Exoneration, Probation, Over
It's been real, jihad guy and generic Barwis picture.
When this was breaking last night I was trudging through the fourth quarter of the Penn State game, gin in hand, and didn't feel like rushing to do anything except maybe to throw up. But it happened and it's over and the news is good, and by good we mean "exactly what everyone expected" but at least all those wild theories about how the NCAA is going to blow up the program and make an example out of Rodriguez are gone:
The NCAA has concluded that Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez did not fail to promote an atmosphere of compliance, a previous allegation that the school challenged, a source close to the situation said Wednesday night.
Other reports state that the NCAA has accepted the self imposed penalties and added a third year of probation. The official release will happen at 3 PM, but Michigan's leaking all the relevant details early. If you'll allow me a moment of self-congratulation, that's exactly what was projected around these parts when Michigan announced its response to the notice of allegations.
Our long and winding journey that started with wildly overheated allegations and ends with some misinterpreted stretching and excessively involved grad assistant ends. After this afternoon's flurry of redundancy there are no more news events to push this to the forefront, so Michigan can get on with the reductions quietly and the proverbial dark cloud hanging over the program can finally evaporate.
I can't emphasize enough how much of a steaming crock of crap the initial Free Press story was and how richly everyone involved with it deserves to be fired, but at least they immolated the idea that journalistic ethics are a reason to read boring neutral "objective" copy and stupid 600-word columns dashed off without an ounce of research. They also drove a ton of traffic here as Michigan fans looked for accurate projections of what was going to happen, and in doing so obliterated the idea that bias, which this place has in spades, necessarily leads to inaccuracy. So thanks for that. Send me your resumes in five years when you all lose your jobs; I'll get back to you with all possible speed.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
Now all we need is a few wins and I can go back to being smug and uppity like in the good old days.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
The good old days of being smug and having that comfort-inducing sense of entitl-[REDACTED]-. Here's to their speedy return!
November 4th, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
Remember being appalled at 7-5? I want that again, with an eventual move back to 9-3 qualifying as "meh."
November 4th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
Because we deserve it. We're owed it.
November 4th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
You should know BlockM was being facetious.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
"Send me your resumes in five years when you all lose your jobs; I'll get back to you with all possible speed"
Burn
November 4th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
"Send me your resumes in five years when you all lose your jobs; I'll get back to you with all possible speed," is the friendly reminder I need to search for the "Beveled Guilt" section.
What an effing joke this whole thing has been, but as already said, Brian, you did great work.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
The Free Press has also changed their morning headline from
"NCAA drops fifth charge on Michigan football"
to
"NCAA drops fifth charge against Michigan football"
They're having a tough time letting this go.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
And they are still trying to save face by writing articles about Michigan's NCAA issues may be over, but WVU's are just beginning, with Rich being at the forefront of those too. The agenda just jumps wrote off the page.
November 4th, 2010 at 3:58 PM ^
Whoa, they haven't given up yet! Now the headline, "NCAA adds 3rd year to U-M's probation in practice violations."
Seriously, Freep. You're trying way too hard. Let it go.
November 5th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^
Just goes to show how classless those donkeys are.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
safe to say that the most offensive stretching in this story was done by "journalists!"
hey-yo!
November 4th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
Am I the only one who automatically added a "David Caruso removing his sunglasses" pause while reading your comment?
November 4th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
Send me your resumes in five years when you all lose your jobs; I'll get back to you with all possible speed.
BOOM. Roasted.
In all honesty they should, and I don't say that often about people with children and whatnot. That was some of the worst "reporting" this man has ever seen.
November 4th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
Took the words out of my mouth. Nothing like a little f*** you to Rosenberg and Sharp.
Now if we could get an objective article on D'antonio and his merry band of hoodlums/gangsters/ski-mask wearing UFC fighters instead of this 'Mark D sticks by his decision to play Rucker' crap that Sharp was pushing today.
Rather than focusing on that, I think I'll just take a deep breath and enjoy the good news.
