I think it says more about character and accountability if they keep a player who isn't likely to contribute meaningfully to the team on the team and try to make him a better person.  He made 1 terrible decision during a confrontation outside of a bar, but outside of that we don't know anything about his character.  These coaches recruited him, spoke with people at his high school, his family and others in his community to get a sense for what type of person he was.  If they think it's best if he stays on the team, I don't have any reason to question them, considering past disciplinary issues.

I don't know how "York sucker-punched a guy and should be kicked off the team for being an idiot" qualifies as "rubbing in someone's face."  If York doesn't want a bunch of people on the internet pointing out his failings, maybe he shouldn't have punched someone at a party.

I wish him the best in dealing with the reprecussions of his actions, but I'm not going to pull punches (no pun intended) in pointing out how stupid this is, just like I would for anyone else doing something so stupid.

that was criminal assault.  A mistake is

1. an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.

2. a misunderstanding or misconception. verb (used with object), mis·took, mis·tak·en, mis·tak·ing.

3. to regard or identify wrongly as something or someone else: I mistook him for the mayor.

4. to understand, interpret, or evaluate wrongly; misunderstand; misinterpret. verb (used without object), mis·took, mis·tak·en, mis·tak·ing. 5. to be in error.

Assault

1. a sudden, violent attack; onslaught: an assault on tradition.

2. Law. an unlawful physical attack upon another; an attempt or offer to do violence to another, with or without battery, as by holding a stone or club in a threatening manner.

How about some empathy for the victim?

Brian Griese drunkenly pissing in the alley of a bar and throwing a chair through the window is "a mistake"

Sucker punching some unaware dude and breaking his jaw is beyond "a mistake" i'm willing to have a lot of empathy for.

Were you there and heard what was said?  Further, how does one threaten anything with their hands in their pockets, did he threaten to bite his nose?

...could you know that from that video?  Maybe he's simply seen a lot of fights.  Maybe that's not even true.  Let's not take too much from this.  It was a very bad moment, but it doesn't have to be more than that. 

Frank Clark pleaded guilty, as I recall, to a misdemeanor theft charge. A felony is a crime punishable by a year or more in prison. I haven't researched Michigan assault statutes, but I'm guessing that what York did likely could be a felony, depending on what charges are brought and what the evidence shows.

Whole different level of crime in my mind. Stealing a laptop can do harm, but won't break a jaw or have the potential to cause even worse bodily injury.

Forgive me if I missed an /s in there somewhere.

After seeing that video, even if he's not outright dismissed from school, I'd be surprised if Brandon would let this kid remain associated with Michigan's athletic program.