Mary Sue Coleman: 'I was quite taken aback' at Ohio State's NCAA violations
University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman said today that she was “quite taken aback” by the revelation that Ohio State University football players sold memorabilia in exchange for tattoos, an NCAA violation that contributed to coach Jim Tressel’s resignation Sunday.
University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman.
Coleman — who is attending the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island — declined to offer an opinion about how Ohio State is approaching the situation.
Here are excepts from Coleman’s conversation this morning with AnnArbor.com’s Nathan Bomey:
AnnArbor.com: Are you concerned that this is an epidemic — that we’re going to see more and more NCAA violations?
Mary Sue Coleman: Well, I’m very sad about it. This is obviously not a good thing for intercollegiate athletics. And I can’t speak for other programs.
But for our program, traditionally we’ve tried as best we could to follow the rules. The NCAA is a membership organization. It is us.
And I have a lot of confidence in Dave Brandon and his leadership. But it’s just too bad.
AnnArbor.com: How do you think the president of Ohio State is handling the situation? He’s taken a lot of criticism.
Coleman: I just - I can’t speak about that.
AnnArbor.com: David Brandon seems to understand how the athletics program affects the University of Michigan brand. How important is athletics to U-M’s global brand?
Coleman: Well, Bill Martin before him and certainly Dave realize that athletics is something that reaches a long way. People who come here love athletics, and we have a lot of fans who have never set foot on the university campus. It’s just the way it is.
But like any part of the university that’s out there, each part has a responsibility to live up to the standards we deeply hold. And I know Dave will take that attitude, just like he has already, like Bill Martin before him. So I feel very comfortable with that.
But it’s also something that we need to be cognizant and aware of and vigilant all the time.
AnnArbor.com: The student athletes at Ohio State have been selling their memorabilia. Are you concerned at all that that’s an issue throughout the NCAA?
Coleman: You know, I had never heard of anything like that. I was quite taken aback. It didn’t make much sense to me.
AnnArbor.com: But U-M memorabilia would certainly be worth a lot on the market. So is there anything that can be done to prevent student-athletes from doing that kind of thing?
Coleman: I think you just have to instill in them the pride that all of us associated with the university have a responsibility. And I know that’s what everybody in athletics tries to do.
AnnArbor.com: Do you think that student-athletes should be paid? That’s the ongoing debate.
Coleman: No, I don’t because I believe firmly that this is all about educational opportunity, and we provide a very wonderful opportunity.
And I think that’s sufficient.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
JustfortheRecord
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
I don't disagree with the main point of trespass, but where did this $180,000 a year number come from? That is pretty high.... I found this from <a href="http://ns.umich.edu/index.html?Releases/2005/Feb05/finaidqa" rel='nofollow'>http://ns.umich.edu/index.html?Releases/2005/Feb05/finaidqa</a> What is the distribution of family income levels among U-M?s current undergraduate enrollment? "We do not have any comprehensive measure of the family income of our students. However, our incoming first-year students participate in a survey during summer orientation, and among the many questions they are asked to estimate their family income. According to the most recent survey of freshmen in 2004, about 14% reported family incomes below $50,000. About 31% reported family incomes between $50,000 and $100,000, and about 55% reported family incomes greater than $100,000. It is important to recognize that these are student estimates, and may not reflect their actual family income."
Michigan Man
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
How can the leader of the U of M be "taken aback" by this news? I suppose just another vanilla, politically correct answer which means nothing? This statement by the U of M CEO is really sad, poorly articulated and less than creative. I am of the opinion that most observers of major college athletics would suspect that kind of behavior is in play quite often at many of our more important and prestigious universities. If our U of M CEO cannot figure it out - how can one expect her to have a carefully considered and logical set of solutions to this problem?
Lorain Steelmen
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
I can see where MSC would be 'taken aback'. She is an 'academician', and could care less about athletics. And I am 'ok' with that. She lives in a totally different world, than these athletes. As for the kids, like Pryor, these are just punks. There is NO excuse for this behaviour. Any one who says otherwise is just 'an enabler'. I'm getting real sick of this stuff. They should be severly disciplined, and hopefully, the NCAA has the 'backbone' to do just that. All the coaches, yes, the assistants, as well, should be canned, for fostering a culture of non-compliance. They are the 'adults ' here, and have a responsiblity for their players. As for 'paying' kids to play college sports, that is just a load of crap. If a kid can't get by on a scholarship, then he should stay home, and work at MacDonald's. The scholarship is intended to help him, or her, get a college education. That used to mean something! They either can work to accompllish that, or they can get out. End of story. The average student at osu, has to get by on what he or his parents can save., or take loans. They are NOT rich, as some on here have implied! And there are NO special perks for THEM. Finally, the AD (Gene Smith) should be canned as well. I do not believe for a minute, that he did not know what was going on. As for Pres. Gee....the guy is just a 'looney tune'..and an embarassment to his school! At least MSC had the presence of mind to hire a 'bouncer' like Brandon to keep the department clean! Only time will tell if Hoke can coach....but he can NOT be an enabler and survive, with these modern-day athletes...because they WILL, run all over him, if he tries to be their buddy! As far as 'work gate', at UM goes.....expecting kids to do calasethics on their own time, is NOT going to cause them life long tauma. It's call 'work ethic'.
