A Freedom of Information Act request from the Associated Press to Michigan found that ex-recruiting analyst/covert ops ringleader Connor Stalions did not file expense reports in the time he was employed by the Wolverines, a period of time covering May 2022 through Nov. 3, 2023.
Stalions orchestrated a spy ring -- Michigan does not dispute this -- that records show encompassed dozens of games at stadiums across the country. Stalions purchased well-placed tickets to some of the biggest games in college football. This scheme would've cost far more than someone earning $56,000 per year could reasonably afford.
Yet, someone had to fund this operation.
If Stalions was not being reimbursed by Michigan, this leaves four likely options:
1) Stalions paid for the tickets himself. Certainly the most convenient explanation for Michigan, and also the hardest to believe. Stalions came from a middle-class background, and while it's certainly possible a rich relative funded the operation, thus far we have no proof of that. Stalions attempted to repair vacuums on the side, to varying degrees of success.
2) The program paid for it off the books. Summer camps use college facilities and college personnel, but are operated as third-party LLCs. This is commonplace across college football. Camps are often highly profitable. It's possible Stalions's operation was paid for out of camp funds.
3) A coach paid for Stalions to purchase tickets directly.
4) A booster paid for Stalions to purchase tickets directly.
It remains to be seen if the NCAA will ever find the money behind the operation. The organization can certainly ask to see financial records, but the NCAA and Big Ten do not have subpoena power. Stalions did not cooperate with the NCAA investigation before resigning.
Michigan and the Big Ten will hold a hearing as the school attempts to get a temporary restraining order so Jim Harbaugh can coach the third-ranked Wolverines on Saturday against Maryland. Harbaugh has denied knowledge of any impermissible scouting.
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