A slap on the wrist for the Michigan program.
It’s nearly the middle of 2024 and the NCAA and Michigan have finally resolved incidents that happened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s joint resolution pertains to the University of Michigan Athletic Department and several former and current employees,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. “We are pleased to reach a resolution on this matter so that our student-athletes and our football program can move forward. We have no additional information and cannot comment further on other aspects of the NCAA’s inquiries.”
From the NCAA release , they announced Michigan is receiving three years of probation, a fine, recruiting restrictions, and a one-year show-cause for five individuals. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported that no further game restrictions will be served by anyone who is still on Michigan’s staff.
The NCAA also noted that one former coach did not participate in the agreement — that portion of the case will be separate. It’s fair to assume that coach could be Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh’s attorney, Tom Mars, released a statement indicating Harbaugh’s approach to the negotiations.
“Coach Harbaugh filed a lengthy response to the NOA, which unfortunately has not been made public, Mars said . “I see that Michigan changed its position to get this resolved, which is not surprising. I can almost hear the wheels of the bus going ‘whomp, whomp.’”
These violations ultimately amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist and a distraction Michigan was able to overcome. Michigan’s detractors and enemies were hoping the hammer came down today, and it did not. There’s a good chance they’ll be disappointed again in the future once other investigations are resolved.