Chase Ingersoll
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
I think it is hypocritical for the NCAA to induce economically disadvantaged kids to run at each other at 30 miles per hour to win themselves some "trinket memorabilia" that the kids and their team are then punished if the kids sell. Is it their property or not? Or are the disadvantaged kids just indentured servants on the NCAA plantation. Also - the coaches who personally recruit the kids and get to know their families and promise to mentor the young man, and be the person to whom the young man can trust and come to with anything....but the coaches are required under their contacts to RAT THE KID OUT if the economically disadvantaged kid breaks one of the "economic rules". I wish someone in the public would put up a website concerning the background and family of each of the players. Let the family members post pictures of where they live, the car they drive etc, and their contact information. Rather than buying a $60.00 football jersey for our own kids, I bet a lot of us would just as soon, send an anonymous money order or paypal for $60.00 to the player that got his bell rung in the last game, or to his little sister who is having her 10th birthday. Get a hold of me if you like the idea. I think the internet would afford us a way to do it outside of the control of the University and the NCAA.
trespass
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
One of the NCAA violations last year included the following; "Also, the school required players to participate in summer conditioning for disciplinary purposes"(charge #2). Stonum said in court he has been waking up at 4 a.m. and doing 1,500 yards in sled pulls and also pulling a 45-pound plate. Hoke said he doesn't have a timetable for when Stonum will stop the 4 a.m. workouts. Stonum is "working really hard" in a punishment schedule set up by the coaches. I think that these workouts were stopped after the compliance office was told about the possible violation. Isn't it interesting how difficult it is to change decades of old school mentality in football?
trespass
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:20 p.m.
The average family income for a student at the University of Michigan is $180,000. Less than 4% have a family income less than $50,000. So when you take athletes from poor backgrounds and you don't provide any spending money, they will be tempted to make money how they can. So for President Coleman to say she is "taken aback" is a little like the line in the movie Casablanca, "I am shocked to find gambling going on".
Cash
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
trepass, So true. Good post. BTW, gotta love Claude Rains.
XTR
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 2:38 p.m.
bobd - MSC is aware of practicegate. She said that she was "taken aback" with Tatoogate. lol!
KeepingItReal
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Mary Sue: Many of these athletes come from backgrounds totally unlike the background you grew up in. Many of them don't have the proper clothing when they get to the UM; many of them have never had the kind of economic privilege that students at UM have had. Yet, these kids are expected to practically live of nothing while you have students whose families put them up in Condos, sponsor trips and vacations to Europe or wherever and some of these athletes are lucky to be able to afford a trip back home on break especially if they live out of state which many of your athletes do. These kids see the hypocracy involved in what they do and how the University benefit from them financially and that is why you have these violations and will continue to have them until they get paid to play. College sports is only considered amateur simply because these athletes are exploited. Everything else about college sports is professional from the pay given to athletic directors to the instant millionaire status these coaches arrive at by becoming a head coach, all of the back of these youth.
trespass
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:32 p.m.
@Porchbear- I would agree with you if the University were responsible for the costs of their education until they graduate but once their athletic eligibility is expired, they are cut loose with or without a degree. The rules that limit practice time are designed to protect the student part of student athlete. I would say that paying a modest stipend and making the University responsible for their scholarship until they graduate would be a reasonable compromise.
porchbear
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
This is an illogical argument. No one "puts me up in a condo", or "sponsors trips and vacations to Europe or wherever", or buys me clothing. I work for UM and earn roughly the equivalent of what 2 semesters of tuition, room and board would cost. Am I being exploited too? Not to mention that this is AFTER putting myself through undergraduate and graduate school... The compensation for these players is a world-class education. I agree with President Coleman that this is sufficient.
Forever27
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
considering the fact that these "student" athletes don't have to pay for food, clothing, shelter, or their education while on campus, I'd say they're far from exploited. Regardless of that fact, the rules are the rules and everybody knows them going in.
bobd
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
Hello? Did the writer and MARY forget um is currently on probation for major violations in THEIR football program?
trespass
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 3:26 p.m.
@Mick52- Irregardless of your feelings on the seriousness of the violations, the NCAA report said that they were major violations.
mojo
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
"a few extra practice minutes" that could land people in jail given the way the NCAA operates.
Mick52
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
What major violation? Last I read on it, even the NCAA said the footall team incident was not a major issue. A few extra practice minutes is not a major violation.