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

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.

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)

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)

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) |

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.

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)

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.