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BREAKING: Michigan Football To Undergo Three-Year Probation Per NCAA
The NCAA released its findings from investigating Michigan’s COVID-era recruiting practices.
On Tuesday, the NCAA announced its final ruling on Michigan’s COVID-era recruiting violations, and the Wolverines were given three years of probation for the missteps. Full details of the punishment are outlined below.
According to the NCAA, Michigan and it’s coaches improperly contacted recruits in what was supposed to be a Dead Period on the recruiting calendar. During this timeframe, face-to-face contact between coaches and recruits is forbidden, and the NCAA purports that the U-M staffed worked out recruits illegally during the dead period.
Last season, Michigan preemptively agreed to a three-game suspension for then-head coach Jim Harbaugh, though it was unclear at the time if that suspension would eliminate further sanctions. Clearly, that was not the case.
Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel released a statement on today’s ruling:
“Today’s joint resolution pertains to the University of Michigan Athletic Department and several former and current employees. 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.”
READ MORE: Getting To Know Michigan Basketball Assistant Coach Mike Boynton Jr.
Now, Michigan will undergo three years of probation in addition to paying a fine to the NCAA and will have its recruiting endeavors limited for a period of time. Throughout the investigation, all coaches except for one unnamed former coach (presumably Jim Harbaugh) participated and cooperated, while the former Michigan head coach declined to do so.
Did you expect for Michigan to be punished for these recruiting violations? What’s your take on the outcome? Let us know and follow @EricJRutter on Twitter for more Wolverine Digest updates.
