The University of Michigan has decided to punish itself following an investigation into the football program revealed that multiple violations had occurred, including problems relating to length of practice time and activities of graduate assistants.
Here’s a list of Michigan’s self-imposed penalties, via ESPN.com:
Penalties self-imposed by the Michigan football program Tuesday:
• Cut back practice and training time by 130 hours over the next two years, starting this summer.
• Cut number of assistants from five to three and banned them from practices, games or coaching meetings for the rest of 2010.
• Recommendation for two years of probation. The school said it should not be tagged as a repeat offender despite a 2003 scandal in the basketball program.
• Letters of reprimand issued to seven people — including head coach Rich Rodriguez.
• Acknowledged for first time that staffer Alex Herron was fired after his claim of not being present during some activities was discredited by players.
This is all well and good, but as Michigan AD David Brandon noted, the NCAA will ultimately determine what the appropriate punishment is. And it make take months before the NCAA comes to a conclusion about what kind of penalties Michigan should suffer.
That said, it’s noble of the program to take action instead of waiting to hear its fate. In essence, its taking responsibility for what happened and is obviously taking the matter very serious. It’s a shame that such a storied program would have to punish itself because of something like this, but it’s nice to see a University be proactive for once.
Nevertheless, this is just another reminder of the embarrassment that Rich Rodriguez has brought to Ann Arbor. Nothing short of a bowl win this year will save his job.
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