but what about the bike?
NCAA Inquiry Update Today
Press release:
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U-M to hold media briefing about NCAA report
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --- The University of Michigan will hold a media briefing at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 23, in the Regents Room at the Fleming Administration Building regarding the NCAA report about the football program.
The briefing will include U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, incoming athletic director David Brandon and football coach Rich Rodriguez. They will take questions immediately following their statements.
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In the months since the university launched its internal investigation I've heard a thousand things of dubious provenance that range from an asteroid hitting Ann Arbor to the NCAA taking away ten scholarships… from the Free Press. So I'm loathe to say anything definitively.
Here's the but you were waiting for: but I do have a couple of folk I trust who have proven themselves one step away from important people. These folk say the results of the investigation are "not expected to have major implications." They will report something on at least two issues:
- Michigan checks up on players to make sure they are in class, and has been doing this since Bo. (I know someone who's had football players as a TA and can confirm that polo-shirt wearing folk checked in on luminaries like Jake Long.) This has been going on during summer classes; apparently it is not kosher to do this.
- The "quality control" people at issue in the investigation have football coaching experience. One of them, for instance, is our new safeties/OLBs coach. Before his time at Michigan he had some stints at smaller schools. Someone testified that the QC people did not have coaching experience, which may have been an "honest mistake," which the NCAA will rule on. How could this be an honest mistake?
The people testifying weren't the gophers or anyone at the workouts. It sounds like they were people in compliance or elsewhere in the athletic department but not the football program who were either ignorant or deceitful, either of which would explain the rumors going around about heads rolling in the aftermath of the report.
I followed up but couldn't get any clarification as to whether not expecting "major implications" meant they didn't expect any major violations. A major violation can have a minimal effect, as we've seen consistently over the past decade, but any major violation would sully Michigan's to-date pristine record and create another totally awesome media avalanche. It would be just like Michigan to get hit by the NCAA for making sure its players are in class.
Again, I think the above is worth posting and is accurate. It may not be comprehensive and may be a positive spin on something nastier. We'll find out in about an hour.
We'll have a liveblog going at 1PM. Tim will be twittering as well.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:00 PM | 
....
....
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:13 PM |
Awesome
Awesome
You have finally prompted me to make my first post with your avatar & signature! Awesome!
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:00 PM |
wait, it's improper
wait, it's improper
to make sure kids are in class?
That doesn't make any sense
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:04 PM |
Seconded
Seconded
I would think that something like this would be encouraged, or at least not discouraged. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with making sure someone went to class? I do not see the downside.
Proud member of the 6/30/2008 circle of trust.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:25 PM |
We're from the NCAA, and
We're from the NCAA, and
We're from the NCAA, and we're decidedly not here to help.
You may resume your unbreakable faith in David Brandon's pimp hand.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:47 PM |
especially
especially
because i would presume that coaches are permitted to request updated attendance records each week from profs
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:01 PM |
Promptness
Promptness
Should we check in at about 2:30 to see whether the presser has started? I for one would be up for a NSD-esque flurry of angst/humor/rumors/keyboard diarrhea for about ninety minutes, followed by relief, optimism, and an update to the ESPN college football page by 9:00.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:20 PM |
Call me a skeptic, but
Call me a skeptic, but
Unless this turns into an absolute bloodbath, I'm guessing no further updates will come from ESPN.
Your friendly neighborhood contrarian.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:02 PM |
making sure kids go to class
making sure kids go to class
making sure kids go to class is the sort of violation only michigan could find a way to get punished for
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:03 PM |
Punished for making sure your
Punished for making sure your
Punished for making sure your "student-athletes" are actually students.
I would imagine the NCAA is smarter than to make that statement. At least regarding that "alleged offense" I'd assume the NCAA would slap-the-wrist with zero actual penalties.
As for the "working too hard" allegations... fingers crossed.
Class of '97: 4 Years -- 4 Four-loss seasons
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:05 PM |
Let me get this straight
Let me get this straight
the NCAA actually has a RULE forbidding coaches(or the athletic department) from MAKING SURE PLAYERS ATTEND CLASS. Well that makes complete sense; the NCAA really DOES put student before athlete!
"You smiled, luring me on
My heart was gone, you were temptation"
RAVEN - Remember Affect Verb Effect Noun
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:10 PM |
So, with these findings
So, with these findings
The NCAA will also announce a list of schools that violated rules by making sure kids go to class, along with other football programs that practice too hard?
They mostly come at night... mostly.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:10 PM |
The QC thing was always the
The QC thing was always the
The QC thing was always the one thing in the Freep report that I thought might actually have been an issue and not a bunch of overblown overhyped hooey sprouting from Rosenberg's complete willful ignorance of NCAA rules and the non-countable hour.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:12 PM |
Not that I condone going to Freep's page, but...
Not that I condone going to Freep's page, but...
