Michigan football made 5 major rule violations

The NCAA has issued a notice of allegations to the University of Michigan alleging five major violations in its football program. University officials just released the report this afternoon. Incoming athletic director David Brandon said the school would be sticking with head coach Rich Rodriguez.

Among the allegations:

• From January 2008 through this past September, the program exceeded the permissible limit on the number of coaches by five. The NCAA alleges that five quality control staff members illegally engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities.

• From January 2008 through at least last September, the school permitted football staff members to illegally monitor and conduct voluntary summer workouts and impermissible activities outside the playing season. The NCAA also alleges that U-M required players to participate in summer conditioning for disciplinary purposes, and exceed time limits for countable athletically related activities during and outside the playing season.

• Graduate assistant coach Alex Herron provided “false and misleading information to the institution and enforcement staff” during the investigation.

• Coach Rodriguez “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program and failed to adequately monitor the duties and activities of quality control staff members, a graduate assistant coach and a student assistant coach, and the time limits for athletically related activities.”

• From January 2008 through at least this past September, the athletics department “failed to adequately monitor its football program to assure compliance regarding the limitations on the number, duties and activities of countable football coaches and time limits for countable athletically related activities.”

In its letter to Coleman, the NCAA stated that “your university should understand that all of the alleged violations set forth in the document attached to this letter are considered to be potential major violations of NCAA legislation, unless designated as secondary.” None of the allegations in the accompanying document are designated as secondary.

These are the first major violations ever alleged against the football program. They come in the wake of an August 2009 Detroit Free Press report on alleged rules abuses by the program.

Brandon said the issues have already begun to be assessed internally and corrected including the processes that led to the breakdowns.

Brandon also said, “Rich Rodriguez is our football coach and he will be our football coach next year.”

Michigan may be subject under the “Repeat violator” rule, because these allegations occurred within the five years since the NCAA sanctioned U-M for violations within its basketball program.

The university expects to go before the NCAA committee on infractions in August. That committee will determine what sanctions, if any, to impose.

Michigan could self impose sanctions before then, but officials said at today’s news conference it was premature to talk about any resolution.

In late August, the Free Press first reported that the Michigan football program consistently violated NCAA rules governing off-season workouts, in-season demands on players and mandatory summer activities under Rodriguez, according to current and former players.

Players on the 2008 and 2009 teams described training and practice sessions that far exceeded limits set by the NCAA, which governs college athletics. The restrictions are designed to protect players’ well-being, ensure adequate study time and prevent schools from gaining an unfair competitive advantage.

The players, who did not want to be identified because they said they feared repercussions from coaches, said the violations occurred at the direction of Rodriguez’s staff.

“We know the practice and off-season rules, and we stay within the guidelines,” Rodriguez said in a statement issued at the time. “We follow the rules and have always been completely committed to being compliant with all NCAA rules.”

U-M compliance director Judy Van Horn said at that time that that the athletic staffs and coaches are well-informed of the rules and that spot checks were conducted. She also stated that “We have not had any reason to self-report any violations in this area with any of our sports.”

The school announced an internal investigation, and the NCAA followed suit, announcing it would conduct a probe in conjunction with the school.

The Free Press reports prompted passionate responses, from die-hard supporters claiming a media attack on Rodriguez to others who said the allegations sullied the school’s reputation.

At the regularly scheduled Monday press conference in the days following the Free Press articles, Rodriguez stood at the podium and gave an extended, 14-minute monologue to open the press conference.

With tears on his face, he said he was “very proud of the way our players have worked.” He praised strength coach Mike Barwis, who oversaw many of the off-season activities that were alleged to have violated extended hours.

The investigation continued behind closed doors for the next six weeks, with very few public comments.

On Oct. 26, Michigan released the NCAA’s “notice of inquiry,” a letter the school had received on Oct. 23, stating that the initial probe had gathered enough evidence to continue digging.

In that notice, the NCAA wrote it hoped to conclude its investigation by Dec. 31. At that point, Michigan referred all queries to the NCAA.

Coleman’s only public comments since came at a basketball game on Jan. 14.

“I’m not anxious, I’m not anxious,” she said. “I’ve said all along I want to see what the issues are and we’ll deal with the issues. But I’m not anxious.”

Source: By MARK SNYDER, MICHAEL ROSENBERG AND JIM SCHAEFER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS