Connor Stalions takes over as head of Detroit Mumford and wants to “change the culture”
Flint − Former University of Michigan employee Connor Stalions had the chance to find out what it feels like to be a head coach on Friday night, and it was a rocky debut.
The 60-0 loss to Flint Hamady could be a learning experience for the Stallions, who may believe in the future that punting the ball is sometimes a good strategy.
William McMichael took over as head coach at Detroit Mumford this spring and brought in Stalions, known for his role in the sign-stealing fiasco at Michigan, as his defensive coordinator.
Mumford lost his opening match to Redford Thurston 47-6 last week and McMichael suffered a stroke last Friday and was hospitalized for three days, but the good news is that he suffered no permanent damage.
When asked who would lead Mumford’s team this Friday against Flint Hamady, McMichael responded via text message that Stalions was “the head coach for tonight’s game.”
Stalions – dressed all in black and sporting a Mumford logo on his chest – took his job as interim coach seriously, working with his players on kickoff drills five minutes before game time.
Then Stalions put on his headset, paced the sidelines with notes on his game plan in hand, and watched Hamady build a 40-0 halftime lead.
“I came to Mumford because I wanted to help change the culture,” Stalions told The Detroit News after the loss. “They’re not used to winning and I wanted to show these guys what it actually takes to win because eventually they’re going to win and that’s more satisfying to me than going to a program that’s already winning.”
“I’d rather have 15 guys who love the process of football than 30 guys who are kind of half in and half out because they’re pushing back the 15 guys who are in.”
Hamady scored a touchdown on his second play of the game with a 63-yard touchdown run from Devion Holloway.
On the ensuing kickoff, Mumford did not pick up or rush for the ball, allowing Hamady to grab it at Mumford’s 30-yard line.
“Stallions” roared at the players, ensuring that history would not repeat itself later in the game, while Hamady scored again just six minutes into the game to give them a 13-0 lead.
The Stalions’ coaching philosophy was unorthodox, to say the least, when it came to special teams. Mumford made 0 of 6 fourth down attempts and constantly left Hamady with a short field.
On the first attempt, Mumford faced a fourth-and-20 attempt at his own 30-yard line but failed to convert, resulting in a touchdown pass that gave him a 20-0 lead with 2:35 left in the first quarter.
More: Michigan High School Football Scoreboard: Week 2
Towards the end of the first quarter, it rained heavily and the Stalions continued to pace the sidelines, calling plays and cheering.
The Stalions continued their attack on fourth down, the sixth and final time of the half on fourth and fifth attempts from Mumford’s 22-yard line, resulting in a pick-six for Hamady’s 40-0 lead with 40 seconds left and bringing the running clock into play for the second half.
“Success doesn’t come overnight and the first three or four opponents we play are playoff teams, so it’s a packed schedule,” Stalions told The News. “That’s not an excuse by any means, but we know we’re going to have some tough battles early in the year and it’s about getting these guys to buy into the process.”
Stalions praised the performance of Mumford’s Lamont Dexter after the game.
“Lamont (Dexter) plays multiple positions and he loves football,” Stalions said. “We put him in at quarterback when our starter (Ryan Banks) got injured early in the game. He doesn’t give up. We got 60 yards on our last drive and he didn’t give up.”
