Chris Partridge statement

If the conversations were "When the NCAA asks you X, make sure you say Y," it's not necessarily so innocent.

Obviously I don't know that, but I kind of doubt he was just at the water cooler and said, "Man, that NCAA investigation, huh? Sucks man."

Competence vs. incompetence.  

Go back and listen to Coach Harbaugh's comment about the firing.  

There should be another firing.

That was my first thought.  Why the fire?  Suspension would seem much better.  But, like everything, we are hearing it from Partridge, and not the side of the University/Athletic Department.  Sure sounds like Harbaugh did not want to fire him though.

I think the issue was that Partridge was perceived to have been coaching players in what to say to NCAA investigators during player interviews. 

I think this is what he means by having been a "source of support to, through thick and thin, to every student-athlete." 

It was made clear almost immediately by insiders that he wasn't involved in Stallions scheme and didn't destroy evidence. He spoke to players about it. 

This can be considered tampering with witnesses if he was advised not to discuss. He may think he was counseling and mentoring. I suspect he crossed a line of what a lawyer said was acceptable conduct and termination mitigates future NCAA action. 

This is one of those LOIC things.  When you are under the gun from the NCAA you have to show you are taking compliance seriously.  This is the kind of thing that gets Lack of Institutional Control charges if you let it be.  Michigan isn't playing games with it; he's going to be out of College Football until the NCAA investigation is done. 

I hope he gets a phone call from the Ravens and can keep his career going.  This is one of those things you Can't Fuck Up given the circumstances but he deserves another shot.  If Jeff Lebby still has a career Partridge sure as hell does. 

He apparently coached his players on what to say when interviewed, at least that's the scuttlebutt. His statement seems to be roughly in line with that.

Something tells me they did not summarily fire a man for no reason. They’d be opening themselves up to a massive lawsuit. Don’t be so gullible. 

I suspect that how quickly UM gave in to those demands from the B1G probably means Partridge did something bad enough that he deserved to be fired even if the speculation around destroyed evidence isn't correct.  He doesn't refute the charge that he told players what to say to investigators, and my guess is that is intentional.

This is CP’s take. We have only a little piece of UM’s take. But usually what I find is there are three sides to every story:  yours mine and the cold hard truth 

Linebackers Coach at Michigan is apparently the equivalent of Defense Against the Dark Arts Instructor at Hogwarts. 

I'm glad he said something. This is what I expected to have happened. He basically violated company policy at a time where they couldn't suffer a single infraction. He is a great coach and loved by many. I'd prefer he were still on staff. We'll never know the full story. 

Sensitivity and seriousness as created in the hyperbolic over-reactions of the media.

He told the players what to say to investigators 

maybe there isn't

also stop calling me Shirley

Don't call me Shirley!

thus explaining why he's doing this in the first place. i'm guessing his agent is telling him he's radioactive right now.