The University of Michigan responds

ANN ARBOR,MI– The University of Michigan issued its formal response to the NCAA involving allegations of misconduct by the football program today.  In its response, the University agreedwith most of the NCAA’s allegations and issued its own punishment (the University actually disagreed with one of the allegations; that Rich Rodriguez “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program.)

So, what does all this mean to you, the fan?  Assuming the NCAA agrees with the report and does not decide to add more to the punishment (and yes, it is within their purview to do so), not much.  Below are Michigan’s self-imposed punishment and what they mean to the both the players and fans.

1. The reduction of the number of quality control staff for football from 5 to 3.  This means little if anything to fans, but only slightly more to players, to be honest.  It was more of a ‘this was the group that screwed up, we’ll take some of them away.’
2. Quality control staff will not be allowed to attend practices.  Again, to the fans, this means nothing.  To the players, it just means less people on the field helping (or yelling) at them, so the coaching staff will be stretched a bit thinner.
3. Quality control staff will be treated as the same manner as other non-football staff on game days.  All this means is if those three people want to watch the games, they’ll have to buy their own ticket.
4. Quality control staff will not attend coaches meetings from June through December.  This is actually allowed under the vague NCAA rules regarding control staff.  But it doesn’t really affect the players or the fans.
5. Quality control staff will not work in the weight room or be a part of the strength and conditioning staff.  Again, nothing for the fans and the players will have more of Mike Barwis yelling at them than other people.  Nothing major.
6. One hundred and thirty hours of CARA time decreased overall from 2010 until no later than the end of the 2012 academic year.  For the fans, this just means that the players might not be quite as crisp as they could be, but in reality, it shouldn’t really affect the outcome of anything, especially since it does not specify which CARA time will be decreased.  So they might just free lift instead of team lift and the strength and conditioning team cannot be in the weight room with them (and it would be optional, but most players lift by themselves anyway.)
7. Two years of probation.  For the fans, pray that nobody screws up again, or I’m willing to bet the NCAA comes down like a hammer on Michigan.  Other than that, nothing.
8. They fired Alex Herron for lying.  Good riddance to bad rubbish.

These are my opinions on the sanctions Michigan imposed on themselves.    I believe them to be fair, especially when you realize that David Brandon was right, individually and singly, these acts were not major violations.  It was only the continued and multitude of events that make this a ‘major’ violation.  And I for one am happy that Brandon has chosen to allow Rodriguez to stay.  Let him sink or swim of his own accord, and not because he made a few mistakes and trusted some people he should not have.   I plowed through the entire of Michigan’s response (and it was the expected legalspeak that made me not want to be a lawyer.)  If you want to read it for yourself, you can find it here.   I do find it amusing that the University, in its formal response, basically rips the newspaper for “greatly exaggerated if not flatly incorrect” reporting.

The new season is fast approaching.  It’s time to put this mess behind us and get ready for the excitement and energy that is Michigan Wolverine football.  The stadium is beautiful, the players look good and our schedule looks promising.  It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine.  Go Blue!

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