Michigan self-imposes sanctions

[madinmaryland]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- The University of Michigan admitted Tuesday to a series of violations in its storied football program and insisted the problems related to practice time and the activities of graduate assistants were not enough to warrant major punishment from the NCAA.

"I would characterize today as a day of relief," athletic director David Brandon said.

Michigan released more than 150 pages detailing its investigation and self-imposed sanctions it hopes will satisfy the NCAA, whose staff will hold a hearing on the case in August. A final decision on NCAA penalties could take months, but coach Rich Rodriguez is not worried about that distracting his players.

"I don't think this ongoing case will affect them at all," Rodriguez said. "I think our players are very excited about the season and our staff is excited."

The sanctions included a recommendation for two years of probation for the NCAA's winningest football program, which is 8-16 in two seasons under Rodriguez. The school also said seven people, including the coach, had been reprimanded and another was fired.

"We believe that probation is typically one of the outcomes of major violations," Brandon said. "Probation puts your program under a microscope."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/05/25/michigan-ncaa.ap/index.html

What a mess that program has become.