COLUMNIST: Michigan's jersey giveaway sets dangerous precedent

Zero.  

So we shouldn't allow players to keep their earned trinkets because maybe they will break a rule later by selling them?  Better yet, let's let the players buy all their equipment in the first place: giving them a helmet violates improper benefit rules.

This guy is an idiot.

And seriously, what's to stop a player from "borrowing" a jersey from a regular game at some point.  Game worn stuff is just as big.  Hell, what's to stop a player from bring a vial in and bottling his sweat....game sweat.  Sheesh.

No merit.  This is stupid.  While everyone's initial reaction was probably to cringe and worry, it shouldn't be a big deal.  This is like saying, "a couple college kids got DUIs.  We should not serve alcohol to college kids or we should take away their driver's licenses." Just because a couple idiots were tempted doesn't mean other kids can't be responsible.  If OSU gives the tat5 their Pro Combat jerseys, then yea, they're pretty stupid.  But to punish innocent kids for mistakes by other people would be ridiculous.  

They keep them for a sentimental value. To be honest this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for those players and I would hope none of them would trade it for a little bit of money.

Such an asinine argument. This guy is assuming that getting to keep the jerseys is like some sort of "gateway drug" so-to-speak. Because after several players lobbied to keep the jerseys after the game, the next logical decision is for them to sell said jerseys?



I actually read the article (who knows why). He continued saying that if Michigan wanted to do something special they should have auctioned off the jerseys.



That'd be a good way to show the players they're appreciated after they asked if they could keep them!

What if these jerseys and all other gear that they want to or are allowed to keep was stored by the school until they graduate or move on.  I have to think that these student athletes would be just as happy with that.  Just a thought.

I really hope we don't win the B1G. We'd have to give out Championship rings, just think of the potential violations!

/sarcasm

We're Michigan, not OSU. Our QB is Denard Robinson, not Terrell Pryor. I think that pretty much sums it up.

Eff that guy.

As many other people have pointed out - this is stupid because by that logic, you shouldn't give them championship rings, athletic gear, or anything, really, since anything could be bartered or sold.

But this is also stupid because it assumes our players are completely unaware of the scandal that rocked our biggest rival and lead to them firing their incredibly successful coach. I know Denard doesn't have cable, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't live in a vacuum.

Are they going to frown upon the Gold Pants every year now?  Guess we might as well not give them B1G  Championship Rings either now, right?

He showed his ignorance to what other schools are doing, i.e. OSU still gives out gold pants  He also completely overlooked that unlike the trinkets from OSU these  jerseys are completely traceable. He must think our players are as dumb as he is and can't see their own names on the back,

sorry

`He has to be a columnist from Columbus. Who else would lay the problem at the feet (or on the backs) of the players? The issue wasn't that they sold items, the issue was what the school didn't do about it. As usual, they just can't wrap their tiny minds around the fact that the problem lies within.

This is Michigan Fergodsakes. OSU comparisons are a pretty big reach. We actually were smart enough to clear the idea with the NCAA first as opposed to doing what ever the hell we want.

Because if Michigan gives away the jerseys, and then some of the players sell them or exchange them for other goods, and then Hoke learns about it and emails someone else about it, and then he covers it up so that no one loses their eligibility, and then he lies to the NCAA about the whole thing ... we might end up in some moderately hot water.

This guy is a fool.  Just because there have been problems at other schools with selling gear, we should never give the players anything they could sell?  That's no way to treat the players.  You have to keep them educated about NCAA compliance, but you can't act like you assume they're all likely to run out and sell everything they're given.  Come on.  This guy probably wouldn't want us to give out Big Ten Championship rings, either.  There's really no difference.  Just a guy trying to find something controversial to write about, but he is COMPLETELY off base.  

Slow down guys. You cannot "give" away jerseys, this would be a huge violation of rules. I'm betting what DB is doing to selling them to the players either after the year is over or when they graduate. And just for clarification, you can sell them to the players for any price the equipment manager wants: $1 to $1000. This is 100% legal.

Didn't we already give away Navy Seal Tridents this year?  Oh god, searching the ebayz . . .

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I think the OSU happenings are a poor reason to withold them from the players, and as such I am happy the AD is going to let them keep them. I understand what the writer is worried about, too, so maybe if they were kept around but the players weren't physically allowed to keep their jersey until after their career is over?

This guy is a freaking idiot. Makes a bunch of assumptions...thats all this article is. He just wants to create controversy.  

WE ARE NOT OHIO STATE

Michigan's players actually want to keep their jerseys.  Besides, I would imagine that, after the Ohio State University memorabiia scam, which Ohio fans conveniently call "a couple of free tats," every compliance department at every major school has someone who looks on ebay, CL, and other viable auction sites every day to make sure nothing is going up there from current players.  

Funny how Sparty fans claim Michigan is "no longer relevant," but some hack from Virginia is writing about Michigan's special uniforms.  He sure isn't writing about Saint Dantonio.