Does Everyone Pay Players?
I hope this doesn't devolve into attacks on me for bringing it up, but I have a friend who is an alum of Florida State. We have a pact to stick together in the midst of our Sparty friends. He believes that every big time program's boosters pay players, including Michigan. I believe that Michigan does not pay players, but that the practice is common in big time football, specifically the south and Tressel era Ohio State (among others). Is there any evidence linking Michigan's boosters to paying players? Is there evidence that proves they don't? I know on the surface Michigan has a tradition of doing things the "right" way, but I've always wanted documented evidence to support this, especially in light of the SEC/ACC/NCAA's war against Harbaugh. I'd appreciate any links anyone has because I hate the "everyone does it" argument.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
For your reading pleasure. LINK
February 19th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
I've always wondered how in the H-E- double hockey sticks does an electrician for Ford have that kind of jack to throw around? I need THAT job
(I know he was a bookie or something but jeebus, thats a lot of spare change to have around)
February 19th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
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February 19th, 2016 at 3:01 PM ^
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February 19th, 2016 at 3:09 PM ^
FYI was better. I just picture a bunch of super serious dudes in suits randomly telling you stuff you may or may not have known already.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
That used to be a big thing in major cities and I'd imagine an auto factory was not a bad place to operate.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
I should have been more specific: Football
February 19th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^
The last 8 years is a pretty good indication that Michigan does'nt pay players.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^
Bad coaching is an indication we don't pay players? I don't think that's how it works.
February 19th, 2016 at 9:05 PM ^
its actually quite simple..
the right amount of money can buy blue chips that dont require much coaching to excel.....
February 21st, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
No doubt. If we paid out bb players to come here, I bet we got them off the rack at Sam's.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^
think of one instance in which there was ever any evidence that any Michigan booster or affiliate ever paid any players. Oh wait..... I think I might remember one.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:06 PM ^
I'm pretty sure the baseball team in the 80s was put on probabion for it and then basketball in the 90s.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
the 1980s Michigan baseball pay-for-play scandal, everybody knows about it. I don't recall anything with the basketball team though. Huh.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^
Yeah, for some reason those years between 1993 and 1997 are just a little hazy.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^
beating Kentucky in overtime at the Final Four in 93 and then I got nothing. The next thing I remember we were playing Clemson in the first round in 2009. Just blacked out I guess. Weird.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
...and no.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
Proving a negative. Super easy, let me just reach into my bag of tricks...
February 19th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
I was going to post something along these lines as well. I don't think sportswriters generally write critical articles about programs in the SEC or whatever (or they don't see them as scandal-ridden) because few people actually believe that it's a common practice to pay recruits. I wish there was more hard evidence that this practice was widespread and not just linked to a few extreme cases (like Reggie Bush).
February 19th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
are unanswerable...
February 19th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
I doubt every big name school pays players, but I think that big name schools in the SEC do. I don't think Michigan does, I just think that Harbaugh is just a really good recruiter.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:52 PM ^
It's pretty easy to sell your program when you're one of the top 5 nfl coaches of all time and you coach at one of the top football programs of all time. Ole Miss has neither of those things.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
I live in Wisconsin and even smaller schools "pay" their players. I know players that have played for Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin-Milwaukee that got money. But its not like they are receiving a check. Its hidden money that is labeled extra "food" or "athletic apparal".
February 19th, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^
One of my friends played Division II baseball. He alleged money would show up in his account in a similar fashion.
February 19th, 2016 at 5:27 PM ^
February 19th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
I can't imagine Hackett would have said what he said if he thought Michigan offered Gary what the other school(s) offered. It's possible that almost every school offers something - or that athletes everywhere find benefits from someone - but there's no way that it's the same, or even similar, across programs.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^
The obvious question is why doesn't Gary go to the NCAA? I guarantee you that Harbaugh has already talked to Gary and asked how he was negatively recruited so why not go all out and prove that he was offered money to sign with Clemson or Ole Miss?
February 19th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
What's Gary's incentive to do so? For that matter, I'm not sure it's wise for Michigan to lead that battle.
