Best of the Bus: Connor Stalions Reveals Art Of Sign Stealing + Details In The Michigan Manifesto

Summary

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Bussin' With The Boys – “Best of the Bus: Connor Stalions Reveals Art Of Sign Stealing + Details In The Michigan Manifesto”

Release Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Bussin' With The Boys (Will Compton & Taylor Lewan)
Guest: Connor Stalions

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Overview

In a highly anticipated, in-depth episode, former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions joins “Bussin’ With The Boys” for his first long-form interview since the Michigan sign-stealing controversy. Connor discusses his unique journey from obsessed Michigan fan and Naval Academy grad to central figure in college football’s biggest scandal, revealing the inside mechanics of sign stealing, the evolution of his infamous “Michigan Manifesto,” and the secretive “intel guy” network that drives information warfare between elite programs. He also reflects on the changing landscape of college football, the future of his career at the high school level, and the misunderstood realities of “cheating,” edge-finding, and football prep culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Connor Stalions’ Background and Michigan Fandom

• Early Passion: Connor describes himself as one of the “5% of psycho fans” who truly wanted to impact Michigan football beyond simply cheering.

  “I just love Michigan, you know?” (03:08)

• Pathway to Coaching: Shared his journey from attending games as a child to studying legendary coaches, all of whom had military backgrounds.

  “Every major successful head coach… all had one thing in common. Served in the military four to five years at least, so… they got to be onto something.” (04:35)

2. Military Influence, Naval Academy, and Early Coaching Experience

• Naval Academy Decision: Chose Navy over a Michigan acceptance after observing historical ties between coaching and military.

  “I called my parents...and they’re like, so what are you thinking? I’m like, oh, I already told them.” (06:36)

• Student Coaching: Started by filming practices, leveraged initiative to become a student coach, applying visualization and total commitment to every role.

  “I treated it in my mind like I'm the head coach at Michigan… it's vision.” (08:55)

• First Assignments: His first big task—creating an in-depth, 18-page wind report for special teams.

  “I just became like a weatherman for a month… I give him this like, 18-page packet… they were like, what the heck is this?” (09:30)

3. Obsessive Preparation, Sacrifices, and Hustle

• Extreme Sacrifice: While serving as a Marine officer in California, Connor lived out of his car to save time and money, so he could fly back and forth to help Michigan.

  “I slept at the I5 south rest stop right outside Camp Pendleton. Every day for, like, two years.” (14:02)

• NFL Connections: Broke down film for NFL players, including Frank Clark, leveraging analytical skills learned from college film study.

  “For the Super Bowl I did… up in the nosebleeds, I’m calling run pass to myself… every single play.” (19:03)

4. The Michigan Manifesto: Origins and Organization

• What Is It? A Google Document (formerly a binder, then Word doc), meticulously organized with thousands of pages on every conceivable topic related to building and running a football program.

  “It's super organized… all the way from leadership to the X’s and O’s… I know exactly where it is and it's super organized. It’s just notes.” (24:48)

• How It Works: Designed using military organizational principles; sub-categorized for easy referencing; constantly updated with insights from books, coaches, film, and game observation.

  “If you were to ask me, how would you run your... operations department? Give me five seconds, I’ll show you – boom, boom, boom. And there’s all my notes on that.” (92:09)

• Naming: Dubbed the “Michigan Manifesto” as a joke by friends during COVID; the media then ran with the name.

  “We just kind of jokingly called it the Michigan Manifesto. And then... the media ran with it.” (97:38)

5. The Art of Sign Stealing

• How It Started: Given the task at Navy after learning a predecessor had tried deciphering signals.

  “So I went in with a blank sheet of paper, a clipboard and a pen, and our first game was Ohio State and just started… That was the birth.” (29:12)

• The Process: Not ‘rocket science’ — relies on obsessive film study, pattern recognition, and real-time information processing.

  “It’s not rocket science, it’s signals.” (30:42)

• In-Game Use: Even early, would yell out plays mid-game, eventually developed a nuanced system for only speaking up at 95% certainty.

  “If I am not 95% certain, I’m not saying a word.” (35:22)

6. Signal Wars: Cat-and-Mouse Game

• Culture of Signals: The rise of tempo offenses necessitated sideline signaling, constantly challenging defenses to protect against sign stealing, and vice versa.

  “Signaling will always exist as much as offensive coordinators want it to exist. And signal stealing has been more prevalent with offenses stealing defensive signals.” (36:55)

• Detailed Analytics: Tracked every play in Michigan-Ohio State for ‘cat’ (play caller with edge) and ‘mouse’ (reactor); offers statistical proof of how signal advantage shifts outcomes.

  “In 2018, Ohio State was the cat every play… those two games, they averaged 8.15 yards per play...” (42:04)

7. Information Trading and the ‘Intel Guys’ Club

• Widespread Practice: Nearly all Power 4 schools have a version of a ‘Connor Stalions’. Trade intel weekly, both intra- and inter-conference, often not directly.

  “I'm sure USC does. I'm sure Washington probably does. Any team worth a shit has [an intel guy].” (57:07)

• Intel Swaps: Sometimes changed logos on documents to hide source, to help mutual interests.

  “Gave Michigan State signals to a buddy...who then gave it to Ohio State… We needed Ohio State to win…” (63:03)

• Post-game Collaboration: Coaches and their ‘guys’ often trade formation, play, and signal data across the country.

  “After the game, I talked to their guy…that happens every Sunday…not just signals—that’s the coordinators, too.” (58:46)

8. Evolution of College Prep Culture

• Cheating vs. Edge-Finding: Reveals most programs cheat or bend rules in similar ways—his is just the story that “blew up in the media.”

  “The only two teams that...did not [have a signal guy] were Iowa and Michigan State in the Big Ten.” (57:09)

• Coaches’ Awareness: Most are aware and participate in edge-seeking and note-taking; few as organized or dedicated as Stalions.

  “I think every coach has their own system of notes...Maybe not as organized, but I don’t think people really think about it as much.” (111:26)

• On Recent Helmet Comm Tech: The new helmet communication rule hasn't killed sign stealing—if anything, it’s enabled offensive staff to relay stolen defensive signs directly to QBs via comms.

  “There's already...a team that has had Bluetooth to the quarterback for years.” (73:56)

• On Michigan’s Unique Approach: Michigan huddled more than most teams, reducing sign-stealing risk, and was late to the “intel guy” party.

  “Michigan offense, we don’t… We huddle more than anyone in the country, I think, besides Air Force, maybe...” (58:21)

9. Current Work at High School Level

• Coaching Mumford High: After Michigan, he took a job at Mumford, a struggling Detroit public school program, serving as DC (and everything else).

  “We have two true offensive linemen… our starting slot had to be our right guard!” (113:29)

• Applying Innovations: Uses tempo, unconventional alignments, and psychological tricks to maximize limited resources.

  “With two offensive linemen, what do you do? … speed break huddle… snapping the ball in three seconds.” (115:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sacrifice for Michigan:

  “I'm just gonna sleep in my car… that's two more hours of watching film.” (14:02)

• On Obsessive Preparation:

  “Any responsibility I had, just treated it in my mind like I'm the head coach at Michigan… vision.” (08:55)

• On Stealing Signs Against Ohio State:

  “Three drives. Took me three drives.” (29:27)

• On the Infamy of the Manifesto:

  “I can talk about [the Manifesto] and no one will be able to duplicate it because I’m already 15 years ahead.” (95:17)

• On the Ubiquity of Information Trading:

  “That happens all the time. And that's not just signals. That's the coordinators. You know, hey, what plays did you like? What did you see?” (59:27)

• On Adaptive Schedules for Scouting and Prep:

  “You want to...not be racing up until kickoff and your mind’s going a thousand different directions.” (87:41)

• On Perceptions of Cheating:

  “Nothing against the Constitution.” (122:31)

• On Coaches Who Influenced the Manifesto:

  “Ken Niumatalolo, Chris Partridge, and Jay Harbaugh or Mike McDonald. Those are the three that added to the Manifesto the most.” (110:14)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:14 | Intro to Connor and his Michigan fandom | | 04:33 | Military background influencing coaching career | | 08:55 | Mentality behind student coaching at Navy | | 09:30 | The infamous wind report assignment | | 13:11 | Extreme sacrifices for Michigan: sleeping in car, flying weekly | | 16:19 | Breaking down NFL film for Frank Clark, Super Bowl insights | | 21:00 | Birth of the Michigan Manifesto | | 29:12 | Beginnings of sign-stealing at Navy, Ohio State | | 35:22 | Threshold for sharing in-game signal guesses | | 36:55 | Up-tempo offense and necessity of signals/sign stealing | | 42:04 | Cat-and-mouse dynamics vs. Ohio State (“cat/mouse” breakdown) | | 57:07 | Prevalence of “intel guys” – who does/doesn’t have one | | 63:03 | Trading Michigan State signals to help Ohio State | | 73:56 | Bluetooth helmet comms and the ongoing arms race | | 88:40 | “It’s a brotherhood:” Stalions’ rapport with Michigan players | | 92:09 | Manifesto structure: military-influenced organization | | 97:38 | Why it’s called the Michigan Manifesto | | 113:04 | Coaching challenges at Mumford HS, creative solutions | | 122:31 | On what’s “illegal” and which other teams are doing the same | | 126:08 | Michigan State hatred vs. Ohio State vs. personal rivalries | | 129:13 | “Tear Talk” – Best Spies rankings (light-hearted close) |

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The Boys' Tier Talk—Best Movie/TV Spies (For Fun)

• God Tier: Connor Stalions
• James Bond, Jason Bourne, Sterling Archer: Cited as top fictional spies.
• Other fun picks: Kim Possible, Scout from Stratego, Spy Kids.

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Tone & Style

This episode was candid, technical, and often playful. Stalions was detailed, open about “the real” behind sign-stealing culture, often self-deprecating, and never sanctimonious. The conversation mixed football nerd talk, locker-room ribbing, and genuine insights into both the daily grind and social politics of college (and now high school) football.

Memorable Banter:

• On the “manifesto," one host jokes:

  “I couldn’t dream to be this organized. I could not.” (95:13)

• On the secretive world of football ops:

  “The best ones you can’t talk about.” (131:48)

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Summary for New Listeners

If you want an inside look at how the sausage gets made at the highest levels of college football—how obsessive prep, information trading, and adaptation to evolving rules define the real edge between winning and losing—this episode delivers rare, honest perspective. Connor Stalions breaks down not just the “what” but the “how” and “why” behind the “signal wars,” revealing a culture more competitive, networked, and creative than the media portrays. Whether you see him as a hero, villain, or just a football lifer, this is must-listen material for fans of the game and students of organizational excellence.

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Transcript

[Connor Stallions]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

So your AI agents.

[Connor Stallions]

They make the team that uses them more productive, right? But if they aren't connected to other agents or your data or your existing workflows, how productive can they really make your teams?

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Any business can add AI agents.

[Connor Stallions]

IBM connects your agents across your company to change how you do business.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Let's create Smile to business IBM.

[Connor Stallions]

All right.

[Interviewer 1]

Are we rolling? Okay.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah. He gets a drill. He knows the drill. Get it close to the mouth. Don't be scared. Yeah, that's the lips a little bit.

[Interviewer 1]

We were talking. Connor Stallions. Let's give a round of applause. Conor Stallions on the bus. Michigan.

[Connor Stallions]

Man.

[Interviewer 1]

We were talking before about a little. Little football, little everything. But let me give you my thought of who you are, okay? And we can, we can go from there because I want to get in your Michigan fandom to start.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep.

[Interviewer 1]

Every major program has a top 5% of fans that are true psychos when it comes to their program. Ohio State has it, Michigan has it. Alabama, Georgia, all these. Nebraska, all of them have these crazy. These crazy fans that live and die with their program. You are one of the 5% that actually made a difference in their program. Besides cheering on Saturdays. Is that. Is that a fair way to put you?

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, I guess. Yeah. You take a lot of pride in that, I guess.

[Interviewer 2]

Would you?

[Connor Stallions]

I just love Michigan, you know?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. And that wasn't me saying crazy as, like, a shot or anything like that. It's just like, all these big programs have these guys that, like, love, love Michigan, love Nebraska, like, love all those things. And every one of those fans think to themselves, how. How can I help the school become better?

[Interviewer 2]

Right.

[Interviewer 1]

And you literally had the traits and the abilities with your military background and your ability to break down all of these things that you watch in your documentary that you truly were able to help a team.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

It's got to feel amazing.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, I don't remember exactly what game it was, but I remember the first time walking into the big house through section 14. We had season tickets row, row 83, seat 26 and 27. Walking in, probably three, four years old. Just kind of told myself, like, yeah, I'll be. I'll be down there one day.

[Interviewer 1]

No way.

[Connor Stallions]

And just kind of figured out your own thing. I did with that end State mine.

[Interviewer 2]

I'm so excited that you're on because, again, like, I. We got to play. We got to play at our schools, and there comes a time for everybody where that you have to retire, whether it's in middle school, high school, college, NFL, whoever. If you get to play a long time, that's awesome. But you understanding and figuring out, like, okay, I wasn't able to make it at this D1 level, how can I carve out my own path a different route? And I feel like you're somebody who's been able to accomplish that.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Is that fair to say?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. I mean, and that's why, you know, everyone goes to the Naval Academy to serve their country. But, you know, everyone has a different reason, and I just kind of. Well, every major successful head coach, legendary head coach. You're talking like, Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, Osborne, John Wooden, Greg Popovich, Coach K. Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, all had one thing in common. Served in the military four to five years at least, so. Oh, okay. They got to be onto something.

[Interviewer 2]

Right?

[Connor Stallions]

Right. So.

[Interviewer 2]

And this is going through your brain?

