Michigan football finally catches a break, in the investigation that time (and we) forgot: The NCAA Committee on Infractions is dropping the “failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance” charges against the program, which were biggies, and is expected to announce this afternoon that the Wolverines’ self-imposed sanctions will largely suffice as punishment for extra practice time. They’re facing three years’ probation for the football program, cuts in their staff roster, and reduced practice time.
Our brothers at SB Nation’s Maize N Brew have a few choice words for the Detroit Free Press, whose staffers are going to have to take up knitting now that their hilariously overt campaign to run Rodriguez out of town has crumbled:
Rich Rodriguez To Be Cleared Of ‘Atmosphere Of Compliance’ Charges By NCAA
This whole thing started with their crusade against Rodriguez and the only thing it did was strengthen everyone’s original perception that it was an honest mistake and make the paper look like a bunch of angry lemurs jumping up and down on a typewriter. I’m still mad at Rodriguez’ handling of the defense this season (and last season, and the season before that), but I’ve never questioned that he is a man of integrity. The muck raking and dirt flinging by the Free Press in an attempt to paint Rodriguez as a, to borrow from Joe Tiller, a snake oil salesman has been inexcusable. It simply represents another reason why newspapers like the Free Press and their brand of “sports journalism” are dying.
Stay tuned to Maize N Brew for more on the specifics of the report when it’s released in a few hours.
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