GO BLUE!!
November 4th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
Sweet Jebus I'm glad this is over.
November 5th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^
Now lets just get back to worrying about playing football. Hopefully with this behind us it takes away the black cloud hanging over our head.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
when you get those resumes can you post them so we can photoshop in funny things?
November 4th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
Send me your resumes in five years when you all lose your jobs; I'll get back to you with all possible speed.
Either that or send them to Barwis. Just by that picture, he would be more than happy to share his thoughts with them.
More on topic though, I am glad this crap is over. We can finally get back to focusing just on football. Hopefully, the boys come out Saturday and play a complete game and come out with a much needed win (though, after last weekend, I have my doubts).
November 4th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
Hopefully Barwis will still be around to grind them into wolf food.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
One day you will be working for a blogger.
Regarding ethics...there is a general reduction of this style in the world today across many domains... but not on this site.
Thanks Brian and crew.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
Send me your resumes in five years when you all lose your jobs; I'll get back to you with all possible speed.
Love the parting shot across the bow. Nicely done.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
except I'm picturing it as "five years after your lose your jobs ..."
November 4th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
Yowza. I'm wondering if Brian will do a UFR of his kid's academic progress each year and Preview in August of expected grades based upon SOS (difficult teachers? choose to take an upper level Math course rather than MAC-level Algebra?)
November 4th, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
This exoneration of RR by those who actually know how to investigate makes me wonder... if the Freep staff don't lose their jobs, what will they come up with next to attempt to save face? RichRod is behind the Bucky the Buckeye mascot attack? RichRod induced the MSU players to brawl their way through a college party last year?
November 4th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^
"Rich Rodriguez, the guy who was alleged to have broken major NCAA regulations" in their minds. I used to really enjoy the Free Press, but their obsession with destroying Rodriguez has turned me rather sour on them.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
If I learned anything from when Snyder was on WTKA for their season preview roundtable, it's that he is certain RR is a cheating chearter that cheats based on the information from his sources and the NCAA investigation is the one that made the mistakes. I'm sure they'll still push their storyline rather than admit defeat.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Rich Rod's great great uncle twice removed was an alleged boot-legger in Murfeesboro TN during the Prohibition era. See! Cheating is in his genes!!!
November 4th, 2010 at 5:27 PM ^
it turns out he is notorious for occasionally parking his vehicle a few inches over to his wife's side of the driveway. The Freep, in an exclusive piece, have discovered that he did the same thing once at a grocery store in Morgantown. His right, rear tire was found parked on the yellow line separating his parking space from the neighboring spot. At the time, this infraction was overlooked, due to the goodwill he had built with the WVU community. However, had they known of his insidious boot-legging uncle and the unfair treatment of his wife's parking spot, there would have been hell to pay!
November 4th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
"I can't emphasize enough how much of a steaming crock of crap the initial Free Press story was ..."
Um, YEP!
November 4th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
I liked that "steaming crock of crap" phrase too, but it hit a little close to home. The wife made stew last night that frankly wasn't great and sort of looked like a "steaming crock of crap."
P.S. Please don't tell her.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^
I'm obviously happy about the results not being damning for the program, but one specific result makes me extremely happy: The loss of readership that the Free Press experienced due to their sh-tty reporting. I will never contribute to that paper's readership and will never be a contributor to their fiscal revenue again. So, thanks Free Press. Oh, and go f-ck yourself!
November 4th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
perfect tone. Superb.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
I'm going to miss Jihad Guy. Though any move back closer to normalcy is welcomed, Jihad Guy is the avatar for so much delicious wrath around these parts.
Keep fighting the good fight, Brian.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
Been reading this blog since RR came on board and have always trusted the info from Brian and the other illustrious mods. As always, if I want factual info regarding UM athletics - I always know where to go.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
beyond thanks and congratulations for a job well done by Brian and MGoBlog in addressing this subject. I guess it just goes to show what you can accomplish through skillful use of the Google -- and I'm sure Mitch Albom is dutifully passing this advice to his fellow Freep sports "journalists." Hey Brian, maybe you can add this to your resume and get a "real job"!
