Athletic director Dave Brandon stiffens Michigan's drug testing policies
At a time when studies suggest marijuana use is on the rise among NCAA athletes, the University of Michigan has hardened its stance against drug use since Dave Brandon was hired as its athletic director in 2010.
An ESPN story on marijuana in college athletics published Wednesday says Brandon was "surprised" at how infrequently the Wolverines were tested when he was hired to replace Bill Martin.
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
"As long as you weren't one of the ones that was chosen for testing in a very infrequent cycle, then you had a high likelihood to use drugs, smoke pot and not get caught because you didn't get tested."
Brandon increased the frequency of his program's testing, and stiffened the penalties for a positive test, according to the report. Michigan athletes now are suspended for 10 percent of their team's competitions for a first positive drug test and 33 percent of competitions after a second.
They receive a one-year suspension from all activities for a third positive result.
"I think it's a competitive disadvantage to have a program where there is drug usage as part of the culture," Brandon said in the report. "I don't look at it as a competitive disadvantage if we have to suspend a student-athlete from time to time to make a point."
The NCAA's most recent drug-use survey, which was conducted in 2009, showed that 22.6 percent of athletes admitted to using marijuana. That's a 1.4 percent increase over a similar study from 2005.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
UlyssesWrong1
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 6:27 a.m.
"I think it's a competitive disadvantage to have a program where there is drug usage as part of the culture" Great job Dave Brandon, you're killing one of the reasons athletes and students want to come to Michigan, due to Ann Arbor being very lax on marijuana. I guess if you want to make it harder for them to smoke marijuana comfortably and thus drink more alcohol, this is a good thing. Because it's not like we have players getting DUIs and MIPs or alcohol related trouble in Ann Arbor (Stonum, others). Just kidding, that's exactly how it is. Quite frankly a lot of athletes smoke marijuana in high school, college and the pros and still play at a high level. This simply would make me consider another school where I could smoke marijuana a little more freely (IE many big schools). But I guess it's a competitive disadvantage for us to be attractive to a recruit who has great talent but likes to smoke marijuana. Thank you for making recruiting more difficult for a stupid reason. Thank you for the Rich Rod experiment, where you thought we could play small and fast and enter a new era of Michigan football that's cutting edge. Wait, that failed. And thanks for running Dominos Pizza into the ground. What was once a tasty pizza every time has become some of the nastiest, cheapest pizza since Brandon joined and then left them.
Hailmary
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 11:39 p.m.
Right or wrong the use of drugs is a larger blemish to the University than under age drinking. Old school thinking is still in charge and when it comes to alcohol the toleration or attitude is, " boys (and girls) will be boys." I doubt we'll see a change to that attitude in our lifetime unless your 5 yrs. old.
thecompound
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 2:31 a.m.
I get what you are saying, but I find it obnoxious when well known players who are underage are holding court in local bars and it is just fine. At least be discreet.
Hailmary
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
I mean 5 yrs of age.
Scott Laux
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
Great move Mr. Brandon. Drugs are a blight. I worked in Mexico for 15 years and now can't even visit there. People I knew, now go from work to home and never go out-live in constant fear; thanks to the drug war and drug cartels. And where do they get their money? From US consumers of drugs. Drugs destroy the culture of football programs and countries and in the case of Mexico- they just turn a once beautiful place into hell.
UlyssesWrong1
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 6:07 a.m.
You'd probably be surprised to learn a lot of marijuana is grown domestically and has no connection with Mexico.
chuck
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.
GOOD JOB Dave Brandon !!!!
clownfish
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:26 p.m.
How about testing if there is a performance issue only, be it grades or athletics? And testing for all administrators and regents?
beachbaby
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.
If he's gonna be stiffer on drugs, than he should be stiffer on the under-age drinking too. Kind of funny to see the athletes in the bars when you've read their (under) age in newspaper articles.
thecompound
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
It's not about "having a beer now and the", which i am not necessarily opposed to. It's about enforcing one rule and looking the other way for another. Whether anyone feels the drinking age should go back to 19 or 18 doesn't matter, 21 is the law. If Brandon is going to crack down on one "illegal" activity, he needs to look at the other one, and as of today, 21 is still the legal age to drink. Out of curiosity, is Rick's a 21 and older bar or do is it mixed ages with only some being able to drink?
JustfortheRecord
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
Let a kid have a beer every now and then amongst friends. Sheesh. If they weren't on the football team, you could send them to "go and kill the yellow man". It's just a beer. good grief.
David Vande Bunte
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
Agreed. I tend to have a very harsh POV when it comes to athletes getting into trouble. As athletes, they represent the University far more than the average student does, and as such have a bigger responsibility to abide by the rules and maintain the reputation of the school. Playing sports at the University of Michigan is privilege, not a right, and needs to be treated as such.
thecompound
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
I have seen that also at Ricks, 1bit. They are pretty easy to spot, especially the ones that are often given fluff pieces on aa.com.
1bit
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
I was thinking the exact same thing. I remember the underage athletes getting into Rick's all the time when I was back in undergrad and they weren't there to drink tea. Or, rather than drug testing, we can leave the discipline up to the coaches.
Doug
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Dave Brandon is great leader in whatever position he holds. I was hoping he'd become our governor. Maybe in the future.
John of Saline
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
That would be easier than in the past.
Nic schweigert
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Let's all move into the 21st century.
MRunner73
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:09 p.m.
This is welcome news and a solid policy. The football program grabs the headlines but I would like to read about suspensions in the other sports at U of M in the future. This way, we'll be able to compare. It will also be a big blemish if any one of these sports programs are listed.
smokeblwr
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.
Just another case of The Man holding the little guy down. Just wait till Friday, 4/20. We'll show him!
Steve McQueen
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
that is no ciggy im smokin in my Avatar...bud.
Nic schweigert
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
Yeaaaa buddy