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, yeah. This is early high school.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, I always knew I wanted to coach at Michigan. And then when it came time to, you know, okay, what exactly is the route? You know, I applied to. I applied to two schools, Michigan and the Naval Academy, got accepted to Michigan, got. Wait, listed at the Naval Academy. So in my mind, like, okay, whatever. Going to Michigan. And then got the call, and it was actually about two weeks before last day of school senior year, I get a call. Annapolis, Maryland. I'm in the middle of class. Well, I better answer this one. So I answer it and say, whoever it is at admissions in the Naval Academy, do you have a minute? I'm in the middle of class. So I'm like, let me call you back. So I call them back, and they say, oh, you've been accepted. So they actually. They said, but we need a response right now because we got to let the people behind, you know. So in my mind, I just went back to all those coaches and like, well, I guess I got to do it. And so I said, all right. Yep, I'm in. And then I called my parents, and they work at the. They teach at the middle school right down the road. So they're like, oh, come over. Let's talk about it. So I get there, and they're like, so what are you thinking? I'm like, oh, I already told him.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, no shit.

[Connor Stallions]

And then just went from there.

[Interviewer 2]

And you. When did you decide you wanted to be, like, a head coach? Was like, your.

[Connor Stallions]

Your, oh, three years old.

[Interviewer 2]

You didn't even care to play. You're like, I want to be.

[Connor Stallions]

You know. Yeah, I played. I played. But, like, I always. So senior year, my dad's the eighth grade. It was the eighth grade football coach. His record against our rivals was, like, 2101 in his career. And. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, I'm still waiting for them to build the statue at Scripps Middle School, but. So my senior year, I didn't play. I just played. I always played basketball. And then I helped coach 8th grade football with him. Kind of like his de facto defensive coordinator. Yeah. And, you know, just kind of went from there. And that was my first actual experience, like, truly coaching. And then student coach at the Naval Academy. And. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

What was the action? Sorry, sir.

[Connor Stallions]

Go ahead.

[Interviewer 1]

I was just gonna say in the documentary, you kind of. You say you go into the coach's office and you're like, hey, I want to do this. You're like, all right, cool. Go down the.

[Connor Stallions]

You're in.

[Interviewer 1]

Was it that simple as far as becoming a student coach?

[Connor Stallions]

So I got my foot in the door doing just video, you know, like the whole, you know, filming practice and all that games. And so that was freshman year. And then spring going into sophomore year. I mean, I. I was always at the football facilities and the Director of Football ops just asked, you know, hey, you're here all the time. You want to. You want to come upstairs and help out? So for about a week or two, I was helping out with operations. And then, I mean, I was like 18 at the time. Didn't know any better. I just walked right into that coach's office. Hey, Coach Nemata. Hey, Connor. I didn't even knew he knew my name. Yeah, and he's awesome. One of the best people I've ever met. And I go, hey, coach, could I student coach? And he stands up, he thinks about it, and he goes up, follow me. Brings me right into coach Jasper, the offensive coordinator's office, and says, hey, Coach, who's your new student coach? I go, oh, thanks.

[Interviewer 1]

And that's it.

[Connor Stallions]

And then just ran with it from there. Ran with it. Any responsibility I had just treated it in my mind like I'm the head coach at Michigan, right? Like, it's like a psycho, you know, psychological thing where, you know, you know, it's vision. Like, you, when you visualize you are what you're trying to be, then you convince your brain that you are right. And then all your habits are like that. So everything I did, it. I mean, the first thing I did at Michigan, you know, kind of skipping ahead here, but the first thing, the first assignment I had in Michigan was doing a wind report. Special teams. Every stadium.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

You know, every stadium we play in, we need a wind report.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Got to have said, okay, do you have, like, a template of one? I said, I don't know. I don't know where. Where we would. I've seen one before, but, you know, just kind of, you know, start it and then I'll kind of redirect you if it's, you know, not what we're thinking. So. All right. So I just became like a weatherman for a month. Or you're thinking it was probably like five days. Probably about five days. And I give him this like, 18 page packet. And it had like, every kickoff where it landed and what the wind was that day and every stadium they played in that year. And I think they were like, what the heck is this?

[Interviewer 1]

No, you're thinking about. They're probably like, what do we got here?

[Interviewer 2]

He's like, I'm gonna be the best goddamn weatherman they've ever seen.

[Interviewer 1]

Ever seen.

[Connor Stallions]

And then it was the next task, whatever it was, you know, just, I'm going to be the best at whatever it is.

[Interviewer 1]

This the epitome of giving 110% at all times.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Absolutely. When. When did it start to, like, you're at the Naval Academy Academy. When did you start to, like, how did you create your first opportunity outside of the Naval Academy?

[Connor Stallions]

So, sophomore year, spring break, I go to. I go back home to Michigan, and Coach Harbaugh just got the job. And they're doing this coach's clinic. And Coach Partridge at the time was the recruiting coordinator, so he ran the clinic. And I went with some of my high school coaches. My dad, I think, like Mike Martz or someone big was speaking, so all eyes were on him.

[Interviewer 2]

Mike.

[Interviewer 1]

Mike Martin, Mike Mart.

[Interviewer 2]

He's like the. He was like a head coach for the Rams.

[Interviewer 1]

Got you.

[Connor Stallions]

So he was speaking. All eyes are on him, but I'm just trying to get my foot in the door. So I go down and talk to Coach Partridge and basically was like, you know, hey, I'm here for a week. This was like Friday night or Saturday morning, Spring break just started, Right. So you get the next nine days or whatever. And so I go and introduce myself and tell him, hey, I'm here on spring break. I'm here for the week. I'd love to help out. You know, I told him I name dropped a couple of people that I knew, he knew at Navy, so I student coach with them. And, you know, he probably thought, one, why the heck are you in Ann Arbor on spring break? Yeah. And then two, you know, military, Naval Academy, student coaching. Okay, yeah, we'll find something for you to do. And yeah, just ran with it from there. And I think the wind report was that off season that was like the first in my mind, big project I had or whatever.

[Interviewer 2]

And is there. Was there something. Was there something to leaving after your sophomore year? You know what I mean? Because you're obviously taking a. You're taking a chance going and diving into this next opportunity with Michigan.

[Connor Stallions]

Well, I was doing both. So I was. I was a student at Navy. Like, I did my four years at the Naval Academy, and then my fifth year, I was a temporary assigned duty. It's like a grad assistant with the football team because they don't have a post grad school. Right. So I student coach. So I wasn't at every single Michigan game.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

During my four years at Navy, because I was at every Navy game. Like, we had a bye week or spring break or in the summer, and I had time to go home or whatever. That's when I would help out. And then when I got. So I graduated in 17 go to. You know, so now I'm a Marine Corps officer. Do maybe five or six months as, like, a GA with the Navy football team, and then I go do my Marine Corps training and then get stationed in California. At that point, when I'm no longer with Navy football, that's when I was then flying back and forth. Okay. Helping out Michigan, and then I was at, like, pretty much every game. So that started in, like, 2018.

[Interviewer 1]

And you were helping the coaching staff. Yeah, during that time as well, so.

[Connor Stallions]

So it started when I was at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for a few months training, and then stationed in California. So, you know, they kind of touched on it in the documentary. I would. When I was in California, I would live. Well, I started. I started sleeping on my couch, and I rented out all the rooms in my house to. To make money.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

And, you know, save money to fly back and forth and all that. And. And then I realized, well, I live, like, 55 minutes north of Camp Pendleton, so why am I driving back and forth just to sleep on my couch? I'm just gonna sleep in my car. So I slept at the I5 south rest stop right outside Camp Pendleton. Every day for, like, two years.

[Interviewer 1]

No.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep.

[Interviewer 2]

Every day for two years.

[Connor Stallions]

Save two hours. Like, an hour driving north, an hour driving south.

[Interviewer 1]

That's gas. That's everything.

[Connor Stallions]

You're saving money, you're saving time. So that's two more hours of watching film.

[Interviewer 2]

Dude, I love it. It's like, yeah, it makes sense, but at the same time, very, very few people are willing to sacrifice.

[Interviewer 1]

Right. And it's also, like, people like, oh, he. He was a. Such a big fan of Michigan. Like, anybody who, like, wants to be successful, like, these are the kind of sacri you should make in the beginning of the game.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

To get these things going.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

So you're flying. You're flying back and forth.

[Connor Stallions]

I'm flying back and forth. So, yeah, say I get back from Ann Arbor, wherever we're playing. And so, yeah, Sunday night, get back lax, drive down, pick up my laundry, which I put in over the weekend, and then drive down, stay at the rest stop, wake up, you know, 5am Whatever. Workout on base, work, work ends, I'm watching film, go to the rest stop, sleep, do the same thing for, you know, four days. And then Friday after work, drive up to my house in Orange county, do my laundry, drive up to lax, fly to take the red eyes. There's always a I. So 2020, 2019, and 2021. Because covet. You know, I couldn't go to games. So 2019 and 2021. Every single game was off. No sleep, no. Yeah. Took the red eye. Land wherever we are. It's like sometimes, you know, we'd be playing, like, Illinois, so I'd have to fly into Indianapolis, rent a car, drive over to Illinois, drive back, and then I would hit the Kansas City Chiefs game on my way back. My boy Frank was. It was his first year Chiefs, and so.

[Interviewer 1]

Frank Clark.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

So my. So at 2019, we lost Alabama in the Citrus bowl, and the season ends, and I'm already kind of going to Chiefs games whenever it's convenient on my flight back. And so Michigan football is done now for the season. And so I'm thinking, like, well, what do I do with myself right outside the Marine Corps? What do I do? So I just started breaking down film for Frank and.

[Interviewer 2]

Interesting. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

2019, you got the. Right before. I believe there's two teams that play in the AFC championship that you got.

[Connor Stallions]

The clip pulled up. There were two teams that played in the AFC championship that year, and Frank.

[Interviewer 1]

First off, that's. We're doing good so far.

[Interviewer 2]

He. He texted me. He's like, have this clip ready, because I got a fun story with Taylor for this.

[Interviewer 1]

That's the fun story that was in.

[Interviewer 2]

The family when you're like, yo. You're like, frank Clark. I'm.

[Interviewer 1]

Hold on. Go back, go back. Let's break this. We're gonna. If we're gonn. Let's break down now. I want to time out.

[Interviewer 2]

Can he say what his.

[Connor Stallions]

No, no, no. You got this. You got this. Okay.

[Interviewer 1]

I want to point out that Frank told me at the beginning of this game, I'm going to get a sack on you right now. It's the fourth quarter, a minute, 28 seconds left.

[Connor Stallions]

He has not.

[Interviewer 1]

We are down by 11. He has not had a sack. I don't think he's even had a pressure. So maybe your scouting port wasn't that great, but we'll get into this anyway. Hits me with the half spin. We see it, we handle it. Now I want you to pause it. No, no, keep going now. Okay, that is nine yards from the line of scrimmage. We got to step up. We got to step up. We got to step up. Right, right, boys. We got to step up in the pocket now. Chris Jones can't step up, so go ahead. What was your scattering?

[Connor Stallions]

No, so.

[Interviewer 2]

So breaking down film. I want to hear the break.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, Breaking down film. And it was not as detailed film for on you as it was the next game in the Super Bowl. But, like, for example, Here. Here is. It was very. You know, I only. I took one day. Right. I'm still a Marine Corps.

[Interviewer 2]

Took one day.

[Interviewer 1]

Is that scouting report on the. On the Titans or is that.

[Connor Stallions]

That one's on the Titans. The next one slide. Right. That is the. The Super Bowl. That was way more detailed and that like that was really dialed for that one. I just watched film. You know, I got the. What's the NFL game pass, right?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah. The premium.

[Connor Stallions]

All 22. Yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Which.

[Connor Stallions]

And every snap.

[Interviewer 2]

No, this is your.

[Connor Stallions]

This is your work I would do for Frank. Yeah. So. So. And that's how I met Frank's agent.

[Interviewer 2]

When Tannehill kills or audibles, if he's under center, 13 runs to one passing. If he's in gun kills or audibles seven pass to one run.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Could Connor send that to us so we can pull it up on the screen? Yeah, text that to me. Connor. That is wild. So you.

[Connor Stallions]

You're doing this the super bowl one. So. So like I. I didn't get into details on your hand placement or foot placement or anything like that, but for the Super Bowl I did. And so I'm up in the nosebleeds at the super bowl and I. Every single play I'm calling run pass to myself. They're just, oh, they're about to run. Oh, they're about to pass.

[Interviewer 1]

And you're.

[Connor Stallions]

You're from section, you know, 5:52 or whatever those bleeds. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

And you were. What was your percentage of getting it right?

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, in the super bowl every play.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, you could.

[Connor Stallions]

You could tell off off their hand placement. I mean, did you. Did you see. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Let me. Let me look at this one.

[Interviewer 1]

Who'd they play in that Super Bowl?

[Connor Stallions]

Sam, Fran. So it was Joe Staley and Michael Glinchy. And like you can zoom in on that one. It was 100% get tells. It was 100 tells.

[Interviewer 1]

Foot out 90. Pass. Foot in. 100% run. Michael Glinchy, three point stance. 14 to 16. Run foot in. Five out of five. Run foot out. Hat one. All right. Pass 50. Pass. Three point stance. It's. Dude, this is terrifying.

[Interviewer 2]

It's amazing.

[Interviewer 1]

This is hand together two out of three pass. No way. What was pull up Frank Flint Clark's stat line.

[Connor Stallions]

So let me. Let me say this before. I mean, I already know this. The only person in the history of football to have the game winning or game ceiling sack in every single playoff game from divisional round to super bowl is Frank Clark. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

This is incredible to coverage. I mean, filthy.

[Connor Stallions]

But he's got the clutch gene.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, that's why he got paid. He's a. He's a. He's a dude.

[Interviewer 2]

Joe Staley, when He's in a three point stance, five out of six will run if his hands are apart. 15 out of 16 were a run. Hands together, it was pass. I mean, that's. Yeah, those are, those are details where everybody kind of finds their edge within the game. Obviously, if you're a genetic specimen to go with it, it makes it much more difficult.

[Connor Stallions]

No doubt.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay, so 2019, where is the Michigan manifesto at this point?

[Connor Stallions]

Okay.

[Interviewer 1]

Is it alive?

[Connor Stallions]

Y.

[Interviewer 2]

God, it's alive.

[Connor Stallions]

It is alive and well.

[Interviewer 1]

So take me through.

[Interviewer 2]

Even last year when it. When everything was happening, I was like, hey, there's a manifesto.

[Interviewer 1]

Like, even if he's gone, I'm sure he knows exactly who talks about him the entire time.

[Connor Stallions]

100%.