November 4th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
It'll be a fun day when those involved at the Free Press admit they were out to get RichRod.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^
I recently realized that Rosenberg is writing/contributing at SI. His archive suggests that he began writing there as early as August 2009. I have quite a bit of respect for SI because I believe it has maintained its traditional status as a source of sports news and evolved as a new media outlet while avoiding a lot of the content-grabbing pitfalls other outlets have fallen into in this day and age. I don't see how Rosenberg really belongs there. Anyway, you can send your thoughts on this episode and Rosenberg's body of work for the Freep to the Editor at SI here:
EDIT: And, I'm suggesting this course of action because I assume, I think rightly, that the editors at the Freep don't very much care what you think...
November 4th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
I've been a subscriber for close to 40 years. Yes, this means I was getting the magazine when I may have been too young to understand some of the articles, so I didn't quite get the enormity of USC's 55-24 win over ND, and I thought it was cool that Big Bird was on the cover ... anyway, IME there's been a pretty noticeable decline over the past ten years or so.
There are still good stories to read from time to time, but the amount of content keeps shrinking, the number of ads keeps increasing, and the issue of relevancy is pretty big. (Some stories age quickly enough that SI can't report them easily in print.) I probably would have canceled my subscription a while ago, except it's actually a gift from my grandmother (a diehard Michigan fan, btw), so I can't.
But knowing that Rosenberg writes for them is enough that I would. There is obviously no shortage of people who can write well about sports - there are several on this site alone - so there's no reason to employ people who smear first and ask questions later.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
Understood. I can't say that I have that depth of experience (no insult intended!) with SI. I've subscribed in the past, but now I mostly just enjoy their online content. I especially like Posnanski on baseball.
You could always write and say that Rosenberg's continued employment was the last straw for you and that you will be cancelling.
November 4th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
Whenever I see Sharp on Rome is Burning, I change the channel. It's disappointing these clowns are getting national exposure.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
doesn't want to put this to bed yet, as saying "Today may be the end of Michigan's NCAA infractions case, but coach Rich Rodriguez is still prominently mentioned in West Virginia's case, ..."
November 4th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
I don't want to be that guy, and gloat, but pretty, pretty please, when you receive these resumes from Snyder, Rosenberg, Sharp, et al in 5 years, can you be certain to interview them?
And can I please be there to watch? That's all I want.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
Film the interviews and post them here.
Or pay-per-view that shit. I'd buy.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
If it weren't for that Freep story, I wouldn't have so harshly turned my back on MSM sports reporting and started reading this site every day. In that sense, it was a blessing.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
Question...by adding a 3rd year to the probation, does that mean that the 130 hours are divided by 3 years instead of 2? If so, it seems like they were doing us a favor.
November 4th, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
it's that "probation" is a meaningless word.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
Thanks Brian, good show. I'm still not clear on what your stance toward the Freep is, though, particularly as it applies to board discussion, potentially radical MGoBlogger action, etc. You made it clear in a previous post that you would advocate not reading the Freep so long as the personal-agenda crowd is still employed there, but it seems that folks are discouraged from making commentary on the Freep here.
Personally, I think they deserve any and all criticism that can be documented on the internets or elsewhere, even if it's ultimately meaningless.
I also think that you and Jon Chait should join forces to launch a full-scale counteroffensive against the Freep, exposing the unethical dimensions of their project on such a public and national level that those responsible are canned.
November 4th, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^
I'd also like to see Rosenberg disgraced to the point where SI drops him. A guy can dream, anyway.
Spiteful? Yes, it is. Feels good ...
November 4th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^
It would be extremely unfair for either Chait or Brian to do investigative work into the Free Press, just like it was unfair for the Free Press to use a noted anti-Rodriguez columnist to investigate the Michigan football program.
It's time to let this all go and get on with the beating of the Illini.
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