Posted on Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 8:54 a.m.
11 University of Michigan coaches have loans with The Bank of Ann Arbor
By Jim Knight
Eleven University of Michigan coaches have mortgages with The Bank of Ann Arbor, which was founded by U-M athletic director Bill Martin, the Detroit News reports today. Is that a conflict of interest? Martin, the chairman of the board at the bank, said he didn't know about the loans until now.
"Now that I know, I don't like it necessarily," Martin told The Detroit News. "When you don't know, you don't have a conflict."
Football coach Rich Rodriguez has a $417,000 mortgage and a $783,000 line of credit, The Detroit News reported. Seven of his assistants also have loans with The Bank of Ann Arbor. Go here to read the complete article.
Comments
Rabid Wolverine
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 11:42 a.m.
What is this? High School?? Ridiculous!
Man in the Mirror
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 7:08 a.m.
Messin' with our Coach again. LEAVE COACH ROD ALONE!
Jimaize
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 3:37 p.m.
What next?!? Will we find out that 75% of the football team members are spending money at restaurants owned by "Martin's Bank?" Did the News point out that other coaches of the many employed by the U have NOT gotten mortgages through this particular bank? Were the coaches unqualified for mortgages? Did they get unusual or favorable rates? I'm willing to bet that the answer to all of these is a solid "no". This is beyond stupidity. Enough, already.
Old Salt
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 2:55 p.m.
Do they get a more favorable rate than I do?
Freemind42
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 2:41 p.m.
Blue, you're exactly right. The newspapers are supposed to ask experts the questions, not readers. This trend is all to prevalent in news these days. It is only a cop-out from culpability. Rather than following through with stories and actually investigating things the news will throw a misleading question up to the views/readers and fill the "story" with innuendo and vagueries
Freemind42
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 2:35 p.m.
Wow, so no matter what these coaches do, everyone assumes there is fowl play involved. I'm beginning to think that the witch-hunt we have here is running out of conspiracies.
A2D2
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 2:10 p.m.
While I don't think the story is worth the space it takes up, I do love Dr. Martin's comment:. "When you don't know, you don't have a conflict"
HHW
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 12:23 p.m.
Ah Hah, got ya U of M...oh, I guess not. Carry on.
truebluefan
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 10:41 a.m.
Whis is this relevant? Last I checked, people in this country are allowed to obtain loans from any bank of their choosing. In other words, who cares?!
blue
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 10:40 a.m.
AA.com: You should be able to explain the relevance of this story if you are going to be promoting it. How is this newsworthy? What constitutes a conflict of interest in this case and how is that manifested here? Don't ask the question to readers. Find people capable of answering it and ask them. As a news organization, finding answers to those questions might make you more valuable. This effort, if you want to call it that, feels like nothing more than a hit and run, a cheap shot. Get question marks out of your leads.
81wolverine
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 10:38 a.m.
Although this is another obvious attempt of the local media to attempt to drum up hits to their website(s) and sell their diminishing number of papers, I do agree with Bill Martin that this a potential concern. When you have an AD responsible for hiring coaches, also loaning them money, you can see where a conflict of interest can occur. But, I'm not concerned about it and unless there's real evidence of shady dealings, let's move on to something significant.
friend12
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 8:47 a.m.
I really don't care. This is a non issue, but, does Martin really think people are stupid enough to believe that he wasn't aware of the loans? The Chairman of the bank doesn't know every client, but, the head of the athletic office should be monitoring financial actions. I am pretty sure any major program would have procedures in place for reporting these types of transaction to make sure they don't violate NCAA rules. If he is not monitoring these things, maybe it is time get someone who can do the job properly.
StevenJ
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 8:24 a.m.
This is a complete embarrassment for the Detroit News. Even their own expert says this is no big deal, but they run the story anyway. The Freep story was full of holes, but at least they can say that possible NCAA violations are worth looking into. I'm starting to get the idea that every week when Rich Rod takes his garbage out, that reporters are swarming over it like rats looking for something to write about. Gee, what's the next "big story" going to be? That Rodriguez accidentally mixed some #2 plastic with #3 in his recycling? Get out of this man's personal business.
jeremy
Fri, Sep 18, 2009 : 8:20 a.m.
who cares?????? they kept their business with an ann arbor bank, shouldnt that be praised and not questioned?