[Interviewer 1]

He's got a manifesto on. On people that have talked.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes. No, I know exactly how that, how that leaked. I know exactly who leaked it. I'm like, I'm not going to say who, but when I. When I saw. And here's. Here's how I know, because the article said something about 600 page Michigan manifesto. 600 pages. That was in like 2018, 2019.

[Interviewer 2]

How big is this thing?

[Connor Stallions]

Got to be thousands by now.

[Interviewer 1]

Do you have it in like a hard, hard copy?

[Interviewer 2]

So that's, that's the thing, like an Old Testament book.

[Connor Stallions]

So I have the. I have the original, like how it started. So this is what happens. So, okay, go to the Naval Academy. And, you know, I always go back to those legendary head coaches. Right? They all have that, that one thing in common. Military. Right. So my freshman year, I'm like, wow. I'm. You know, this is. I'm going to learn a lot, A lot. And I need to have a place to organize everything I learn. I can't let one little thing slipped by. And you know, a lot of people, when they take notes, they take notes, whatever, and then it just. They just stack notes. And how do you know where to reference, you know? Oh, I remember that one thing I read in that book. What. What was that book? It was about, you know, it was about hiring and firing personnel. What book was it? And then you go through all your notes and it takes you, you know, two weeks before you find the quote or whatever it was that. That you.

[Interviewer 2]

That you're trying to think of.

[Connor Stallions]

Right? So I used the military, the way that the military organizes everything as like my foundation for how I'M going to organize my notes. And it started off as a binder and then that got too big and then I needed something electronically so it went to a Microsoft Word document. And then I realized, well, I need to be able to capture any thought or any idea at any time. I can only do a Word document if I have my specific laptop. So then it translated to a Google Doc. So now I can do it from my phone, from anywhere I can do it from right now. You give me a great quote, pull up my phone, type it in. It's in the manifesto. I know exactly where it is. So you could right now mention any thought, any concept, any of anything, all the way from leadership to the X's and O's of the game to, you know, equipment, anything. And I'll be able to put a quote or pull something if you had like, hey, what are your thoughts on, you know, firing personnel? Well, I have probably 15 to 20 pages of notes on that and I know exactly where it is and it's super organized. It's just notes.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, it's, it's notes, but it goes into a Google Doc. And then later in the documentary, you talk about signs and all that. When did the manifesto evolve into seeing these signs and being able to break down?

[Connor Stallions]

You're talking about just deciphering signals in a game, right?

[Interviewer 1]

It is a manifesto, a part of that. Are these two separate?

[Connor Stallions]

That was just my, that was my first major task at Navy.

[Interviewer 2]

So your first major task was what.

[Connor Stallions]

Was with the naval kit with Navy football? So, you know, I'm student coaching now and we're a week from game day and I'm like, wait, wait, what do I do on game day? Right. And this, this applies to me at Michigan too, when I started helping out. So like really in 2019 and 2021, there's no job description for me because I'm not an employee.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent As.

[Brian Bissell]

A new student, you may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue? How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

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[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com/agents.

[Connor Stallions]

Right? I'm just volunteer. I'm a volunteer student coach at Navy and then I was a volunteer assistant in Michigan. So there's no job description. Why would you have a job description for a role that you don't even have? And then, you know, I just kind of get my foot in the door and work my way in. So at both places it started. It started a Navy. I just. So what do I do on game day? And I forget who it was. But one of the coaches said, well, I don't know, let me look into it. But I remember last year we had a guy, he just graduated, who tried deciphering signals, you know, opponent signals in game. And I knew nothing about it. You know, I never did that in high school. I don't know. Okay. So I went in with a blank sheet of paper, a clipboard and a pen, and our first game was Ohio State and just started. You know, that was the birth. And I thought they talked about in the documentary, one of my favorite quotes, the. Yeah. I said, well, I gotta be. I am one of the dumber people at the Naval Academy. I mean, I was like the last person to get accepted pretty much. Right. And I struggle. I mean, it's very, very difficult. Very difficult. But I'm like, well, these are 18, 19, 20 year old kids in Columbus. Like, I got to be able to. If they, if they know their signals, I can figure out their signals.

[Interviewer 1]

So it's a personal challenge.

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, it was like a. Yeah. And it's Ohio State, so. Right.

[Interviewer 1]

You know, how long, how, how long in that game did you start to.

[Connor Stallions]

Three drives.

[Interviewer 1]

Three drives?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay. Can you break that down for me a little bit?

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, I don't remember, you know, I don't remember exactly.

[Interviewer 1]

Right.

[Connor Stallions]

You know, the play I, I think they ran.

[Interviewer 2]

It doesn't seem like you have a very good memory.

[Connor Stallions]

It's been a lot of games since then. But I just remember, you know, both sides of the ball, whatever I could get. And I just remember getting their offensive signals pretty early and just not knowing what to do with the information. So I would just yell it out. And because there wasn't like a structure, no one knew who I was like. Right. I'm two weeks into being a student coach. Like, they're not, they don't know who I am. Like the OC knew who I was, but he's up in the booth and like the director of football ops knew who I was. That was pretty much it in the players. Right. But so I'm just yelling like, power left, power left. You know, who's this? There'd be power left. And the next play, what, you know, whatever it was. And it's, you know, you just gotta have a knack for it. But it's, it's not rocket science, it's signals.

[Interviewer 2]

But still, you're in such a spot to where again, you don't have like a job title. You don't have a description. Like you're in such a militant law of attraction success. Like I'm going to provide as much value as I possibly can so that way they can't ignore me.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes.

[Interviewer 2]

And then you. When's the, when's this? When is the point to where it starts to turn, to where you're now becoming a valuable asset that they're leaning.

[Connor Stallions]

On.

[Interviewer 2]

Just, just in your own role? You know what I mean? It's like, okay, you're doing the weather, then you're getting whatever the next thing is towards either one, either one maybe.

[Interviewer 1]

Ever recognize you for like, hey, this guy's really picking up signals. He's understanding. He just really gives us an edge.

[Connor Stallions]

Well, yeah, because they had a guy, right? Yeah, it's, it's, it's.

[Interviewer 2]

You know what?

[Connor Stallions]

I, I say this, even at Michigan this last year before I was suspended, signals was like 10 to 15% of my job. You know what I mean? Like, it's, that's just one responsibility that, that I did. You're still, you know, breaking down film, getting formation tendencies, you know, stuff like, stuff like that, that. Right, that you did for Frank. Yeah. And I mean there's a. I'm going to skip ahead right now. It's on my mind. The best team to ever protect their signals was East Carolina last year, first game and they. I'm not going to get into details on exactly what they did to protect because I don't want to out them right now. They're probably still using it because it's pretty legit. But it took me two and a half quarters to figure out which signaler was live. That's the longest it's ever taken me.

[Interviewer 1]

Really?

[Connor Stallions]

Yep. And it was week one. So it's brand new signals, right. So I pretty much go in with a blank sheet paper and I had a good idea of how to tell who was live, but they like flipped it from the year before. And I also did one of the formation breakdowns for our defense. So I knew, for example, every time it's two by two, four removed. So no tight end in the core and their only run out of that formation was quarterback draw. And I'm fast Forwarding like the fourth quarter right now we're up 30 to nothing and I'm watching there. I now know who's live and I see him signal the two by two formation and then I see one signal. It was like alpha with his hand. And usually, I mean you, you guys understand play calls, right?

[Interviewer 1]

Like so word association.

[Connor Stallions]

So if there's A formation. And then one word. Chances are it's not a pass, right? Because you have a pass. Pass protection. And then the concept. Yeah, right.

[Interviewer 2]

It's like if a huddle breaks really quickly, you're like, okay, it's probably a run here, but if the quarterback's in there looking around everywhere else, you're like.

[Connor Stallions]

All right, he's tagging receivers and all that. And then also a lot of runs still have some tags to it, right? So only one word. I'm thinking draw or screen.

[Interviewer 1]

So.

[Connor Stallions]

And then this all goes on. This goes on in my head in like a second, right? So I see the two by two, like, doubles, formation, whatever you want to call it. And then I see one signal. I'm thinking, well, that's got to be drawer screen. I would think it was second and third. I think it was like second and five and it was two minute. So. But in my mind I'm like, this isn't really a draw situation. But then I also remembered 2019, Penn State, same signal was their quarterback draw. And that's the only time I've ever seen that signal. And I remember the breakdown. I did quarterback draw out of that formation. So I think you can see it because Coach Minter was the interim head coach that game, and they happen to be showing him. And I'm like, behind him, I'm like, I think this is drawn. And so we're yelling, draw, draw, draw. Which is one of the, the worst feelings when you say, I think it's something. And then everyone. Yeah, I'm like, oh, God, this better be.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, you better hit.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

And it was a draw. But they, I mean, they still converted first down, but it's just like, that's how many things have to go into it, right? Like, it's not just like, look at the signal. It's not this like, black and white thing. A lot of times I'm kind of. Yeah, I think this is what it is. And, and, you know, so kind of how, how it works on game day is in my mind, I have a threshold where if I am not 95 certain, I'm not saying a word. And I got to take a step back for this all to make sense. So in college football. All right, we're. We're going to get into some, Some really good details here.

[Interviewer 1]

Let's go.

[Interviewer 2]

I'm so excited.

[Connor Stallions]

So, yeah, so college football, the culture has always been to go up tempo ever since the mid 2000s. Right. You don't see many teams that huddle NFL, the culture is obviously to Huddle. And I'm going to kind of mix last year to present day now because of the whole new quarterback comms rule. And everyone assumes that all signaling is over. Signaling has picked up now. And to understand that, you have to understand the history of signals. You know, just how it works. And the reason signals exist is because of up tempo. It's not because there's no quarterback comms. It's because offenses like to go up tempo. Right. I have not watched Disclaimer. I have not watched Ole Miss in Tennessee all that much this year. But I, I would assume they're still going up tempo. I, I don't see a world in which all these teams that are like snapping the ball with 30 seconds left in a play clock are huddling all because they have coach to quarterback cons now, right? So they're going up tempo, which forces the defense to signal. Right. You can't huddle as a defense if the offense is spread out. Right. They'll just snap it and throw it over your head if you're in the huddle. So signaling will always exist as much as offensive coordinators want it to want it to exist. And signal stealing has been more prevalent with offenses stealing defensive signals. So going back to 2018, 2019 with Michigan, our defense was getting our signals stolen left and right. Teams like Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana, so on pretty much the whole, the whole big tent. Probably Nebraska.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, probably.

[Interviewer 2]

I mean. Yeah, you're not, you're not wrong.

[Connor Stallions]

Because it's everyone.

[Interviewer 2]

Simplicity.

[Connor Stallions]

Except like Iowa and Michigan State. It's everyone else.

[Interviewer 1]

Michigan State wasn't stealing.

[Connor Stallions]

I don't think so. Because they were the worst at protecting. Yeah, I was just gonna say for.

[Interviewer 1]

Simplicity for you to say that about Michigan State, you're saying that the worst at protecting.

[Connor Stallions]

If you are bad at protecting, you're probably not stealing. Right? Like, if you. Yeah, if you're good at stealing, you know what it takes to protect. So the teams that were really good at protecting you. Well, you can also. Look, they got a guy just like me, right? They just, they didn't. The media didn't go crazy about their guys. Right. But everyone has a guy.

[Interviewer 1]

Everyone has a Connor.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

Some things have multiple corners.

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, a lot.

[Interviewer 1]

Well, we'll definitely get into that. Let's keep, let's keep breaking this. That is obviously a huge thing.

[Connor Stallions]

So. So we're getting our signals stolen left and right.

[Interviewer 2]

And that's because of the tempo you.

[Connor Stallions]

Guys are facing and just simply because, you know, in. Just football in general. Right. Like whether it's covering up issues as a play caller or personnel issues, whatever it is, you can always utilize and manipulate tempo to give you an advantage to regain that advantage, right? And a lot of times, especially in a world where everyone's signaling, you can even force the defense to signal before you signal. Maybe not force, right? Because at the end of the day, if you know what's going on, it's just a cat and mouse game. You just wait until they signal and just call them out on their bluff.

[Interviewer 2]

And just to your defense, too. Like, if being a defender, if an offense is tempoing you, the coordinator will kind of tell you before the game, hey, if they start tempo on us, there only be like two or three calls they go to correct. So you're almost understanding the tendency before it happens.

[Connor Stallions]

But also, you know, they can tempo and then hard count, right? So just to get what. Whatever you're in, maybe you showed blitz or maybe you showed your safety shell or, or you showed too high, whatever it is, right? They, you know, they get to the line quick and they get you to kind of tell real quick. And then they call their play and they expose it, right? They. Oh, they have to recover four. Let's call cover four beater. Oh, hey, they're bringing the nickel. They're dropping the buck. Let's. Let's throw a slant, you know, to the slot right away. Yeah, whatever it is. And so, yeah, that was happening to us. And so in 2021, the. The big change was. So when Coach McDonald got the job, he. He asked, he said, hey, you know, he's new, he's been in the NFL, coming back to college. And he goes, hey, you know, what's. How do we protect our signals? And I told him, I said, well, it's a cat and mouse game. You got to think of it like, it's like red light, green light. If, if. If I'm watching them signal and I am not talking, that means they have not signaled. So don't signal because then we're the mouse. You just have to wait for them to begin signaling. So, you know, and it's not the sexy thing everyone wants to hear, but 99 times out of a hundred, they already know what they're calling. No matter what, they just want to have the green light to call it so their signal doesn't get stolen, right? So usually in game, I'm, I'm looking, I'm looking, I'm looking. And if I say, like, hey, trips Y flex, you know, the formation, maybe I say like, Y across to trips Y flex. Which here's usual signals for like Y. Across, like. Yeah, across trips. WI fi. Yeah. You know, like it's. Anyone could. Could see that. And just, hey, this is, this is what the formation is. Usually he's calling the play just like that. Right. So it's not like, it's not like the coordinator was waiting for like, hey, is it going to be a run? Is it going to be a pass? It's. It's more like he's. Mike McDonald is a very successful college football coach and now NFL head coach. Right. Jesse Minter is one of the Chargers are giving up the fewest points in the NFL. Right.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, they're very good.

