Uh-Oh....It Looks Bad, Maybe THAT Bad...

Well, it's finally here. For more details and takes check out

mgoblog.com and

The Victors

for their takes. My take for what it's worth: The NCAA has opened the envelope of violations of the Michigan Practices. The 20 minutes of overpractice or stretch time should be dismissed relatively quickly. However, where I thought they weren't going to find anything, it seams that one Graduate Assistant, Mr. Herron, was doing some bad things by first participating in the skill development of 7 on 7 passing drills and then denying he was there...If I haven't explained this clearly yet, this is why the role of "Student Manager" is so vital to athletic teams in NCAA. The student managers are non-paid and can therefore "observe" and then report on what's happening with the players during their workouts. And they can assist if necessary. They're just a student that is allowed to be around the athletes. But when you become a paid assistant, you need to follow the rules for ANYONE that's paid...And not only didn't Alex follow them, but it sounds like he lied about it....

It is alleged that Alex Herron, graduate assistant football coach, failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standards of honesty and sportsmanship normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics for providing false and misleading information to the institution and enforcement staff when questioned about his involvement in and knowledge of possible NCAA violations outlined in Allegation No. 2-a. Specifically, Herron denied during his September 28, 2009, interview with the enforcement staff and institution that he was present for or involved in skill development or seven-on-seven passing activities that occurred over the summers of 2008 and 2009. Subsequently, during his December 15, 2009, interview, Herron conceded that he was present only briefly at the beginning of such skill-development activities but did not participate in those activities in any manner when, in fact, Herron monitored and conducted the 2008 and 2009 summer skill-development activities. Further, Herron continued to deny his presence at or involvement in seven-onseven passing activities when, in fact, he was sometimes present for and involved in such activities.

This one stinks...The rest of the allegations are in my opinion, very minor and shouldn't result in anything more than a couple of self imposed slaps on the wrist. But this one is bad.

While I was a Student Manager, this was one area that I distinctly remember was critical at the coaches and managers' meetings: If you are paid - YOU CAN'T BE AROUND WHEN THE PLAYERS CONTINUE PRACTICING ON THEIR OWN, ARE WORKING OUT AFTER PRACTICE, BEFORE CLASS, ETC. Student Managers, on the other hand, could be there the whole time. This was made very clear - EVEN during Spring Practices!

So, what happens now? Brandon, Rod and company get together and either defend or deny the allegations. My guess is they defend and deny and offer up some self imposed discipline. However, Mr. Herron is probably in deep doo-doo and we will learn very quickly as I suspect he won't stay quiet too long as to whether or not he was "instructed" to be at these workouts or was doing this "on his own."

Sigh......