NCAA Investigation Announcement Tomorrow?
Interesting quote from Bernie Smilovitz on Local 4 news after the Olympics (I know, his ridiculous segments do not exactly make him a bedrock of journalistic credibility) : "Rumors galore tonight that you might hear something tomorrow on the NCAA's investigation of Michigan's football program. We've heard it from several places, something may be coming down tomorrow."
Hope that whatever happens it doesn't ruin the excitement of Michigan students winning the silver medal on their first try at the Olympics!
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
I don't like the words "coming down."
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:03 AM ^
as well. I thought the same thing about the "coming down" statement, but who knows with Bernie's goofy ass.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:06 AM ^
I'm expecting someone will follow this up by finding ridiculous YouTube clips of Bernie segments, but I can't do it myself because I'm working on my undergrad senior design project.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^
"Come on down! You're the next contestant on The Price is Right!"
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^
I can't imagine any sort of sanctions/penalty being announced tomorrow since the NCAA has spent the entire weekend grilling USC in Phoenix. All I could see happening at this point would be an announcement that this is all over with little/no punishment or that they are going to continue investigating.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:56 AM ^
Grilled USC releases such a savory aroma! Maybe there'll be a side of roasted Duck. Which in turn invites the question, 'how hard is it to get players to not commit assault?'. Obviously, much harder than I would've guessed.
In a way, though, it boils down to the difference between white collar and blue collar crime. Rob a dude at gunpoint for $80, go away for a few years in a federal pound-me-in-the-ass penitentiary. Embezzle a few million, pay a fine, do some community service, spend two years in a minimum security nerds-only day care. Be a violent face punching idiot Duck, get suspended/kicked off the team. Be a weasely rule annihilating Kiffin, get called in front of the NCAA, lie a bunch, lose a couple of scholarships for a couple of years. Shady recruiting is ultimately worse for the sport we love than a few face punches, but the slo-mo replays aren't as replayable. Thus, punches meet with harsher penalties (eh, Sparty?).
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:13 AM ^
Bernie Smilovitz is second only to Eli Zaret in Sports Journalism annoying pool. (no those at the paper which shall not be named don't count. They're irrelevant to any and all discussion on "journalism.")
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:16 AM ^
they outlasted Van Earl Wright by a long shot
is Don Shane the only trusted name in metro detroit sports anymore? its been a while.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:25 AM ^
(Bracing self for board reaction either way)
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:37 AM ^
All you need to do is prepare yourself for the reaction if the news is bad. If the news is good we'll get some front-page muppets and 38 giant F-YOU open letters to the freep on the board. They'll all say the same thing, so you can just avoid them.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:05 AM ^
Well, I should have stated this, but I'm operating under the assumption that the Freep will declare victory either way. And what do you mean? I can't just avoid the board! I've got essays to write and exams to study for. That's patently not an option.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:28 AM ^
Well, I guess now I'll be following MGoBlog tomorrow at work.
Oh, wait, I already do that.
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^
My hope is that we get no convictions and prove that the freep is full of it. But we will find out tomorrow aledgedly.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:33 AM ^
Convictions?
Were the players overpracticing committing felonies?
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:28 AM ^
is happening today but they don't have a time yet.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:29 AM ^
"This is going to be a win for Rich Rod"
He said it this morning as I was driving in. (He is on the morning show this week)
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:39 AM ^
Freep: "Rich Rod Tramples NCAA Toddler For Win, Will NOT Play Peek-Aboo"
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^
"This is going to be a win for Rich Rod"Well duh. Don't you know he's all about winning at all costs?
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^
show me one example of the "win at all cost" mentality with Coach Rod. Oh yeah, that's right. His win at all costs mentality burned Justin Turner's redshirt late last season. Don't be a hater. Let the facts come out and then post that stuff.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
that was sarcasm from Wahoo
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^
I apologize for the "hater" tag. It's just so hard to tell these days with the influx of the Free Press hate.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
see post two below.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:41 AM ^
For the record, I'm very, very nervous. The NCAA has gone through everything with a fine tooth comb. If nothing is found, M truly is the cleanest program in the land, and I'll have a new fuzzy warm feeling for RR.