[Connor Stallions]

So these guys get paid to do what they do. They're not listening. They're not like calling their defense, waiting for me. I'm just a green light to basically tell them, hey, you have permission to signal without it getting stolen. And that is kind of where it picked up in 21, where we were now no longer the mouse. It was all even playing field, essentially. And what teams will do though, like Ohio State and I got a whole. We might. I got a whole breakdown on every single play from 2018 to present day. Michigan, Ohio State. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Now from 2018 to present day, a whole breakdown of Ohio State.

[Connor Stallions]

When Ohio State's on offense and we're on defense and I category, I watched every play on film and I categorized it. Who's the mouse, who's the cat? And then sometimes it's just neutral.

[Interviewer 1]

The wash. Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep. And here we go. So in 2018, Ohio State was the cat every play. Because they're. They're picking us apart signal wise. Right. And you know, they were running mesh. Every time we're in cover one, they're running mesh rail. Every time we're blitzen, they happen to be in max protection. Take a shot. Every time we're in zone, they run the ball. Right. I mean, it's not a coincidence. I'm watching them. They have their me in, you know, Ryan Day's ear. And we signal. They talk. I see it. We talk, but we signal first. So we're the mouse. Right. And. And then. So that happened in 2018, 2019. So they were the cat. Every play. Those two games, they averaged 8. 8.15 yards per play in 2018 and 8 yards per play in 2019. And they had 15 touchdowns in those two games. Okay, 20, 21, they were. It was a stalemate 72 times. Okay. So that's like they're signaling. And then we start to signal right after they start to signal. Okay, they were the cat three times. And here's how I categorize them being the cat. When they had a play called. So it starts off as a stalemate. And then Ryan Day gets CJ Stroud's attention last second, because he sees what we're in. Maybe they got our signal, maybe they see our show, whatever it is, and they change the play right before the snap. Okay, that's them being the cat. So our signals, they depend for last. Yep. And then they were the mouse. Every time they hard counted that game. Here's why. In 2018 and 2019, every time they hard counted and then look to the sideline, we already had our signal called and we never changed it. So I mean, they. They.

[Interviewer 1]

Right, right, right. So they know the zone, man.

[Connor Stallions]

20, 21. I know their hard count signal, so I know when they're going to hard count so we don't have to show a blitz or whatnot. They stole our. They stole the wrong signal because we would change our call.

[Interviewer 1]

And do you know who Ryan Day's Connor Stallions is?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, but I'm not gonna out anymore.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, you should.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

As you should. But we know he's there.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Is he good at his job?

[Connor Stallions]

Yes, very. Yeah. So when they were the mouse. Actually, I'll start with when they're the cat. When they were the cat, so they. They changed the play late three times, they averaged 9.3 yards per play. When it was a stalemate, they averaged 5.3 yards per play. They did score three touchdowns at 72 plays. So that's the majority of the game. Right. When they were the mouse, they only averaged four yards per play six times.

[Interviewer 1]

Usually there were 72 total plays or they were 72.

[Connor Stallions]

They're the stalemate. So it's 81 total plays.

[Interviewer 1]

Got you.

[Connor Stallions]

And yeah, you see, when they're the cat, they average the most yards per play all the way down. When they're the mouse, it's. They're not. They're not doing much. So their first. The 2018 and 2019, they hard counted 40 times. You can go back and watch the film. They hard counted 40 times. 20, 21 6. Because it wasn't working right. Because they. They couldn't steal our signal when they hard counted because we just basically played this cat and mouse game with them and didn't allow them to. To be the mouse or to be the cat every time.

[Interviewer 1]

When you're explaining this cat and mouse game to the coaches, how receptive were.

[Connor Stallions]

They to, hey, you gotta Mike McDonald is amazing. I mean he, he's one of the smartest people I've been around and elite coach. Right. He also empowered everyone. He's a great leader and he would listen. So I mean, it couldn't have been any better having him there. He was, it was huge. Yeah, it's huge.

[Interviewer 1]

Is so basically he just, you know.

[Connor Stallions]

Hey, I'm the dc. I want to call the plays and focus on that. I don't want to get my signal stolen. Can you help me? Yeah, just, you know, wait till it's a green light. Okay, thanks.

[Interviewer 2]

Outside of the signal stuff, what situations were you in charge of breaking down?

[Connor Stallions]

Well, in 21, I was still in the Marine Corps.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay.

[Connor Stallions]

So I was, that's when I was flying back and forth. So I mean, I just showed up on game day.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay.

[Connor Stallions]

And helped out. 22 when I get hired, you know, recruiting and then recruiting signals and, and then it evolved into helping out with the linebacker.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitsel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent.

[Brian Bissell]

As a new student, you may not know, how do I deal with my health and wellness issue? How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Connor Stallions]

Want to do that.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Bissell told me you could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.

[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com,/agents.

[Connor Stallions]

Okay. Nice formation breakdowns.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm so fascinated. Like, this is incredible.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. And you can see, if you want me to keep going, this Ohio State thing, they weren't the Cat. 1 play in 2022 in Columbus, and they averaged 6 yards per play. And then when they stole the wrong signal because they hard counted, they average five yards per play. They scored one touchdown each in those situations. But it's funny. There's a. There's a video someone sent me of. It's like, me by Coach Mentor, 2022 in Columbus, and some guy, like, is doing this breakdown. Sam. I'm saying, run right, run right.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, you talk about where all 11 players just ran.

[Interviewer 1]

Do we have that clip that I.

[Connor Stallions]

It wasn't even. All right, first of all, I'm saying Nike, because that's what we called an opponent's heart count. Nike. And you can see the Nike board go up behind me. We have a board in Nike basically telling our, you know, safety is, like, don't show a shell. They're trying to steal our signal right now. Right, right. And be ready for us to change the call.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

So if they. Look, we're going to change our call to make. Make sure they stole the wrong signal.

[Interviewer 1]

This is the clip you're talking about right here? No.

[Connor Stallions]

That was after one of their hard count. You see, he hard counts right there. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

And then Nike signs behind it.

[Connor Stallions]

We had the Nike sign. Right. But there's a different one where, like, some guy does this breakdown on, like, he's trying to, like, read my lips, and he says. He's saying, run right. Run right. That's what he's saying. I'm saying.

[Interviewer 1]

Right.

[Connor Stallions]

But I'm saying Nike. Nike. And by the way, the run was to the left because it's from the defense's perspective. Right. Like, I'm not gonna say it's a run of the right.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

When they run it to our left. But yeah. So I say Nike, and then you can see them hard count. Look, they just stole whatever we just signaled, and then they changed that video.

[Interviewer 1]

In the group chat.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

So we'll pull that up for sure. Because there's. You see so many of these clips and videos of you, and you're saying something to somebody, and everyone wants to freak out over it.

[Connor Stallions]

But while he's pulling, I'm actually protecting our signals. That's the whole point of what I was saying. I'm telling our coordinator they are hard counting. Call a play you don't want to call because they're gonna. They're trying to steal our signal.

[Interviewer 1]

So this is the clip right here. You're saying Nike. Nike.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep. You can see me say twin Y. Twin Y, Nike. And there goes the Nike board. You saw it go up.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

And you see Ohio State hard count. So now they're all looking at the sideline. Now they're signaling. And then we call our other place. So they just stole the wrong signal.

[Interviewer 1]

And it goes for no yards.

[Interviewer 2]

Everybody, they're feasting. Break down the. There's this tight end screen.

[Connor Stallions]

Ah, yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

I want to say the Houston, Texas, he.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes, Stover.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah. And he said essentially, like, it's a formation. We've never done it out of. We've never ran this play out of. And he was beside himself on. On figuring out how you guys knew that.

[Interviewer 1]

I just sent you that clip, too, Sherman.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Insane. Incredible awareness by the defense and understanding that it was a screen.

[Interviewer 1]

Guys, just in the film room 24 7, dialing it all in.

[Connor Stallions]

So I don't remember what formation it was out of, but can we pull.

[Interviewer 1]

That clip up before you explain it? Yeah, yeah, just scroll up that one right there.

[Connor Stallions]

Mm.

[Interviewer 2]

Do they show the play?

[Interviewer 1]

No, no, they don't.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, but I, I. We could. We could pull it up.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, yeah. See? Yeah. Try to type in something to pull that out. But yeah, I'm thinking about.

[Connor Stallions]

Had to be first half, first quarter, because they're going the same direction.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, dude, I was right by our.

[Connor Stallions]

Side around the 25, 30 yard line.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Somewhere in there. It was right in front of us.

[Interviewer 2]

It was into the boundary in front of you guys.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct.

[Interviewer 1]

We're getting to you called this play that they had not run before, but you were able to decipher it?

[Connor Stallions]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

Is this one of your top five calls? Is this like. Is this like a top five?

[Connor Stallions]

Though it backfired. They CJ Stroud turned around, and everyone was right there, and he scrambled and got a first down or at least got significant yards. Frank's FaceTiming me right now.

[Interviewer 1]

22. Is he? Answer it. Dude. Frank was a war daddy at Michigan.

[Connor Stallions]

Frank, we're. We're on the bus right now.

[Interviewer 2]

What up, Frank?

[Interviewer 1]

What's up, baby?

[Connor Stallions]

I said, what the is up?

[Interviewer 1]

What you doing, man?

[Connor Stallions]

On my way to the airport. On my way to good old Texas.

[Interviewer 1]

What are you on t house for? What you doing?

[Connor Stallions]

Birthday vibes, bro.

[Interviewer 1]

That's awesome, man. Well, I hope you're doing well, brother.

[Connor Stallions]

Hey, y' all keep doing what y' all doing, bro. Call me after kind of. Yep. I'll hit you up after y.

[Interviewer 1]

See you, B. Love.

[Connor Stallions]

That's funny. I already gave him the shout out.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, no doubt.

[Connor Stallions]

So that tight end screen.

[Interviewer 1]

Yes.

[Connor Stallions]

Whatever the formation said, you know, here's the thing. They. Ohio State had, like, eight signalers. Eight signalers all year. Something like that. And everyone signals the formation. Mistake number one, Like, I don't need to know who's live to see what the formation is.

[Interviewer 1]

Right.

[Connor Stallions]

Anyone could see that. Mistake number two, they never changed who their live signaler was the entire season.

[Interviewer 1]

So I guess their kind of Stallions isn't that good then.

[Connor Stallions]

Apparently not as good.

[Interviewer 2]

They didn't do it. They didn't do enough self scouting.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct. So. So. And here's here's the bottom line of, you know, how. How can you be so good in game. I just realized.

[Interviewer 1]

Is this the clip right here?

[Connor Stallions]

Is this it? This is the tight end screen. Yep. Yeah, that's it. Slot yy. So they. I think they motion into slot yy. And then also, that's a cut block.

[Interviewer 1]

You see that cut by the rainbow? I'm pretty sure that's penalty.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, that's just straw making something.

[Connor Stallions]

So they signal. They signal for the slat YY formation. And. And then the guy who was live the entire season signaled. Why delay? Am I supposed to see that and be like, oh, I don't know what this is?

[Interviewer 1]

Right, right, right. So you call it out.

[Connor Stallions]

I said, I think this has got to be a wide delay screen. God.

[Interviewer 1]

So we talked about Ohio State having their own Conor Stallions. How many of the power now, Power 4 conferences have.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, it's got to be 80 to 90%. 80.

[Interviewer 1]

90%.

[Connor Stallions]

But let's look the Big 10 before. Well, I'm sure USC does. I'm sure Washington probably does.

[Interviewer 2]

Any team worth a shit has.

[Connor Stallions]

The only two teams that, to my understanding, did not were Iowa and Michigan State in the Big Ten. Nebraska, when we played them last year, this is like, what, two games before I got suspended, they. First of all, they huddled almost every play. We want to go game by game. Last year, ECU, new, you know, new signals because it's game one and they're the best at protecting. So we're up 30 to nothing before I even started figuring out what was going on. Next game was what? Unlv, they had one signaler, so that was easy. Game three, Bowling Green, they were okay at protecting. I figured them out pretty early. Game 4, Rutgers, they huddled every single play. They're. They're really good at getting signals. So again, you're really good. Like, you know, we huddled.

[Interviewer 2]

We huddle every play, we just beat them, too.

[Connor Stallions]

So.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, yeah, they were undefeated.

[Interviewer 1]

Handle business. Nebraska, handle business.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, we handle business.

[Interviewer 1]

So Rutgers, they're very good at protecting their players.

[Connor Stallions]

Very good because they're good at getting signals. So they.

[Interviewer 1]

And did you figure them out at all?

[Connor Stallions]

Well, like, I know their guy.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

So we both, first of all, Michigan offense, we don't. We don't. We never really steal signals. We. We huddle more than anyone in the country, I think, besides Air Force, maybe, or whoever, one of the service academies. But you don't see Michigan go up tempo all too much. But, yeah, we huddled every play, and they huddled every play. And then after the game, I talked to their guy, and we just kind of. That was the ultimate stalemate. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. And did you know him personally before the game?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And then right after the game, like, all right. Right back to, you know, whatever you need help with, you know, let me know, I'll give you what I got, and he gives me what he's got. You know, that happens every Sunday. Right?

[Interviewer 1]

So every Sunday, you essentially talk to the team. You just played their guy.

[Connor Stallions]

Anyone?

[Interviewer 2]

A lot of. A lot of coaches do that, too. It's like, yeah, so, like.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, yeah, right. I'm sure the head coaches exchange information with. And not even just the team. You just play like, you know, okay, what? Michigan's got Illinois coming up, and Illinois already played Nebraska. So I could call Nebraska's guy and be like, hey, what do you got in Illinois? Who do you play next week? I'll give you what I got on so. And so.

[Interviewer 1]

Right.

[Connor Stallions]

That happens all the time. And that's not just signals. That's the coordinators. You know, hey, what plays did you like? What. What did you see? You know, all that. So, yeah, I mean, after that Rutgers game, it was right back to, all right, we're friends now, and we knew that was going to happen. No signals at all the entire game. Um, and then the next game was Nebraska, and they did not signal until, like, their third drive of the game. We were. We were already up 14, nothing before their first signal.

[Interviewer 1]

Right. They had the third and one pick.

