The Day of Reckoning: Michigan Football Officials Depart Today to Meet with NCAA in Seattle

by Maize n Brew Dave on Aug 12, 2010 8:03 AM CDT in Michigan Football

After several months of hand wringing, nervous laughter, and some outright despair, the Michigan football program will finally go before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions this week and get this whole sordid "practicegate" affair behind it. Coach Rodriguez, Athletic Director David Brandon, and several key members of the Michigan staff are scheduled to depart today for Seattle, in order to prepare for Michigan's meeting with the Committee on Saturday. There's really little that hasn't already been said about this situation. Based on the reports from sources cited by the Detroit News and Ann Arbor dot Com, Michigan has positioned itself well to handle the proceedings and conducted a thorough investigation and self cleansing after the allegations broke.

At Big Ten Media Days Rodriguez faced a gauntlet of questions surrounding the investigation and how Michigan intended to deal with the situation. To his credit, Rodriguez answered every one of those questions forthrightly and to the extent he could answer them with the proceedings less than a month away. Rodriguez was mostly good humored about the questions, trying to crack the occasional joke when the opportunity presented himself, but it was obvious he'd rather have been talking about something else. Even so, he repeated over and over again that he was looking forward to Thursday, August 12, because it finally represented the time that he and Michigan could start to put this whole situation behind them.

For a lot of fans the anticipation leading up to the hearing has been tougher than the actual allegations facing Michigan. With the NCAA's propensity to dole out disproportionate punishment for things, who can blame them. But, thankfully, this whole thing finally comes to a head on Saturday. And when it's over we can finally get back to talking about what's important for this season.

Wins and losses.

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Let's hope for a quick rubber-stamping by the committee so we can get on with the business of playing football.

That is sooooo not funny - Maize N Brew Dave

by jeepnut on Aug 12, 2010 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

If they rubber stamp Michigan's self imposed sanctions that would be EPIC WIN

but, sadly, I don’t get the impression from the way things have played out with teh WVU investigation that the Committee is going to let this go quietly. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them tack on a scholarship loss for a couple of years just to be jerks.

Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer

by Maize n Brew Dave on Aug 12, 2010 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm hoping that if they tack on anything, then it's just an extra year of probation.

That is sooooo not funny - Maize N Brew Dave

by jeepnut on Aug 12, 2010 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I could be wrong

but I doubt there will be scholarship losses. David Brandon, Rodriguez and the University of Michigan handled these issues professionally and forthrightly as you said. I do believe the NCAA committee will be jerks, however, in their oral and written statements to and about Rich Rodriguez. I don’t think they’ll have much to complain about in terms of UofM’s athletic control, response to allegations, and corrective actions.

Go Blue!

by markusr2007 on Aug 12, 2010 10:30 AM CDT reply actions

I'm with you on this

But the infractions committee seems to be out for blood with regard to every institution right now. The fact that the USC thing dragged on really seems to have embarrassed the NCAA and I’m not convinced they won’t bar-b-que everyone (not just Michigan) that comes before them over the next few years.

Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer

by Maize n Brew Dave on Aug 12, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions