“About to cheat like HS football has never seen”: CFB fans react as former Michigan recruiting analyst Connor Stalions gets new coaching gig

Connor Stalions, who once served as a recruiting staff member at the University of Michigan, has been appointed as the defensive coordinator at Mumford High School in Detroit. This comes as the program struggles, having endured two consecutive 1-8 seasons.

Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Stalions' involvement in a sign-stealing scandal, William McMichael, head football coach at Mumford, confirmed Stalions' hiring to David Goricki of the Detroit News, on Friday.

Earlier this month, ESPN’s Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel reported that an NCAA notice of allegations included evidence of Stalions being on the sidelines at a Central Michigan game, disguised in CMU gear.

The news of Stalions' hiring sparked reactions among college football fans, with one tweeting,

“They’re about to cheat like HS football has never seen before.”

“Teams playing against Mumford,” a fan posted a meme of Jayson Tatum looking dejected in the Olympics.

Meanwhile, a couple of fans made fun of the move by referencing the Eddie Murphy movie, Beverley Hills Cop, which also featured an undercover agent.

“Mumford is well known for undercover agents, so this works,” another fan wrote.

“Give it a few weeks, and he'll be disguised as a high school student on another teams sidelines,” another wrote on X.

One fan made a fearless prediction for Mumford after Stalions' arrival.

“Mumford will go from 1-8 last season to undefeated, state champs in a few years,” one fan wrote.

Meanwhile, another fan ripped Connor Stalions' coaching credentials.

“So basically Stalion’s is completely worthless as a coach if he can’t cheat,” another fan wrote.

Though Connor Stalions has remained silent on the scandal, he was reportedly interviewed by Netflix for an upcoming documentary titled Sign Stealer, set to release on Aug. 27.

Mumford coach William McMichael defends controversial Connor Stalions decision

Mumford High School's head coach, William McMichael, has stood by Connor Stalions, praising his dedication and his positive impact on the team.

“He’s great with the kids, has an outstanding football mind and we’re learning a lot — not just the kids, but the coaching staff,” McMichael said [H/t On3]. “He’s a great addition to what we’re doing.”

“He can help prepare the kids for college,” he added. “They are learning the lingo, how they practice college and how they break down film, so it gives the kids an advantage.”

Stalions has been accused of running an unauthorized scouting operation, where he allegedly sent people to record signals from opposing teams, which goes against NCAA rules. Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has denied any involvement in these activities.

McMichael remains unfazed:

“I’m not worried about it,” McMichael said. “What happened with the NCAA doesn’t concern us here at Mumford. He comes here every day and gives 120%, and the kids all love him and we’re all learning from him.”

Even though Connor Stalions was suspended in October and later resigned, the NCAA has now flagged new Michigan coach Sherrone Moore and others for possible rule violations. ESPN reported this development earlier this month.

How would you react to the NCAA drama? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!