I just finished ranting about Jim Delaney in Brian's front page post, but he's the one in position to go after this. Either make it okay to pay kids or don't let schools get away with it. As it is, rule-abiding schools (like many in the Big Ten) are at a major competitive disadvantage. That's the kind of thing the Big Ten commissioner should care about.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
clean up dirty recruiting. Maybe he doesn't want to devote his time and energy to testifying and the endless questions and attacks that will follow. Maybe he's okay with college players getting paid, but he thought going to Michigan was a better decision for him than taking money to go somewhere else.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^
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February 19th, 2016 at 4:51 PM ^
No wonder Ole Miss uses the bagmen!
UM 4 Year Cost of Attendance = $235,832 (http://finaid.umich.edu/cost-of-attendance/)
Ole Miss 4 Year Cost of Attendance = $146,408 (http://finaid.olemiss.edu/cost-of-attendance/)
February 19th, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^
It's often not the schools that are offering money. It is people not truly affiliated with the school. If you read that SB Nation article about bagmen, it's not surprising. There are several grown men who deify young men. It's not unlikely that some of these men who obsess over these programs would offer to pay players in hopes that their program succeeds.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
If the basketball program is engaging in this type of stuff, it sure isn't getting much ROI.
As far as football goes I live in SEC country and its absolutely win by all costs and no one cares.
Also don't forget about the bag man:
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/4/10/5594348/college-foot…
February 19th, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
I don't, so no.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
Yes, its called the cost of attendance stipend and I believe most of FBS schools are providing it now.
I know this isn't the context of payment you're looking for, but players to get paid in this sense. I've even seen a story or two where it has effected a recruits decision.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
...but I do.
/s
February 19th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^
Walton, Doyle and DJ Wilson all walked into Pizza House after the Minnesota game last season and sat in the booth next to us.
They had two meals each and I highly doubt they paid a dime. I didn't see them pay. And honestly, they shouldn't have to.
Fuck off, NCAA.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^
the question isn't "do Michigan athletes have mad game and get all the pizza for free because they are pimp" but does Michigan pay them. I don't think food at Pizza House qualifies.
February 19th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
Well, if that is the definition you want to use, then "no" Bama and Ole Miss don't pay players either. As an earlier poster said, the Bagmen do not get money from the schools. They don't have to. Wealthy boosters are more than willing to pony up the $$. I have absolutely no doubt that boosters buy things for UM recruits too. With the terribly confusing NCAA rules, it absolutely impossible to be absolutely clean.
The only question is whether the schools know about it, allow it to happen, openly condone it, or just turn a blind eyet....I'm looking at you Steve Fisher.
February 19th, 2016 at 2:54 PM ^
February 19th, 2016 at 3:13 PM ^
Well, don't let that get in the way of WD suggesting that players, by name, are breaking rules. I mean, he didn't see them pay (?) and highly doubts they did (because why, exactly?), not to mention this possible voucher thing.
February 19th, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
There's no proof that they didn't pay, but I didn't see it. Even if they didn't pay and got a free meal, who cares?
They deserve it. And the NCAA can go play with itself if they think athletes at every big time D1 school don't get well-deserved breaks at restaurants.
Never knew about the voucher thing. Maybe they used them.
February 19th, 2016 at 7:49 PM ^
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February 19th, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^
They get a certain amount Chits a week for specific restaurants.
I was friends with a Freshman o-lineman and he was given a few extra for Mr. Spots so he could "fatten" up. He had to get from 260 to 290 in one year. We would have a lot of pizza parties with us playing COD when the whole team got a free X-Box 360 for the Alamo Bowl, while I had to wait in line for hours in the cold to get a first release. Still bitter about that. /s
February 19th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
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February 19th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
February 19th, 2016 at 7:46 PM ^
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February 19th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
...has boosters who give illegal benefits to recruits and players. But I think there are giant differences as far as the extent to which that happens and the extent to which it's tolerated by schools.
February 19th, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
This is exactly my impression.