Netflix’s Sign Stealer Is a One-Sided Story

As the Michigan Wolverines suffer their first defeat of the 2024 college football season on Sept. 7, the specter of the 2023 college sign-stealing scandal continues to haunt the athletic program. NetflixNew sports documentary series Untold: The Sign ThiefThe network missed the opportunity to tell a fair and balanced story of what happened in Michigan's 2023 football season, which culminated in an undefeated record and a national championship win.

Instead of telling both sides of the story, Netflix documentary shines a strange light on Conor Stallionthe main culprit in the cheating scandal that saw the Michigan State football team steal play calls and signals from opposing teams. As a result, it’s one of the least compelling sports documentaries on Netflix, failing to paint the full picture and omitting many crucial details to make the Stallions look better. At their best, documentaries stay objective, providing viewers with cold, hard facts. Unfortunately, sign thief It is a self-invitation from the stallions.Who justifies his actions with a blatant disregard for the facts.

Michigan Sign Stealing Scandal and Connor Stallions, Explained in Detail

In 2023, the NCAA launched a formal investigation into allegations that University of Michigan football staff were intentionally stealing signs from opposing teams and coaches. The primary culprit identified in the scandal was Connor Stallion, a team member who attended more than 30 games at 11 different Big 10 universities in three years. Stallion purchased the tickets himself. In November 2023, Stallions was accused of leading the sign-stealing attempt and immediately resigned.Stallion's method allegedly consisted of sending low-level employees around the country as undercover agents, encouraging them to spy on rival college football teams, and intentionally stealing their plays.

While the investigation continues in 2024, The results showed that Stallion attended several games involving Michigan competitors, raising suspicions of further illicit activity.According to Barstool Sports University of Michigan founder and alumnus Dave Portnoy has admitted to Stallion attending the 2023 game between Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. Connor was not present as a general fan. Instead, Stallion was on the sidelines illegally, closely watching the teams and getting vital information about their play calls.

Some believe he was hiding video recording devices under his sunglasses, using them to capture signals from opposing teams. While several witnesses confirmed his presence on the sidelines, Stallion claims he can't remember whether or not he attended the MSU/CMU game. In the documentary, which further strained its credibility and damaged the film's impartiality.

Untold: The Sign Thief Is Not Objective

Despite the damage to his reputation among the general public, Stallions insists on his innocence The Netflix documentary is biased. What’s even more biased is that Stallion’s attorney, Brad Beckworth, portrays his client as the primary victim in the scandal, claiming he was hacked and his data was compromised. Beckworth stated, “If this is true, it is certainly a violation of civil law and may be a greater crime.“Calling Stallions a victim is dishonest at best and unjust at worst.

While being hacked may be a bigger crime than stealing signals to gain a competitive advantage in a sport where betting is essential, sign thief It remains remarkably biased in its realistic presentation.The supposedly objective documentary gives Stallion the spotlight to defend himself in the court of public opinion without allowing his critics and accusers to voice their opinions. It’s more of a personal confession than a true sports document, and it fails to include other key figures in the scandal, such as coach Jim Harbaugh, who conveniently left the University of Michigan (his alma mater) to join the NFL after going undefeated and winning a national title in 2023.

Although the NCAA found no connection between Harpo's and Stallion's behavior, the documentary would have been better if it included more of the key figures involved in the scandal. sign thief This case dropped the ball completely by allowing Stallion University to present an unverified testimony that ignored the other side of the story. Aside from Harbaugh’s glaring absence, the two coaches who allegedly stole signals, Denard Robinson and Chris Partridge, were not present to give their recollections. What’s even more biased is that the opposing universities and the main defendants were largely ignored. As a result, sign thief Seems like the least convincing episode. Not narrated But so far, the report has not been able to paint the full scope of the scandal, which is still being investigated. Untold: The Sign Thief Available to stream on Netflix.