently committed to LSU but whom Michigan is looking to flip.
I don’t feel anymore that Stalions is a victim of circumstance in that regard.
How did Stalions end up at Belleville? Belleville head coach Dejuan Rogers discussed with CBS Detroit how Stalions joined his staff and what his role with Belleville will be.
"I called Coach Will (McMichaels) and asked him if he knew of any reliable help that could assist us during the playoffs and he recommended Connor," Rogers said. "Connor...he's been a great tool for us in enhancing how we attack opposing defenses.”
Stalions spoke on his role and how he is working with all three phases to push Belleville to a MHSAA state championship.
"I'm grateful to be working with Coach Rogers, Coach Norman and the rest of the staff," Stalions said. "There's a very high expectation to win here at Belleville. All the players have responded very well to the quick adjustments we've made, and it's fun working with them on a daily basis."
Adding to the level of intrigue is the On3 report by Pete Nakos. Insiders told On3 in late October that Underwood was expected to be offered an NIL package valued at above $5 million over three to four years, whether he signed with Michigan or LSU.
The Wolverine’s EJ Holland reported that the number he is hearing is “around $10.5 million over four years.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by 247Sports Tom Loy and On3’s Steve Wiltfong. They noted that despite Underwood visiting LSU this past weekend, Underwood’s commitment remains firm for LSU. They also feel those surrounding Michigan have a lot of optimism that they can flip Underwood.
Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sideline beside off-field analyst Connor Stalions, right, during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
This now goes back to Stalions. Out of all the coaches Belleville could bring in, they brought in Stalions.
I get Rogers' point of doing his due diligence and seeking out what Stalions brings to the coaching room, but it remains a lightning rod no matter how you look at it.
Go back to the Netflix documentary “Untold: Sign Stealer,” Stalions demonstrated fanatical and obsessive behaviors being driven by his passion for Michigan.
“I don’t always break the rules,” Stalions said. “In fact, I’d argue that I don’t break the rules. I just walk a very fine line in the gray. I exploit the rules. I don’t break the rules, I exploit them.”
With Stalions no longer officially affiliated with Michigan, he still has all the relationships, and when Michigan coaches come to Belleville ,they know they have a friend amongst them providing them inside information.
Make no mistake, Stalions wants back in. I don’t blame him for wanting that. Working for or being involved with a program like Michigan brings a level of intoxication satisfaction that very few things in life ever could. To have that removed or no longer to be part of it, I cannot fathom what Stalions feels about it. I feel bad in one vein, but in another,his own exploitation of the rules is thereason he is on the outside looking in.
Underwood is a potential program-changing prospect. For LSU, he could be aJayden Daniels 2.0 or even something better—someone who could finally help Brian Kelly realize his national championship aspirations. For Sheronne Moore, Underwood could be the athlete that sparks his program and actually gives him a fighting chance to be successful at Michigan. Underwood must make one promise to himself:he shouldn’t allow himself to become a subject of a sequel to “Sign Stealer.”
This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.