[Connor Stallions]

But the funniest thing was, you know, most teams have boards that either. Sometimes it means formation, sometimes it tells you which signaler is live. It could mean many different things. Nebraska's boards told you which signaler was live. And they had these quadrants and pictures in each quadrant. And most of the pictures, I'm sure didn't mean anything. But one of the boards they had had my high school logo on it.

[Interviewer 1]

No.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Nice.

[Interviewer 1]

So they knew.

[Connor Stallions]

That's pretty funny. They were aware of you. We all know. We all know who each other are. So that was probably just a funny, like. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

So they could ignore any other intel with Nebraska?

[Interviewer 1]

No.

[Connor Stallions]

Who do they play next week? We.

[Interviewer 2]

It's a bye week, but then Indiana.

[Connor Stallions]

Indiana. Ooh, that's a good game. Yeah. Where is it at?

[Interviewer 2]

Indiana.

[Interviewer 1]

What kind of. What kind of information can you give us on Indiana?

[Connor Stallions]

Give me a week.

[Interviewer 2]

I was gonna say.

[Interviewer 1]

I'll wait for your text. I'll wait.

[Interviewer 2]

Go back to the JMU stuff.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep.

[Interviewer 2]

With. Who? Is it Signetti?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, his name. Oh, he's. He's really good. And then the next game after Rutgers last year was Minnesota. They huddled every play.

[Interviewer 1]

Then you guys body bagged.

[Connor Stallions]

And then. And then Indiana. They were decent at protecting their signals. And then. And then I wasn't there.

[Interviewer 1]

Did Michigan have a signal stealer before you?

[Connor Stallions]

No. So that's.

[Interviewer 1]

They didn't.

[Connor Stallions]

They're there. When I went from Navy to there, like, once I was in the Marine Corps, it was. 2018 was the start of it. I. It was maybe week four or five, I think, actually the last game I was not. The last game I was in the stands for may have been Michigan. Nebraska in, like 2018. Maybe it was Northwestern. I don't remember who it was. It was one of those two teams. Yeah. And then after that, I'm on the field, you know, because I asked, I said what? I was there for a two week kind of limbo period between training and being stationed in California. And so I asked like, hey, what can I do on game day? And they're like, I don't know, what do you think? I said, well, I mean, I did this at Navy. You want me to try that? And they're like, yeah, sure. I don't think we have anyone doing that and just ran with it. I don't, I don't know about that.

[Interviewer 1]

Well, let me ask the question because did anyone from South Carolina get signs from you to steal from Tennessee and Georgia?

[Connor Stallions]

I don't know anyone at South Carolina. Now here's what I'll say. There's this whole, like a giant circle of the intel guys, right. That know, know each other. Right. And you're usually one or two phone calls away from anyone you want. Right. Like if I, if we played, we played Georgia in 21 in the Orange bowl and I got a hold of a couple SEC teams that were playing Big Ten teams in their bowl game. And so I'd give them what I had on them and they'd give me what they had on Georgia. Also, this is my favorite. So trading happens all the time, right. 20, 21, we lose to Michigan State. Kenneth Walker had a great game, played fantastic. Yep. And we needed some help, right. We, they had to lose twice and we had.

[Interviewer 2]

Who had to lose twice again?

[Connor Stallions]

Michigan State had to lose twice and then that would have resulted in having a three way tie or no, we would have beaten Ohio State and then it would just been us in Ohio State because then Michigan State would not have been in that three way tie. And they lost to Purdue. And then I think it was the next week they played Ohio State the week before we played Ohio State and so we needed Ohio State to win. So I gave Michigan State signals to a buddy of mine and said, hey, I changed all the logos. I made it look like it came from a different school because I didn't, I don't, I don't want to give Ohio State something from Michigan. Right. They might not use it. Who knows, right? I, we need Ohio State to win and I know they steal the crap out of defensive signals, so here you go. So I made it. I gave it to a buddy who may have given it to a buddy who then gave it to Ohio State.

[Interviewer 1]

And said, that's a game of telephone.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep. I got this from so and so, you know, name your school, university. And yeah, so they got. I'm sure they probably already had them, but it just confirmed everything. But yeah, then they won like 60.

[Interviewer 1]

To nothing and that's all you needed Yep. Does. In this. In this world of trading, does anybody ever trade their own school's information?

[Connor Stallions]

I have no idea. That'd be crazy. But you never know, right?

[Interviewer 1]

Because I'm assuming, like, trade their own school's information, Right? Like, I'm assuming not everybody was as massive a fan of the school they worked for like you were. So I know that. You know, just like, corrupt politicians. Yeah, I'm sure.

[Connor Stallions]

I wouldn't put it past certain people.

[Interviewer 2]

I'm gonna throw one out there.

[Interviewer 1]

Go ahead.

[Interviewer 2]

Linebacker coach got fired last year. Yeah. Or he resigned and then Bama fired.

[Connor Stallions]

That. No, that was. That was two years ago.

[Interviewer 1]

No, no, that was. That was last year.

[Interviewer 2]

That was last year.

[Connor Stallions]

No, but he. So it was at the end of 2022. He wasn't at Michigan during the 23 season.

[Interviewer 2]

Wasn't somebody at Michigan during last year?

[Connor Stallions]

Not during the season.

[Interviewer 2]

And their computer kind of got found. Grenade the computer. And then they. They went to Alabama.

[Connor Stallions]

That. You're mixing stories right now.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay, can you help differentiate the stories?

[Interviewer 2]

Would that.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, George Hilo is a linebacker coach in 2022. He was not at Michigan in 23 and then was hired by Bama before our game, but he was, like, 11 months removed or whatever.

[Interviewer 2]

Got you.

[Connor Stallions]

I don't. I don't. Don't quote me on exactly.

[Interviewer 1]

Right. And you. You assume the reason why he was hired by Alabama right before.

[Connor Stallions]

Well, yeah. Why wouldn't you have hired him earlier in the year? Right.

[Interviewer 1]

Because Alabama was trying to cheat. I'll say it.

[Interviewer 2]

I mean, it's just like in the NFL, if somebody like.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

If I were to be playing for Washington, I get cut, and then the Eagles bring me in right away, and they want to just know, like, what.

[Connor Stallions]

How do they operate?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, you're 100. You're squealing like a pig.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

When. Actually, when I.

[Interviewer 2]

When I came to the Titans, I was in the offensive room with LaFleur and them breaking down the Washington. Breaking down Washington defense. How we played cover one and how we did things in the red zone, how we played triangle when it was three by one.

[Interviewer 1]

Like, all that stuff.

[Interviewer 2]

You want to win. I mean, at the end of the day, you want to win.

[Interviewer 1]

I want to keep breaking down this. This crazy underground world of trading different teams information. When did you become aware of this?

[Connor Stallions]

2018.

[Interviewer 1]

2018 is when you found out there's.

[Connor Stallions]

Is it Navy? I. Yeah, I never. No one ever really talked to me from other. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

We'Re good.

[Interviewer 2]

It's all good, bro. Appreciate you. You guys just got killed.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah yeah, he isn't still it's 2018. It was after after the regular season. I think it was after that I got a call someone asking for some stuff on some certain teams.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM, where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent.

[Brian Bissell]

As a new student, you may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue? How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Want to do that, bissell told me. You could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork, we can see.

[Brian Bissell]

Patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive. Automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com/agents.

[Connor Stallions]

Like wait, what?

[Interviewer 2]

What teams?

[Interviewer 1]

What teams? We're calling about what teams.

[Connor Stallions]

Again, I shouldn't read anyone.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay, I have a question in your opinion. Subjective, of course. What are the best hidden cameras on the market? Is it Sony? Canon? Are there some glasses out there?

[Connor Stallions]

I am not in a hidden camera business. I don't need hidden cameras.

[Interviewer 2]

We're going to take a quick moment and interrupt this episode. This football season. Don't walk around with helmet hair like a total rookie. You've been in the game long enough to know that how you wear your hair matters. And just because your team's mascot is a wolverine doesn't mean you should look like one.

[Connor Stallions]

Up top.

[Interviewer 2]

Keep your head in the game and go to Sport Clips. They are pro stylists that have mastered the X's and O's of men's hair so you can get a tight fade while kicking back and watching some fade routes on tv. They'll have a a perfectly crafted game plan to make you look your best. No halftime adjustments needed. Remember, the difference between an okay cut and a great cut is called Sport Clips. It is a game changer. Back to this episode.

[Interviewer 1]

Feed breaks have been taken by Connor and by Will. I had this protein bar and let me give a shameless shout out real quick due to Alpha. Alpha 10. Is that what it is? Alpha 10. No free shoutouts. However, this is like a mom and pop shop type thing to get off a natural Chelsea. Very delicious. Sticks to your teeth. Coats the throat. Coats the throat.

[Connor Stallions]

I need a. Yeah, go ahead.

[Interviewer 1]

So there's been so much. Obviously the landscape of college football and how you do play calling has changed so much and a lot of it has to do with what happened last year with Michigan. Everything like that. People are pointing fingers at you.

[Connor Stallions]

I don't think anything is people. People didn't. People in football didn't change much. Yeah. That's just the media perception.

[Interviewer 1]

So. But because now they're going to the. The comps. So is it much more difficult to steal signs now?

[Connor Stallions]

It's actually signal ceilings happening more now. So remember I explained the whole, you know, how, how it evolved, how it works. And the difference between the NFL and college, it's just because of the tempo. I mean, shoot, NFL teams still signal some, not all the time. But like if they ever want to go tempo, they signal.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, tempo. You got to signal. If you go to minute, you got.

[Connor Stallions]

To say sometimes it's the coach to the quarterback and then the quarterback signals to the receivers and tells everyone in the core. Or some teams have signalers on the sideline that are ready to signal anytime they want to go tempo. That's, that's the league though. College. Now, that new helmet communications, it's not a rule, right? It's not a mandate. It's just a feature.

[Interviewer 1]

It's a tool.

[Connor Stallions]

So now coaches can talk to the quarterbacks. That doesn't mean they have to signal or that doesn't mean they have to huddle or that they want to huddle. So what's happening now, and this isn't for everyone, but a lot of teams are doing this is now they are continuing to go up tempo and they are stealing the defensive signal and now they can just talk to the quarterback up until 15 seconds and tell them exactly what's coming. So hey, they're blitzing the nickel, they're dropping the boundary in. Throw the slant of the slot, whatever it is. Now you can do that. There's already, you know, I'm not going to say who. It's not a big Ten school, but there's already been a team that has had Bluetooth to the quarterback for years.

[Interviewer 2]

No shit.

[Connor Stallions]

Really?

[Interviewer 1]

Can I guess a big time.

[Connor Stallions]

I'm not even, I'm not going to tell you if you're warmer or colder. It's just not in the Big Ten.

[Interviewer 1]

It's a big time team.

[Connor Stallions]

It's a power, power four, power five. What do you want to call it? Team? Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Is it irrelevant?

[Connor Stallions]

So like, why, you know, the officials aren't going to check to see if there's Bluetooth? Because in 99% of people's minds you would only have Bluetooth to huddle up when in reality you have Bluetooth to tell the qb. What the defense is signaling is. Now that's happening a lot. So it's, I mean, it's funny, I've, I've gotten phone calls from teams asking if I still have so and so signals and whatnot.

[Interviewer 1]

Really?

[Connor Stallions]

And I'm not even, you know, technically in it right now.

[Interviewer 2]

Technically.

[Connor Stallions]

Technically. And then, I mean, shoot, I, I have gone to every Michigan game and everyone we played has signaled really on offense.

[Interviewer 1]

And you are, you're still sitting.

[Connor Stallions]

Minnesota did not. They didn't last year.

[Interviewer 1]

But everyone else sitting in the stands.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

And you can see the signal caller. And so you essentially know what's happening.

[Connor Stallions]

You know, when I'm at the Michigan games now, I'm just there to enjoy it when I not. I'm obviously aware enough to see, oh, they're signaling. And for example, like usc when we played usc, you know, it's the Lincoln Riley offense. It's the same as his brother Garrett Riley, when he was at TCU and now Clemson. I was even remembering some of the stuff like, oh, wait, isn't this. This is just all go special. And it was right. You know, they're not. They're not changing their signals. Maybe a few. But like Texas, they. They signaled every single play the whole game. And you know, again, it's. Or we're definitely at a disadvantage now because we don't have our signal guy and everyone else has theirs. So, you know, it goes back to that cat mouse game.

[Interviewer 1]

So you've now become the mouse in every situation.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. Unless you make sure you signal second. So.

[Interviewer 1]

And there's no.

[Connor Stallions]

We need to make sure we're doing that if we're not. Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

What are you seeing out of Michigan this year? What do you think the issue is? I mean, outside of not having a quarterback.

[Connor Stallions]

Well, you have 15 guys or whatever that we lost the league. Right. Like, that's not easy.

[Interviewer 1]

18.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. Okay. And then you lose your strength. Coach your entire defensive staff. You know, you're obviously your head coach. It's. It's gonna be a step back. You know, it's. It's not. It's not that easy to maintain success when you. When. When that happens. Yeah. I think I watched your video yesterday. You know, I'm still optimistic, too. Good.

[Interviewer 1]

And the video I told you not to watch. Told nobody to watch.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct.

[Interviewer 1]

I was just putting it for people just to have.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct. I heard someone else watching it. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Stole that.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep. And you know, I think, well, one. The bi week couldn't come in any better time well timed. Bye week. There's a lot of parody in college football this year. A lot. You know, that must be a product of nil in the portal in full effect now. But, you know, other than Texas and I mean, I guess Ohio State, then they beat. They did beat Iowa. But has anyone else looked really good every single week? Right.

