Michigan running back As an organizer of an LLC, Blake Corum’s name appears alongside Connor Stalions’.
ANN ARBOR, MI – Michigan running back Blake Corum, whose name appears alongside Connor Stalions as an organizer of a Wyoming LLC, claims he was unaware of the apparent relationship.
Corum told reporters Tuesday night at the University of Michigan football facilities that he was as surprised as anyone else to see his name listed as an organizer of “BC2 Housing LLC” in Wyoming alongside Stalions, a former analyst believed to be at the center of an in-person scouting operation that may violate NCAA rules.
“I completely get what you’re saying. “I first heard it when I went out to practice,” Corum explained. “First and foremost, I have no business with him. I don’t have any dealings with Connor or anything. But I’m delighted whoever found it, whoever was browsing the internet, found it. Thank you very much. My lawyers are working on it. We’ll absolutely check that out right away and have my name removed or whatever.”
When asked if he has any dealings with Stalions, Corum said, “Heck no.”
“I’m not sure what he did… I’m not sure how that works. But it will be resolved. I was just talking to my attorney before coming out here, so they’re on it.”
The Wall Street Journal published more information regarding Stalions and his non-Michigan dealings on Tuesday. According to the article, Stalions was charged by his HOA of “allegedly operating an appliance refurbishing business out of his home in violation of its bylaws.”
“That’s something I’m not really into,” Corum said of the reports of Stalions’ apparent vacuum cleaner business. “Vacuums aren’t my thing. I’m a clean person, but I’m not a cleaner. Vacuums aren’t my thing. I don’t know anything about that.”
Corum says the apparent legal process is “not a distraction.” But it does add a somewhat bizarre twist to what has become one of the largest stories in college football.
On Oct. 19, it was announced that the NCAA had opened an investigation into Michigan allegedly using improper methods to scout opponents and steal their signs. While sign-stealing is neither against the rules nor uncommon in football, “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited,” per NCAA bylaw 11.6.1.
One day after the investigation began, Michigan suspended analyst Connor Stalions, who was cited as a person of interest in the investigation. In the week that followed, it was confirmed through multiple media outlets that Stalions bought tickets to more than 30 games involving Big Ten teams in his own name, with the intention of sending third-party members to attend those games and record a future opponent’s sideline signals. The Naval Academy graduate and former Marine captain volunteered as a low-level assistant for Michigan while living out of state from 2015-21, and was hired by the program in 2022.
While the NCAA is investigating how he obtained the information and if others on Michigan’s staff knew about or endorsed his allegedly improper tactics, Stalions took considerable pride in his ability to pick up opponents’ signals, touting it on his LinkedIn account and bragging to others trying to get into the coaching industry. During games, he could often be seen next to Michigan’s coaches and coordinators offering his thoughts on what the opponent’s play call would be.
Stalions resigned from his position Nov. 3.
Though Stalions is to date the only Michigan staff member implicated in the investigation, that has not calmed the contempt other Big Ten programs hold toward Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh over the allegations. According to multiple reports, Big Ten coaches and athletic directors each held emotional, impassioned phone calls with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti last week, urging the conference to do something this fall, presumably before the NCAA investigation concluded. On Friday, the Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb confirmed that Petitti met with Michigan president Santa Ono, Michigan regents and athletic Director Warde Manuel.
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