... has anyone been compiling the headlines regarding MSU's double-digit criminal charges to compare to whatever damning headlines they come up with for this load of malarkey?
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:12 PM |
Shredder
Shredder
LiveBlog it. Or will that cause curse to ensue? Chicken. Egg. Damn.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:13 PM |
:)
:)
:)
http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com (UPDATED: 5/27)
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:15 PM |
...
...
do you know something we don't know?
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 PM |
the problem
the problem
The problem is that excessive class attendance could result in the players becoming overly knowledgeable in comparison to the opposition, resulting in an unfair advantage. Ohio State, USC and the SEC are not going to put up with this and the freep is going to play watchdog for them
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:14 PM |
oh and fwiw
oh and fwiw
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:15 PM |
I'm scared.
I'm scared.
That is all.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:23 PM |
What is the best and worst
What is the best and worst
What is the best and worst realistic scenario of penalties?
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:29 PM |
heh, or.
heh, or.
Or just wait 30 minutes. ;)
--
Benjamin in Ann Arbor.
snowfox web design + development
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:26 PM |
It would be just like
It would be just like
It would be just like Michigan to get hit by the NCAA for making sure its players are in class.
Sheeyit. I hope the NCAA dings us for that. I want them to. It would be the first NCAA violation in history we could actually use as a recruiting tool. "You see, son, every school talks the talk about taking care of their players as people. We do it so well we got punished for it."
Ohio State is the #1 bathroom. I take poops in the bathroom.
Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:47 PM |
BOOM! /claydavis'd
FIFY.
BOOM! /claydavis'd
FIFY.
BOOM! /claydavis'd
FIFY.
Ohio State is the #1 bathroom. I take poops in the bathroom.
Blogging the Virginia Cavaliers at http://fromoldvirginia.blogspot.com.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 PM |
MSU keeps track of their players too!
MSU keeps track of their players too!
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:27 PM |
LMFAO
LMFAO
I am Laughing My Fucking Ass Off, at the notion that the Free Press' major investigation might actually result in the finding that Michigan football staff broke rules by checking on whether football players had good class attendance records.
LMFAO = Laughably, most Freep assholes overstepped.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:33 PM |
Meanwhile...
Meanwhile...
USC gets caught with a trunk full of dead hookers, and the NCAA responds, "These girls had no family. It will be like they never existed."
They mostly come at night... mostly.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:38 PM |
Perhaps there will then
Perhaps there will then
be additional sanctions for the impressive team cumulative GPA as well. Taking classes seriously, practicing hard to improve on the field. What a disgrace.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 PM |
From where I was just looking
From where I was just looking
From where I was just looking across the plaza at Fleming, it doesn't look like the media circus I was expecting. The only news truck I noticed so far was channel 7.
Wait, where that trash can used to be, what's that?! Is it?...YES! It's Michael Rosenberg disguised as a trash can hoping to get his dirty hands on some confidential documents showing that UM's football players literally spent 110% of their time practicing football! It was really difficult differentiating him from the rest of the garbage...
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:54 PM |
Rosenberg in a trash can??
Rosenberg in a trash can??
So he had a prior career on Sesame Street? No wonder my daughter never liked Oscar—even as a toddler she could tell something was wrong with that guy.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:41 PM |
Edit on next years BTN
Edit on next years BTN
Edit on next years BTN football commerical, "Our helmets have wings and our players actually go to class!"
"...what do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"
"Fix the cigarette lighter."
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:46 PM |
My prediction
My prediction
Michigan will get cited by the NCAA for having football program people making sure that athletes are going to class. A scholarship will be taken away; Freep will declare vindication.
USC will get cited by the NCAA for having football program people making sure that athletes don't have to go to class, can get their apartments paid for, and can drive the best vehicles possible on campus. A scholarship will be taken away; Freep will say nothing.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:52 PM |
Seriously
Seriously
If the NCAA does find fault with Michigan for making sure that kids are in class, it will become an instant punchline for Leno, Letterman, Kimmel, and Ferguson. Hell, even Conan will come back for a night just to make fun of them.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:01 PM |
My wish for next steps
My wish for next steps
MSC did the right thing getting way out ahead on this when the Freep BS started. Launching the internal investigation immediately and taking a completely professional, dispassionate approach was great leadership. It now gives her the moral authority to followup whatever is announced today with another investigation of the Freep's practices while on UM property. The lowest most vile part of this whole thing, imhe, was the trickeration of the two freshman during the fan appreciation day (?). IIRC, Snyder/Rosenberg basically tricked the two freshman into commenting about how hard they were working, and then they spun it into their web of bs of "current and former" players accusing the coaching staff of breaking rules. It was a bs move by the Freep, and they should still be held accountable for it. MSC has the high ground to do something about that.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:27 PM |
USC
USC
The number of practice hours we put our players through would be easier to check up on if we could look at pay stubs like USC.
/shits pants
O-H-I-O: Because the "YMCA" wasn't gay enough.