The new Netflix documentary, Untold: Sign Stealer is expected to spark a lot of buzz around the sign-stealing scandal involving Connor Stalions during Michigan's 2023 season. The 1 hour and 24-minute documentary series premiered on Netflix on August 27, 2024. It explores the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the Michigan Wolverines, a Big Ten College football team, and Connor Stalions, a former team employee.
As for decoding what the title of Untold: Sign Stealer suggests, sign stealing is the act of the team's staff member copying the other team's signals or silent instructions to gain an advantage. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has rules prohibiting it which Connor Stalions allegedly violated.
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Stallions quit on November 3, 2023, while the NCAA was investigating, and the documentary looks into what happened on and off the field during the Wolverines' championship season. Michigan got a notice from the NCAA about the allegations and Director Micah Brown had a tough job on his hands cleaning up the mess.
What is Netflix's Untold: Sign Stealer about? Plot explored
This started back in 2021 when the team hired a new coach and was struggling to win games. The coach was given the time and resources to figure out the opposing teams' signs. He worked hard to create databases, maps, and other tools to help the team win.
The team did start winning more games in 2023, but things took a turn when the NCAA began investigating the situation. It's okay to observe and study the game in person, but it's not allowed to use gadgets to record signals or send someone over to scout out upcoming opponents.
Starting November 7, 2023, various opinions about the scandal emerged. Several off-campus scouting allegations were made against Stalions. Some suggested that university league schools should have a dedicated person to gather info about rival teams and their strategies.
The University of Michigan pointed out that Rutgers, Ohio State, and Purdue Universities were also involved in sign-stealing. As a result, coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the last three games of the season, and linebacker coach, Chris Patridge lost his job.
The Michigan team still managed to win their national championship game, and NCAA president Charlie Baker supported their win.
Who is Connor Stalions from Untold: Sign Stealer and where is he now?
Connor Stalions, a huge Michigan Wolverines fan, always dreamed of coaching his favorite team. He planned his career carefully, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Bo Schembechler, a legendary coach at the University of Michigan.
As a teenager, Stalions discovered that many successful college coaches had a military background, so he joined the United States Naval Academy. While there, he got involved in coaching and was put in charge of cracking the opposing team's hand signals. He got good at it, figuring out what each signal meant and spotting who was trying to trick him. During his time at the Academy, the Midshipmen football team's performance improved a lot.
Eventually, Stallions made it to the sidelines at Michigan, just like he always wanted. But soon, the team's winning streak was questioned because people thought they might have been cheating by stealing signs.
The Wolverines finally won the National Championship in January 2024 - their first win since 1997. Around that time, things started to look bad for Stalions, and he had to leave the team he cared about so much. He stated how the allegation ruined his life.
“They dragged my name in the mud, they dragged Michigan’s name in the mud for months,” he added “My whole life changed.”
Stallions is still active in the football world, currently coaching at a high school in Michigan.
The Untold: Sign Stealer documentary series is now available for fans to stream on Netflix.
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