Conference is supposed to be at 11:00 a.m., I think.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:11 AM ^
so is this really happening? or is everyone still just speculating?
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^
The press conference? That appears true. Rivals, Scout and people on the radio are all saying an announcement is expected today.
As far as the outcome, I think that's more speculation, but some educated speculation.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:14 AM ^
Then it is not true. Ask Drew Sharpe.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:16 AM ^
The word on the street is just a bunch of little crap infractions that every program everywhere is guilty of, and the press conference will announce that the NCAA said to, "be careful."
As such, the Freep headline tomorrow will read as follows:
"Rodriguez, Michigan Football Guilty of Numerous Infractions, Narrowly Skirt Major Punishment"
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^
I think you're right, but it's still significant to have allegations against the football program proved true, even if they are minor and everyone else does the same thing.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
If I understand what was said correctly (given nothing has yet been announced), it sounds like the alleged major practice time violations will not be proven true. Personally, I'll be extremely happy and relieved for Rich Rod and his program, even if there are some minor concerns. Now they can tell the Freep to go pound sand and get themselves ready to stomp UConn this fall.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
Congratulations! You just did their work for them by giving them their next headline. That's the hard part. All that stuff that comes after that is inconsequential anyway, right? At least at the FREEP?
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^
Does anyone have more information about the press conference, like will it be streamed somewhere?
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
man that IS scary. Because every time a journalist uses a colorful statement like that, you KNOW it means there's something to it because a sports-journalist in southeast Michigan would never exaggerate anything, or say anything misleading, would they?
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:46 AM ^
Maybe they meant the NCAA is "going down" on Michigan. That sounds like a good thing... extra scholarships anyone?
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
That... that's entirely too disturbing. I hereby demand that you wash your mouth out with lifebouy.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
My personal preference is Lux, but Palmolive has a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand... YECCHH!
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
nothing worse than LAVA.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
Now my tongue feels chafed.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
That's the feeling of clean. If you want chafed, try Barwis's toilet paper.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
In my mouth?!? Listen, I think the guy is a great S&C coach, but there are limits!
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
"RichRod drops F-bomb, attempts to pass blame onto innocent neighbor."
Subheading:
"Also sabotages attempt to change tire, stranding family of four."
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
that says for sure the press conference is happening today?
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^
They know everything.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
to anything? Please?
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
but there are links behind paywalls. I don't know if that's helpful to you or not
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=162&f=1088&t=5647138
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
and the CBS site that does the Press Conferences. I don't see anything scheduled as of yet.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
Karsch on 97.1 reported this morning that he heard this was going to be a win for Rich Rod, and that there may be one minor violation, if any.
There was an article in the Michigan Daily a couple of days, maybe a week after that "secret meeting" about a new person in the compliance department. I looked for the link for a couple of minutes, but didn't see it right away, but I have heard all along as far as the CARA forms, well that was a couple of people in the Admin. playing the I don't really care for RR games, and didn't tell the staff that UM filled out these forms. The CARA forms are not a NCAA thing, but a UM thing. That is UM's method of compliance on the documentation of the workouts and what not. So if found guilty of that, they would essentially have not been compliant with their own plan.
So RR at least should be okay as far as the blame game on the CARA forms, I have no idea what to expect about the 20 hour rule and the mandatory workouts though.
But with the new compliance person hired in under the radar, and Karsch going on air about it probably being a win for RR, and there may be 1 minor violation, if any, I am thinking, actually hoping that this little compliance mishap is it.
I know, I know only 21 points, and no link to the Michigan Daily article. I wanted to try and ease some minds a little bit though.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
any minor violations and this becomes a "ZERO SUM STORY", then those sons-a-bitches at the Free Press (Sharp and Rosenberg) should be sued for slander. They tried to flex their "muscle" and run RichRod out of town at the 3-9 season. They should hang those two douchebags.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
Lets not get into the slander debate again, please.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
but if there are no minor or major violatons, I am really going to be pissed. That was an assassination attempt that took place last August.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
and lets leave lynchings out of it, plz