[Interviewer 2]

In your opinion, you feel like. Because you were on that side of it, you were also in recruiting. Do you feel like Michigan is doing what they need to do in the whole Portal game with the nil and everything else.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, I think the issue at the portal, that a lot of people are voicing their opinions now and they're upset about, you know, why did we not get someone at this position and that position? Well, the portal was closed by the time. Yeah. Something's got to happen in college football because if you make the playoffs, you are screwed for the portal for the following season because the portal time frame is while you're prepping for the playoffs. So your players aren't announcing if they're leaving or not. So how do you recruit a guy and convince him to come to Michigan when that guy, for all he knows, is like, well, so and so isn't leaving? And how do you tell him no, he is going to leave, but then what if he doesn't leave? You know, and that's not. That's not on a kid either. Like. Like jj, for example. You can't expect him to make an announcement during the playoffs about if he's going to go to the league or not. He's not thinking about that. Right. He's just in the moment and that's. That's who he is. Right. And that's also who he should be for the team in that moment. But he's not. You know, maybe there's backdoor conversations with his family, but he's not going to make some announcement saying, you know, hey, I'm going to leave after this game. So that's a issue, the timing of everything. Because then it's like, you know, are they students or are they athletes? Because the semester starting in January.

[Interviewer 2]

Right.

[Connor Stallions]

Is really what. Why the portal, from my understanding, why the portal closes at that time and then it just opens up for a couple days. But everyone that you would want is usually. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Free agency.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Like, all the. All the best players are gone now.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep.

[Interviewer 1]

You're getting the tier two, tier three guys.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

So, you know, I. Sharon is definitely the man for the job. Sean is the best man. He is an elite leader. Everyone loves him. Great dude, loves football. Like, I remember, you know, if it's 1:00am and you're on your grind, watching film, whatever you're doing, and you go to the bathroom or you go get water, whatever, and come back. And he was always one of the, like three people that were there that late.

[Interviewer 1]

Still grinding.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

Still about it.

[Connor Stallions]

All about it.

[Interviewer 1]

So, I mean, it seems like we're gonna. They're gonna have a chance to do the Portal this year not making the playoffs if they don't make the playoffs.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct.

[Interviewer 1]

We'll have time.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct.

[Interviewer 1]

We'll be able to reload for next year is what you're saying.

[Connor Stallions]

Correct.

[Interviewer 1]

Now, is anybody sitting in the seat you were sitting in last year at Michigan, now they don't have that name.

[Connor Stallions]

Anymore with the Signals? Yeah, not to my knowledge.

[Interviewer 2]

What, what else outside of Signals? Obviously you're known for being the signal master, but I think everyone understands that like, yeah, signal stealing is, is like you're trying to gain whatever advantage you can. Like every, every locker room, every meeting I've been in, you're trying to break down whether it's coaches copy or TV copies. You got somebody up there giving a presentation on signals. Whether, whatever you do with it is ultimately up to you. It depends on how much information you can retain. But what else outside of the spectrum of signals was kind of like your bread and butter. Was it like two minute drills or situations in there?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, I mean, you know, one of the beauties of. At Michigan, Coach Harbaugh hired a great staff to recruit great players. And he, he just empowered his staff. So there was a lot of overlap between like, you know, it wasn't like if on paper I'm a recruiting guy, I wasn't only doing recruiting. Right. Or if, or if you're a defensive analyst, you're not only breaking down, third down or people helping each other out a lot, filling in gaps when needed, but during the season it was, you know, a little bit of recruiting mostly. You know, I was in every defensive staff meeting, you know, your, your game planning, I'm breaking down film, prepping linebacker meetings for coach Partridge. So, you know, because it's, it's a race, right? Like every, the thing that people don't realize is every. I know you guys realize it, but from Sunday morning to kickoff on Saturday, it's literally who can prepare faster than their opponent. And you know, the linebacker coach, for example, should not be the guy that is going in and finding the specific clips for the meeting. He's the one coaching the clips you are going through. Like, so I would go through the film and pick out, you know, what he wanted for the linebacker meeting, for example, stuff like that. And also breaking down opponents. So like I was mentioning that formation tendencies, stuff like that, you know, because every. So like, you know, Monday for the linebackers might be, you know, first and second down. What do they do on first and second down? Tuesdays may be, you know, short yardage, goal line. Wednesdays might be third and long. Whatever it is, however you break that down and So I would prepare the meetings for the, for the backers, you know, every day. And then you know, the signal stuff because that was, again, you know, it was just a portion of the job is something I just did anytime I didn't have like I had some free time to okay, we're done prepping for linebacker meetings practices in an hour. I'm gonna, I'm gonna crank out an hour of this and then I try to finish that by Tuesdays, usually Wednesday, and then give myself two days to memorize everything, memorize my sheet, you know, feel comfortable with it. And you know the tough part. This goes for everyone though, right? Because again, you play your opponent and then you're done. So for me it was play your opponent. I'm not kidding. Maybe with the exception of like Ohio State and Michigan State, I might remember a few, but an hour after the game, I could not tell you a single signal that I just remembered for that game. Because it's on to whoever you're onto.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Glabel here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI agencies are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent.

[Brian Bissell]

As a new student, you may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue. How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Connor Stallions]

Want to do that.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Bissell told me you could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.

[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com/agents.

[Connor Stallions]

Right, right.

[Interviewer 1]

Like, I don't care about being as present as possible.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes. So, and usually I would try to get a couple days ahead. So like if I. Let's just say, you know, let's say I were there now and we're playing Illinois in a couple weeks after the buy, and then who's after them? Michigan State. Yeah. So I would try to finish Illinois. Well, pretend there's no bye week. Pretend we're in Illinois week right now. I would try to finish them by Tuesday, maybe Wednesday at the latest. And then by Thursday morning, it's like two separate mind frames where one, I am calmly memorizing my sheet for the Illinois game and also getting ahead with Michigan State so I can finish them by the following Tuesday. Because I always want to give myself a couple days to. As I'm sure everyone does, you know, for everything they do, whether it be coordinating play calling or coaching your position or being an actual player like you want to at least have. You don't want to be like racing all the way up until kickoff and your mind's going a thousand different directions. So that is kind of how I scheduled everything for myself.

[Interviewer 1]

When you. So like during the week you say like, yeah, like in the league it would be like Wednesday, it'd be like first and second down. Thursday would be all third down type stuff. Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Then.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, then the red zone, stuff like that. But we'd have assisting coaches like Mike Sullivan would always break down in front of the entire offense. These are the blitzes these teams do. Did you ever get to sit in front of the entire defense and.

[Connor Stallions]

No, because I was an analyst and up until this year analysts could not do like on field, you know, could not instruct players or anything like that. You could only assist the coaches. So I would prepare. Like I would help Coach Partridge, for example, you know, if he had short yardage, goal line, I would help him prepare the clips for that. And the organization of that meeting. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Are there, were there a couple defensive players that gravitated toward all the information and knowledge you had of the X's and O's?

[Connor Stallions]

I mean the, the guys that understand.

[Interviewer 2]

It in the details, A lot of.

[Connor Stallions]

The players, I mean even like Mikey Sanders still is. I mean I've, I've learned some of the defense from him. You know, like some of these, you know, these guys are really smart, great leaders. He's. Mikey's probably the best non military leader I've ever been around. Really. Yes, he is. He's that guy. I mean, you know, he started as a receiver and then, yeah, flashbacks. He had that nice catch, that diving catch in Lincoln, Nebraska, that night game as a receiver and then the very next year changes to nickel and he's our starting nickel and one of the best nickels in the country, just like that. But I mean he, he's a guy that, he led by example and he was not afraid to check anyone. But I mean I was close with a lot of the players because it's like a brotherhood. You know, I was what, like 27 years old, 28 years old at the time and they're anywhere from 18 to 23. So like I'm closer in age to them than they are to the coach, like the, the full time coaches. So yeah, I was pretty close with, with the majority of the team. It truly was like a, a family atmosphere where I mean, everyone got along with everyone. And that goes back to coach Harbaugh hiring a great staff and that great staff recruiting just the right people.

[Interviewer 1]

I know we're getting kind of close to that hour 30 mark right now. I had a question about Exos and I heard a rumor that there was pirating videos going on from Exos. The, the film company software. Yeah, that was actually pirating taking Michigan's practice film and giving it to other Big Ten teams. Do you have any knowledge of that at all?

[Connor Stallions]

I don't know what EXO's role would be or allegedly.

[Interviewer 1]

Allegedly.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, well, most, most teams, yeah, have, have exos. There's DV sport too. All I'll say is I have seen other Big ten schools signals. I'm talking the original signal film that was like a ga doing the signals in the quarterback room, right? Like the, the players would have on catapult to, to study. I've seen other teams signals of that that the people who showed me that claim they got it from Ohio State.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, interesting.

[Connor Stallions]

I've seen that with my own eyes.

[Interviewer 1]

So people that have the play calls.

[Connor Stallions]

Like Ohio State for example, may have traded that to someone for a different team's signals or whatnot. And that someone may have, may have shown me, dude, you better be careful because look at what they got. And I'm like, they made you aware of, correct? Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

And that's probably illegal, right?

[Connor Stallions]

I'm not a lawyer.

[Interviewer 2]

I have a question. Your manifesto, what. What was the foundation of it like for you, philosophy wise? Like how did you start building out the manifesto? Obviously from military background. You talked about the coaches in the past, but you yourself putting this thing together, what foundation was it built off of?

[Connor Stallions]

Best way to explain that is it's organized. How I would organize a football program which is very military, like in like a chain of command, like a staff org chart, you know, or usually in groups of three where like you have the head coach and headquarters and then under them you have the football staff, the operations staff and so on within the football staff. That would be like anything related to football itself. So I break that into three different categories. Personnel, so scouting, recruiting, the actual X's and O's. So offense, defense, special teams, and then player performance, which is strength conditioning, you know, trainers and stuff like that, nutrition. And then each of those has a broken down subcategory. So if you gave me a thought on like, hey, I saw this really good thing that such and such a school was doing with their nutrition program. I would just go, boom, boom, boom, boom. There's the nutrition section and I got all my organized notes and I'd put it in there. And if you were asked, if you were to ask me, how would you run your. How would the logistics work for your operations department? Give me five seconds, I'll show you. Boom, boom, boom. And then there's all my notes on that. And that's kind of, you know, it's just, it's a really good book. Getting Things Done by David Allen. It's about how in order to actually apply something that you learn or see or whether it be a quote or, you know, something from a book, something from a movie, Something from a conversation. You have to first be able to capture it. So write it down. Then you have to take that captured thought and be able to organize it. That's like my organized notes, the Michigan Manifesto. And then you have to be able to reference it, though. So that's why. That's the beauty of. If you're super organized, then I can always go back to that. Like, for example, if I read a book on leadership, for example, there might be a quote about something that's not necessarily specifically, you know, leadership. It might be about. There could be a football. Some football quote or something. And you got to be able to. Every time I read a book, I read the book, take all my notes, and then I go through the book again, and everything I highlighted or underlined or wrote, I put that where it belongs in the manifesto. So then I can reference it without having to remember. What book was that from? It was a quote about football, but it was in a leadership book. Like, no, I just go to the football section and there's the quote.

[Interviewer 1]

I couldn't dream to be this organized. I could not.

[Connor Stallions]

And the beauty of it, too, is I can talk about that. You know, probably never give away the Michigan Manifesto, but I can talk about it and no one will be able to duplicate it because I'm already 15 years ahead. Right, right. How?

[Interviewer 1]

How?

[Connor Stallions]

How? Like, good luck, man.

[Interviewer 2]

How did it develop over the years? It was from the binder. From the organization.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, yeah. And. And it's a Google Doc now. And you say, like, how many pages is it? I can't give you an exact, exact number because I found this out the hard way. A Google Doc can't go over a thousand pages. So it's multiple Google Docs.

[Interviewer 1]

No. Dude.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

God. How often do you go back and read and be like, okay, this is different now. This is different now. Like nutrition, for instance, if you take something five years ago, someone said about nutrition, that's ever evolved.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, it's just. It's ongoing. It's ongoing. And I'm. I usually. I try to visit it at least weekly. Try to daily. But, you know, like, if, you know, I've been traveling the last few days, I have. You know, I haven't been on it, but what I do, like, so at the Michigan Washington game, during the game, I have my notes up. Not the actual Google Docs, but just my notes app. And I'm just taking notes on everything I see. Like, oh, I was at the Seahawks game Sunday too, you know, so anytime I'm at a game or Watching a game and I see a play I like or, you know, situation like, you know, this is bad flashbacks. But 2011, 4th and inches in East Lansing and we run a play fake. And you know, I just remembered that yesterday watching the, I think the Seahawks, Giants game, thinking like, you know, fourth and inches. If I'm ever a coordinator, I don't want to call a player. The quarterback's back is to the defense in 4th and inches unless he's given the ball. But it's just so risky. But like. So anyway, you know, that just triggered that thought from 2011. So I write that down in my notes, and then tonight when I get back, I will put that exactly where it belongs in the manifesto. So then whenever I'm a coordinator, I already have that in the fourth and short section to always reference and remind myself.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, your memory is shaky.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Are you sure that wasn't you at Central Mission?

[Interviewer 1]

The. The manifesto. Did you give it the name manifesto or is that by media?

[Connor Stallions]

So that was. It was just like my notes. And I think it was during COVID when people didn't know if football was going to be happening or not. And a couple buddies of mine and I had these zooms, just talking ball, staying fresh in football. And I remember kind of introducing it to. To one of them. And he's like, this is like a manifesto. And so we just kind of jokingly called it the Michigan Manifesto. And then. And then obviously the media ran with it. Dave ran with it. And I guess I now have to call it the Michigan Manifesto.

[Interviewer 1]

It is infamous.

[Connor Stallions]

It is for sure.

[Interviewer 1]

You've got to. Whenever you've decided, okay, I'm done doing the manifesto. You need to print that out hard copy and then just frame it somewhere. Just a book.

[Connor Stallions]

But the. There's never an end to the Michigan Manifesto. How could there be an end?

[Interviewer 1]

That was a dumb statement.

[Connor Stallions]

You win a national champion. There's already a section in there. You know, this is like a sabanism, right?

[Interviewer 2]

Like where you could start doing it like encyclopedias. You can have like a volume one.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, I already have nine volumes.

[Interviewer 1]

Do you.

[Interviewer 2]

He said, I already have nine volumes.

[Interviewer 1]

Are you just doing AI up here? He's just been popping up different AI AI pictures that he's decided to make.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, you saw the, you saw the recruiting, the, the. The scouting map in the documentary.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Did you see that? I did not.

[Interviewer 1]

So it's a. It's a map of the United States and it's where every single draft pick. Right?

