Who’s Mistake Was Worse? MSU’s or UM’s?

By David Harns • on February 25, 2010

I recently posted my opinion regarding the Michigan football program’s NCAA violations. An interesting conversation between my brother and I ensued. Check it out and post your opinion at the bottom…

David Harns : Michigan’s football coach Rich Rodriguez admitted making “mistakes”on Tuesday — the NCAA says he “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program.” Wow… RichRod had to cheat to go 8-16 in his first 2 years ~ MSU fans pointing this out will be the pot calling the kettle maize and blue but at least MSU’s unethical behavior was from rogue players, not institutionalized by the head coach.

Anonymous: Unethical behavior… MSU players acted like a pack of wild dogs.

David Harns: I didn’t compare the nature of the unethical behavior – merely the fact that UM’s was institutionally sanctioned bad behavior while MSU’s was the result of isolated players. The NCAA did not have to get involved with MSU but did with U of M.

Anonymous: Come on David, this is a very minor violation that really did not make U of M any better. I’ll bet if the NCAA investigated these type of violations with any of the top programs in the country, they would find some problems. You can’t tell me that U of M plyers practice more than other players from other teams. I’m sure mistakes were made, but it does not sound like the violations were intentional. MSU fans need to let this rest and worry more about that team in East Lansing and there problems.

Anonymous: The two situations don’t even compare to begin with. The only thing that MSU has to worry about institutionally is that their entire football team was not institutionalized in the Ingham county jail.

David Harns: I’ll chalk your illogical rantings up to the fact that you are depressed because you realize you hired the wrong guy. I’ve read all about it and my opinion still stands. I’d prefer rogue bad behavior by players over institutionalized bad behavior by those in charge. It’s much easier to get rid of a few bad apples than it is to chop down the whole apple tree and plant a new one.

Michael Harns: If you look at the details it comes to a misinterpretation of the rules. Rich Rod did not consider stretching to be practice. That was the major thing he did wrong. Too much stretching. Wow. Lock him up. A stupid grad student coach lied to the NCAA. What an idiot. Blue will be ok and we will become a national power.

Anonymous: you couldn’t be closer to the truth here. michigan fans have been slinging their mud to try and put disgrace on our rebuilding program. now, they have their own hands full with major violations.

David Harns: 5 major NCAA violations. Count ‘em… 5.

Michael Harns: They all refer to the same thing except the coach that lied. Get it right.

David Harns: I got it right. 5.

Michael Harns: Spoken like a true Spartan. How many criminals were on your team last year? Our biggest problem was stretching. Spartans biggest problem was the mob mentality utilized by more than 10 of the football players.

Anonymous: DH, you must be in your glory riling up all of the M fans. The Chief Button Pusher rages on! Calling it “major” de-legitimizes everything you are saying. No “major” sanctions will come of this, book it.

David Harns: Mike – wrong. Your biggest problem was institutionalized unethical behavior. See previous comments. Regarding using the word “major” — I was only copying what I saw on the front of the USA Today Sports section: “NCAA alleges five major violations.” But to be honest, I don’t see them on the same major level as the violations that Michigan’s basketball team went thru last decade… so you are probably right.

Michael Harns: Wrong. Michigan is a top ten program ever. You have been reading too much MSU propaganda and listening to much to Tim Staudt. Clearly it was an intentional misinterpretation of the rules. No question. However, the coach was trying to get an edge. I am not arguing that it is wrong. I am saying keep it in perspective. MSU players intentionally beat the hell out of people because they could. Whereas Michigan’s coach made a wrong decision to inaccurately define a rule.

David Harns: Michigan’s coach cheated. Period. MSU players were idiots. Period. I’d take an honest, ethical coach who can handle rogue players over a dishonest, unethical coach.

Michael Harns: Or MSU’s coach had an idea that the ring leader of the fight was trouble. He had suspended him earlier and let him back. Dantoni should not have been given a free pass. At least Rich Rod did take responsibility. Dantonio shifted all blame to the kids. What a stand up guy. I’ll take a coach that takes responsibility for his actions.

David Harns: Right. Those situations are equal. Mark Dantonio is guilty of giving a second chance to a troubled kid with no father figure in his life. RichRod is guilty of purposefully instituting policies and procedures designed to cheat the system that everyone else has to play fairly under. I’ll take the former all day long.

Michael Harns: Right. A troubled kid or great player. Either way you want to spin it. Just for the record. Would you rather have someone stretch you out too much or kick your ass with all his friends. I’ll take the former.

David Harns: Except that’s not what happened. “Stretch too much” – that’s good.

Michael Harns: U of M did not lose institutional control of the football program. It was a misjudgment. Although one could say that MSU lost their program by letting the student return. Obviously he learned nothing from his suspension.

David Harns: No. One could not say that.

Michael Harns: Are you saying that he learned something. What. How to beat up unsuspecting people. Not sure I would want to be taking credit for mob mentality violence.

David Harns: No

Michael Harns: It’s hard to argue with that kind of logic.

David Harns: Thanks. You lose.