[Connor Stallions]

Every draft pick. So basically, what I did was again, I can say this because, well, now you could probably hire some AI or you could do whatever now and probably catch you up on this. But it's just the concept. This is just one of you know, hundreds of concepts in the manifesto where, you know, people always talk about states like what's the best state for recruiting? Yeah, is it Georgia? Is it Florida? Is it Texas? Is it California? And I just kind of realized why are we talking about states? It's literally something that Lewis and Clark drew back in the, what, 1800s? Why would you recruit based on some state boundaries that were drawn a couple hundred years ago? So what I did was I plotted every single draft pick. I took the Google map layer like off where you couldn't even tell where you were and I just plotted everyone and then I just drew my own little regions around where the, the mass people were and just kind of went from there. Because like, you know, when people say Florida is, is great, well, it's mostly Fort Lauderdale, Miami. Right. When people say California, it's mostly LA and the Bay Area, Texas, mainly Dallas, Houston. Yes, there are certain states like Georgia and Texas where it is more spread out. But I just kind of figured, you know, why. And it's by position too. Now I'm not going to give away which positions in which sub regions are worth recruiting more than others. But yeah, there's definitely like certain regions are hotbeds for certain positions.

[Interviewer 1]

So what's the best state for recruiting? What's the best region?

[Connor Stallions]

Region? Miami.

[Interviewer 1]

Miami's the best region. How's Arizona? How does Arizona hold up?

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, if you weren't there, then it wouldn't be as great.

[Interviewer 1]

That is exactly how I wanted you to answer that. I didn't know that's how I wanted you to answer, but that's what I needed to hear.

[Connor Stallions]

But you know, I think Georgia is probably the best state where if you just close your eyes and put your finger anywhere on the, on the state of Georgia, you're close to a player that's been drafted. I like that.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, it's, it's extremely informative. I've loved every minute of this.

[Interviewer 1]

We got a couple sections, we got twisted question and then tear talk. I think we have multiple tear talks. One that we're just going to give to you. But the twisted question.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bitzel, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent as a new student.

[Brian Bissell]

You may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issues? How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Want to do that, bissell told me. You could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.

[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business. Visit IBM.com/agents.

[Connor Stallions]

I don't think that was necessary. All right, this. This twisted question comes from Greg Hohenstein at grego48 on Instagram.

[Interviewer 1]

Shout out Greg Ho 48.

[Connor Stallions]

Your best Big Ten super team versus your best SEC super team. Who's on it and who is winning?

[Interviewer 2]

Man, I could be the wrong person to ask here because I can't. It's not like I can sit here and think of all the players, like, just throw in, you know, one of the 90s Nebraska teams. I think you're going to be pretty good.

[Connor Stallions]

But is that a Big Ten team, though?

[Interviewer 2]

They are now.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. But they weren't Big Ten.

[Interviewer 2]

Right. They weren't Big Ten then.

[Interviewer 1]

All right, so we'll start at quarterback. Who's representing the Big Ten?

[Connor Stallions]

We're completely creating our team from scratch. We're not saying, like Georgia 21, you're create. You're like picking players like Joe Burrow.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, it's gonna be tough.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, it's. That's a. That's a very long winded, twisted question.

[Connor Stallions]

Can we. We just gotta go like the best O line, the best receiver core, maybe.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay, let's start with the Big Ten.

[Connor Stallions]

All right.

[Interviewer 1]

Big Ten quarterback.

[Interviewer 2]

I mean, you're using one of the Michigan ones recently. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Online.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. 22. Michigan 20.

[Interviewer 2]

22. Michigan online.

[Connor Stallions]

23.

[Interviewer 1]

The man.

[Connor Stallions]

They didn't. They technically didn't win. We. We didn't win the Joe Moore award last year, but that was probably because they just felt bad because we won it twice in a row.

[Interviewer 1]

First time we ever won it twice in a row.

[Interviewer 2]

But that. I would say that. I could say that all on. I get my good say last year.

[Interviewer 1]

What the 2020.

[Connor Stallions]

Are we working on this together?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, we have to. There's no way the three of us.

[Connor Stallions]

Are gonna do so. We'll say that O line. I hate saying this, but it's gotta be one of the Ohio State receiving corps recently. No.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah, with old Marvin Harrison Jr.

[Interviewer 1]

I mean, dude.

[Connor Stallions]

Well, if you're gonna pick them, then you got to pick Michigan's DBs, though.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Right.

[Interviewer 1]

So we're just Ohio State and Michigan so far. So what's that? C.J. stroud might be.

[Connor Stallions]

But this is all time. Drew Brees. I. I do. You know, I respect cj. Good guy. He didn't beat Michigan, though.

[Interviewer 2]

He didn't beat Michigan.

[Interviewer 1]

Couldn't beat Michigan.

[Connor Stallions]

J.T. barrett. Yeah. They had three. They had Dwayne and all three of those guys right Back to back to back.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. This is way harder than I expected it to be.

[Connor Stallions]

Troy Smith too.

[Interviewer 1]

You want to put Kittle at tight end.

[Connor Stallions]

Wow.

[Interviewer 1]

Jp, grab the. You can do the SEC team.

[Connor Stallions]

Are they keeping track of this? I mean, you got. You gotta have Joe Burrow. No. I don't know. Cam Newton though. His 2010 season.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Superman.

[Interviewer 1]

Johnny, you guys do the SEC, we'll do the Big Ten. Best Big Ten QBRS listed all time.

[Connor Stallions]

We might be able to go by position.

[Interviewer 2]

The number one greatest running back of all time. And the Big Ten. I'm looking at Archie Griffin, Ohio State.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

That's big. That's big for the Big Ten.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay, so we'll take him. We'll take him. Let me look at. I'll do like, I'm gonna do linebackers.

[Interviewer 2]

I'm almost assuming like again.

[Connor Stallions]

And is this. Is this while they were in college? Yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Maybe we just do a defense because for linebackers you.

[Interviewer 2]

You can always pick like a, like a Penn State squad.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

When they had.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, but all you probably want. Yeah, but choose Michigan defense.

[Connor Stallions]

If you're going full defense. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

If you're going full defense.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean.

[Interviewer 1]

Hail Alabama. This is a way harder question than I wanted to be.

[Connor Stallions]

Very difficult. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Should we pass?

[Connor Stallions]

Is there a backup question?

[Interviewer 2]

No, it's just too much.

[Interviewer 1]

Just too much brain power.

[Interviewer 2]

We might have to punt. I'll look up best Big Ten punters of all time.

[Interviewer 1]

That's our player.

[Connor Stallions]

Zoltan Mesco.

[Interviewer 1]

Zolon Mesco. Zoltan's one of the first players I met at Michigan and they made like Ray Guy.

[Connor Stallions]

He got way too much playing time.

[Interviewer 2]

Ray Guy, dude, he.

[Interviewer 1]

When that. That endure was first made in 29, 2009, he walked out and they're like, oh, it's big enough to where a punter can't hit it. His first punt without warming up. Hit the top.

[Connor Stallions]

Top. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

It was like the most deflating the ale fieldhouse.

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, yeah. We talking to Mumford real quick.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, we can talk Mumford.

[Connor Stallions]

We'll let.

[Interviewer 1]

We'll wait till these boys we. They find out that we're punting on this.

[Interviewer 2]

So Mumford, I mean, you got Charles Woodson.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, we'll take him. I guess I'm kind of just over the question, to be honest with you.

[Connor Stallions]

We'd be here all day.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah. This is literally an entire episode. It's like, let's just figure out the best all time conference teams.

[Interviewer 2]

I actually have a question for him about Mumford. No, no, no, not Mumford. Go ahead.

[Connor Stallions]

Stick on Mumford, because I won't forget about Mumford. You keep that picture up. I'm not going to forget.

[Interviewer 2]

Give me three coaches you feel like you've learned the most from in real time. Not like wood than people you were inspired by and everything.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Guys, we punted on this question.

[Interviewer 2]

Twisted question.

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, good. Because our tight end was nasty.

[Interviewer 2]

3 coaches secs. 3 coaches he's learned the most from.

[Connor Stallions]

But we're punting at it. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Three coaches he's learned the most from. That's added the. That's added value to the manifesto. Big value.

[Connor Stallions]

That's actually. Yeah, that's. That's probably the best way to. Yeah, to ask that too. Kenya Matalolo, Navy head coach now at San Jose State, winningest head coach, Navy football history. Chris Partridge. And I got two in mind for this third spot. It's either Jay Harbaugh or Mike McDonald's. And ironically, all of those guys are in Seattle. I'd say Jay. I've spent more time around Jay. Those are the three that have added.

[Interviewer 1]

The manifesto the most.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. Just from observing them and. And asking them questions and picking their brains.

[Interviewer 2]

How many coaches knew you had this manifesto going? Not like manifesto, like fun creativity.

[Connor Stallions]

I think a lot of people just. Just kind of knew. I was very organized and had a bunch of notes and pulled out ideas.

[Interviewer 2]

Was any coach, like, curious? Like, hey, have you been logging everything? Like, let's see, this organization they kind of bought into.

[Connor Stallions]

I think every coach has their own system of notes, right?

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Maybe not as organized, but I don't think people really think about it as much because they just kind of write down their note now. You know, once they realize, wait, maybe they're interviewing for next job up or whatever, and they need to organize everything. It's. That's why I go back to, like, vision. The concept of vision itself. Like, when you picture yourself as that, you just start from the beginning like that. So you just organize everything as if you're the head coach and then you're ready for anything.

[Interviewer 2]

I love it too, man.

[Interviewer 1]

Should we do tear talk? And then I. I have one final question.

[Connor Stallions]

We got to get Mumford. Should I skip.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, let's talk about Mumford. So the boys just. They got themselves on our first game.

[Connor Stallions]

In a long, long time.

[Interviewer 1]

Let's give a shout out to Mumford and you say a long, long time.

[Interviewer 2]

Dusted like, let's check in on Connor's side. They just took an ass whooping like 60.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, we also play, like, Cass Tech and everything.

[Interviewer 1]

Cast Tech Is like the school in Detroit.

[Connor Stallions]

Okay.

[Interviewer 1]

Mumford, you said it's been a long, long time since you guys got a.

[Connor Stallions]

W. I think they won one game last year. None the year before and to the year before that. Something like that.

[Interviewer 1]

So you.

[Connor Stallions]

It's been rough.

[Interviewer 1]

So you resigned from Michigan. And Mumford calls up and says, please, for the love of God, do something for us. Is that. Is that how it happened?

[Connor Stallions]

I know the head coach, and he asked if I wanted to be the D.C. and then it just kind of evolved. We only have, like, four coaches, so.

[Interviewer 2]

And you're thinking yourself, what a challenge.

[Connor Stallions]

No doubt.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, yeah. You see how big his eyes got? No fucking doubt.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

What an op. How has the defense gotten better since you got in there?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, we all kind of coach everything, so I'm coaching all sides of the ball.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah. All three phases.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. And for example, we have two offensive linemen in the entire program.

[Interviewer 1]

No shit.

[Interviewer 2]

Two.

[Connor Stallions]

Two. Yep. So.

[Interviewer 1]

Well, you have two players that play offensive line in the entire program.

[Connor Stallions]

We have two true offensive linemen. So, like our tight end, Norman Adams. Shout out. Shout out to Norman. Could be a very recruitable tight end. Had. Had to take one for the team. And he's our left tackle. No, it gets better, guys. It gets better.

[Interviewer 1]

Johnson. Lane Johnson.

[Connor Stallions]

That happened to him are so last week. Every day it's like playing Tetris with the depth chart. And our starting slot had to be our right guard in the game. We won.

[Interviewer 2]

The right guard.

[Connor Stallions]

Yep. Stepped up. Nate. Shout out to Nate.

[Interviewer 1]

Shout out to Nate.

[Connor Stallions]

Played right guard. Yeah. Got the dub. We ran the ball every play except one. All right.

[Interviewer 2]

So, you know, it comes with its own challenges.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, there's a lot of challenges involved.

[Connor Stallions]

A lot of challenges. And, you know, it's really turned into guys taking sacrifices. Right. Like, hey, what? You know, some guys wake up one day thinking they're going to be the slot receiver, getting some carries, and then they find themselves starting as the right.

[Interviewer 1]

Guard in the trenches.

[Connor Stallions]

In the trenches.

[Interviewer 1]

That is crazy.

[Interviewer 2]

What have you enjoyed most about the high school level?

[Interviewer 1]

How easy the signs are to steal.

[Connor Stallions]

No, there hasn't been a single sign.

[Interviewer 1]

Oh, really?

[Connor Stallions]

Because. So we. We. Right. Obviously we have some challenges. We have two offensive linemen. I mean, I could stop right there. So you got to be able to manipulate tempo right to your advantage. So. And I can talk about this. I mean, no one's gonna have an answer for it. So, you know, we. With two offensive linemen, what do you do? Well, we do a lot of. I mean, I don't even know what you want to call. It's not even tackle over. It's like, everyone over.

[Interviewer 2]

So you just take the two offensive line, like, hey, you're gonna play on the left side.

[Connor Stallions]

No, like the center's the last guy on the line and everyone else is over there. But you can't just line up like that. You can't just give them 15 seconds to adjust. So we, we use like five or six different tempos where, you know, one of them is a speed break huddle. So we'll speed break to overloading one side and snapping the ball in three seconds. Like, you're not going to be able to adjust to that in three seconds? No. Will speed break into, like pods where we have just the center and quarterback, five guys over there, four guys over there. If you don't match your numbers, we're snapping it and getting it out. And we scored. We got a 75 yard touchdown last week on that. And the refs threw a flag for 12 men on the field. And I told our guy, stay on the field, stand up. I'm yelling at the ref, count them. What do you mean? 12 on the field. And they count them. And then they go and have this meeting for like 10 minutes. Like, what are they talking about? There's 11 on the field. There's been 11 on the field. And then all of a sudden they change it from 12 on the field to five in the backfield.

[Interviewer 2]

They're like, look, we're. We're idiots right now. How do we get out of this?

[Interviewer 1]

Michigan State fans, they saw you and they're like, probably.

[Connor Stallions]

Probably.

[Interviewer 1]

We got to make sure this guy doesn't have success anywhere now.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah, but no, so we, you know, we, we utilize tempo to our advantage. And then we'll go fast, you know, we'll go fast tempo and run a play real quick. And then we'll just go regular old tempo, take our time. Everything's on a wristband. And they look at it, boom. They get lined up, they. And then we'll go fast again, but we'll hard count, get him to jump first down. So we, you know, it's like we had like a 10 minute drive. We didn't even score the half ended. But like, hey, best defense is not even being on the field. Yeah, drive.

[Interviewer 1]

Didn't even score the half ended. It's so funny.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

So the boys, you. What's your record right now?

[Connor Stallions]

We're 10 starting this last week.

[Interviewer 1]

Let's go one and. Oh, boys are one and. Oh, I love it.

[Connor Stallions]

We got three games left and we actually could squeak into the playoffs if we win these kind of leagues you guys dealing with? Well, we're Division 3, so we actually just beat a Division 1 team big time.

[Interviewer 2]

Okay.

[Connor Stallions]

Right.

[Interviewer 1]

Got to get the kids, we got to get kids eligible. We got to get kids ready. We got to get kids to buy into the program.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes. And it is, you know, and I don't blame them. It's been tough, right? It's, it's a big culture shock. And when you, our first three games were against like like three juggernauts. And when they haven't won a long time, you know, you know you don't say this, but you kind of go in, you know, it's like, it's like being a max school playing, you know, Alabama or whatever and you know, you're, you're, you're prepping like crazy. But you know, you're not shocked if you don't win, right?

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

And then week four, week five, it was way more winnable games. We were in them and it's just like we just got to get that win to, to help with the buy in. And now that we got it, these, these guys are bought in. Right.

[Interviewer 1]

Gotta get another one against Southeastern next week.

[Connor Stallions]

Big game on the road.

[Interviewer 2]

Everybody show up?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Right now.

[Interviewer 1]

How is the student section from Mumford? Damn, dude. Is Chandler Park Academy. They are. They.

[Connor Stallions]

That's homecoming.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Wait, I don't think that's a road game. No, that's supposed to be a home game.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay. Right now the website is wrong. It says.

[Connor Stallions]

I think so. A lot of, a lot of these scores are wrong too, by the way. There was, there's 1:30 to nothing. Renaissance scored three times. How to get 30 points and three scores.

[Interviewer 1]

Or maybe it was three scores in a safety.

[Connor Stallions]

They had four. They had four touchdowns.

[Interviewer 2]

But that is hilarious.

[Connor Stallions]

We were four for four on two point conversion.

[Interviewer 1]

I mean Cass Tech is like, like my freshman year there was like Jordan Lewis.

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[Malcolm Gladwell]

Malcolm Gladwell here. I recently recorded the first episode of Smart Talks with IBM where I learned how AI agents are joining AI assistants as a major productivity tool. Let's start with AI agents. AI agents can reason, plan and collaborate with other AI tools to autonomously perform tasks for a user. Brian Bissell, an expert from IBM, gave me an example of how a college freshman might use an AI agent.

[Brian Bissell]

As a new student, you may not know how do I deal with my health and wellness issue. How many credits am I going to get for this given class? You could talk to someone and find out some of that, but maybe it's a little bit sensitive and you don't.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Want to do that, bissell told me. You could build an AI agent, a resource for new students that helps them navigate a new campus, register for classes, access the services they need, and even schedule appointments on their behalf, which in turn buys them more time to focus on their actual schoolwork.

[Brian Bissell]

We can see patterns of how agents and assistants can help employees and customers and end users be more productive, automate workflows so they're not doing certain types of repetitive work over and over again and streamlining their lives and making data more accessible to them 24 hours a day.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

To learn more about IBM's AI agents and how they can help your business, visit IBM.com/agents.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, that was like Weber.

[Interviewer 2]

Were you guys scoreless up until the.

[Connor Stallions]

Last week we scored in the first game.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay, but a shout out Mumford dude. Yeah, shout out Mumford. That's awesome. That's all time. I'll get this last question and then we can go to your talk and then we'll close shop here. So there's obviously a lot of things that you are alleged doing legally, illegally with that.

[Connor Stallions]

Well Nothing illegal.

[Interviewer 1]

You're. Allegedly. People are saying NCAA bylaws.

[Connor Stallions]

Nothing against the Constitution.

[Interviewer 1]

Right. Nothing against the Constitution. So there's a lot of things that people are saying that you did. Who else in the Big Ten are you aware of are doing the same things you're being accused of doing?

[Connor Stallions]

I'm not there, so I don't want to. I don't want to say exactly. This is what this team's doing. This is what that team's doing. But there's a lot of Big Ten teams who are, you know, at that level. It's Ohio State, Rutgers, I believe Penn State, Indiana is really good. Those are probably the top four in the Big Ten. Who are. We're all on the same level. Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

Where does. Just for Will Compton's sake, where does Nebraska. They're rank in this type of category.

[Connor Stallions]

They're. I'd say they're. They're. How many tiers are we talking here? Like if you, if you just say five tiers, they're probably tier two, tier three. They're not bad. They're. They're good at protecting, so they got to know at least something.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Right. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

That's good.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

And you'll be around that tier, Tier two, Tier three?

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

In your time, obviously, we, I. We've already figured out that you know who Ohio States Connor Stallion is. Did you ever trade information with them again?

[Connor Stallions]

The only time was not directly. I gave something to give to someone to give to someone, to give to him, to help him.

[Interviewer 2]

Did they ever get to have them.

[Connor Stallions]

Beat Michigan State to help them?

[Interviewer 1]

Did they. Did they ever approach. Did anybody from Ohio State approach you about future teams or anything like that? Or was it kind of like we just don't talk to each other?

[Connor Stallions]

No.

[Interviewer 1]

Zero percent.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

And Ohio State had the OG signals from somebody.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. I mean, they, they definitely were utilizing stolen signals well before we were definitely.

[Interviewer 2]

So you're aware of Dave that goes.

[Connor Stallions]

Back to the 2018, 2019.

[Interviewer 2]

You're aware of Dave Portnoy and his champagne bottles.

[Connor Stallions]

What about them?

[Interviewer 2]

Are you aware of them?

[Connor Stallions]

No.

[Interviewer 1]

You. So Dave has all of his biggest enemies in the world. He has champagne bottles, and when they fall, he opens that champagne bottle and he drinks it.

[Interviewer 2]

Who would be your number one champagne.

[Connor Stallions]

Bottle team life person?

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, anybody.

[Connor Stallions]

This guy be Ryan Day, you know? Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

It's your champagne, but that's your champagne bottle.

[Interviewer 1]

I will tell you this.

[Interviewer 2]

You're sitting back, ready to pop one open. You're just waiting for the dominoes to fall.

[Interviewer 1]

We were in Columbus For a spring tour last year.

[Connor Stallions]

Right.

[Interviewer 2]

It would be Ryan Day.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. All right.

[Interviewer 1]

Who would be your next champagne bottle?

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah. Because Ohio State's like. That's easier. Because moral enemy number one.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Who'd be your second champagne bottle?

[Connor Stallions]

Person or team or let's say person.

[Interviewer 1]

Let's do person.

[Connor Stallions]

That. That's got to be up there. That would make things easier. I mean, I'm not a fan of Michigan State and that's not a person. But I got nothing against Jonathan Smith. He's their new head coach. Yeah. I mean, it was Mel Tucker. Before that was Mark d'. Antonio. The.

[Interviewer 1]

Antonio was a dog.

[Connor Stallions]

He did a great job. I respect them. Yeah. Not a fan.

[Interviewer 1]

No. I will tell you this. I hate Michigan State more than Ohio State.

[Connor Stallions]

I'm right there with you.

[Interviewer 1]

Are you really?

[Connor Stallions]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay.

[Connor Stallions]

When you grow up in the state of Michigan, you're surrounded by Sparties, not Buckeyes. So, like, nationally, the game. Right. Obviously, that's the game.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

And you prepare for that game all year. No doubt. But like, when it comes down to, like, this is personal. Michigan State for the state title. Yeah. All right.

[Interviewer 1]

Tear talk. So tear talk is. I'll explain it to you. So we go through our top three. Okay. You've seen it.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

So you're gonna start with your tier 3, then go to your tier 2, then your tier 1. Our tier talk today is Best Spies. Not Best Buys or Best Spice. Best Spies. So I'm ready to go.

[Interviewer 2]

Do we have a God tier?

[Interviewer 1]

Do you want to say on three? One, two, three.

[Interviewer 2]

Connor Stallions.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay. Connor Stallions will be our God tier.

[Connor Stallions]

Okay. All right.

[Interviewer 1]

So Connor is our God tier Spy. I'm ready.

[Connor Stallions]

It can be a movie character.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

So I'll go first. My tier three is going to be Sterling Archer from the show Archer. I think he's an alcoholic, but he always finds a way to get the job done. I think that show is incredibly well done. I just. I love the show. He is a fantastic spot. My tier 2 is going to be Jason Bourne. Jason Bourne.

[Interviewer 2]

There's been spy.

[Interviewer 1]

There's been a argument on this bus for a long time. Who is it? Who would win a fight? Jason Bourne or John Wick? My. After rewatching the Jason Bourne's, it's clear as day. This guy just stays one step ahead of everybody. Now it'd be very interesting to see based on how technology has advanced since his movies came out, they're no longer doing flip phones. If you'll be able to keep the pace but he's my tier two and my tier one. Who would have been my God tier, given that everybody else felt. Felt the same way, is going to be James Bond. I think James Bond is the OG. I love the fact that every 10 years or so they just recycle the storylines. New, new James Bond, everything. It is just. It's all time. It's all time. So that. That is my tier.

[Connor Stallions]

Talk.

[Interviewer 1]

Boys in the back. Bless you. Sneaky.

[Connor Stallions]

All hyphenated. Get some rest, Pam. You look tired.

[Interviewer 1]

Decent.

[Connor Stallions]

You, Jerry. Technical, military, solid.

[Interviewer 1]

You need only one word to describe how I did.

[Connor Stallions]

I'm also trying to think of my three at the same time.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

Elite.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay. All right. Well, yeah, we. Hey, we got there.

[Connor Stallions]

I mean, because I. I mean, two. Two of my three are on there. There you go.

[Interviewer 1]

I see Sterling Arch with that show.

[Interviewer 2]

My Tier 3 is going to be Kim Possible globally fighting crime duet. Seems like she's got a great personality. My tier 2 is going to be Harry Hart, the Kingsman special agent.

[Interviewer 1]

Good. Paul.

[Interviewer 2]

Good mentor to Gary Eggsy Unwin. And my tier one, Sneaky. It's going to be the scout piece in the board game Stratego. You're able to manipulate this piece around, and when it gets exposed, it's ultimately like you're. You're trying to smoke out other pieces on the board. And I love Stratego growing up one on one. Just a chess match where you're trying to protect your flag. Kind of like capture the flag. You can place bombs around it. And there are. Then there are ranks from like 1 all the way to maybe 10, maybe 8. But then there's a scout piece I can kind of move around, maneuver around that you want to smoke out. And I'm gonna go with the scout piece.

[Interviewer 1]

Hyphenated, front runner.

[Interviewer 2]

Front runner.

[Connor Stallions]

Almost hyphenated.

[Interviewer 1]

First half team.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Hyphenated.

[Interviewer 1]

Lost me.

[Connor Stallions]

Nerd.

[Interviewer 2]

Whatever.

[Connor Stallions]

Interesting.

[Interviewer 2]

Thank you.

[Connor Stallions]

You're up. I'm gonna go number three. Spy Kids.

[Interviewer 1]

Okay.

[Interviewer 2]

I was checking them out.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah. You know, it's one of the. It's got to be the first spy movie I've ever watched. Yeah. Number two, I gotta go with James Bond. And number one, Born.

[Interviewer 1]

Like, born.

[Connor Stallions]

Yeah.

[Interviewer 1]

You like Born over Wick?

[Connor Stallions]

Yes.

[Interviewer 1]

That's all I need to hear. Gay.

[Connor Stallions]

Oh, yeah. Inspector Gadget.

[Interviewer 1]

It's a good one. It's a good one.

[Connor Stallions]

There's a lot out there, though.

[Interviewer 2]

There is.

[Connor Stallions]

Well, the best ones you can't talk about.

[Interviewer 1]

Correct?

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah.

[Connor Stallions]

No, we did. I have been in the spy museum.

[Interviewer 1]

Well played.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

And thanks for coming.

[Interviewer 2]

My one word manifesto.

[Interviewer 1]

Detailed pro.

[Interviewer 2]

Glaze, calculative.

[Interviewer 1]

Classic.

[Connor Stallions]

Classics, hyphenated all business.

[Interviewer 1]

Boys. Let's give a round of applause for Lily contacted you Friday. You're here on Monday. I really appreciate you coming in the insight everything it has been literally swept the nation. All the things that happened to come out of that manifesto of yours. We appreciate you taking the time to sit down with us.

[Connor Stallions]

Yes sir.

[Interviewer 2]

And this is your first like long form interview since. All of it, right?

[Interviewer 1]

Besides the documentary.

[Connor Stallions]

Documentary. Besides my nine hour master interview for the documentary. Yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

Yeah man. Thank you. This was. I enjoyed every minute.

[Connor Stallions]

Oh yeah.

[Interviewer 2]

I would have. I would have enjoyed being in the trenches with you and playing for you. I would have loved every minute of it.

[Interviewer 1]

Will Compton, do you have.

[Connor Stallions]

I was gonna say yes sir.

[Interviewer 2]

Coach.

[Interviewer 1]

Yeah, I need.

[Interviewer 2]

But also I know you want to give me the ball.

[Connor Stallions]

Well maybe we can pull the guard and hand it off to him.

[Interviewer 1]

No doubt.

[Connor Stallions]

Southeastern. Watch out.

[Interviewer 1]

Watch out. All right boys. Big hugs, tiny kisses. Please subscribe Rate 5 stars. Thank you so much for everything. Talk to you soon.

[Interviewer 2]

Hey, that was incredible.

[Interviewer 1]

Awesome dude. You were awesome.

[Interviewer 2]

That was incredible.

[Connor Stallions]

You think that's one of the.

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