Michigan prepared to take Big Ten to court if punished without full investigation
Michigan is preparing to take possible legal action if the Big Ten Conference punishes the Wolverines’ football program before a full investigation into allegations of an impermissible scouting and sign-stealing scheme, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The potential for a court fight has increased in recent days as the Big Ten and NCAA weigh details and possible evidence in the case that has dogged Michigan for the past two weeks and shadowed its pursuit of another trip to the College Football Playoff. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Michigan is not discussing its strategy publicly, and did not provide details of its potential next moves.
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Michigan and the Big Ten have both confirmed the school was notified of potential discipline from the conference. The conference gave the school until early this week to respond to allegations and evidence it has been presented.
All this is playing out as the second-ranked Wolverines (9-0) prepare to face their toughest test of the season at No. 9 Penn State (8-1) on Saturday.
The NCAA is investigating Michigan, too, but its process is slower and is likely to stretch well past the season.
Big Ten’s rules allow for swifter action and coaches and athletic directors in the league have been pushing Commissioner Tony Petitti to discipline Michigan under the conference’s bylaws that cover sportsmanship and competitive integrity.
Michigan and its supporters say the conference is rushing to judgment and Petitti, a former Major League Baseball executive who took the job six months ago, is being pushed to act in a way not supported by league bylaws.
Former Michigan star and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard said in an email response to AP such a situation wouldn’t happen in the Southeastern Conference.
“I can’t imagine (commissioner) Greg Sankey — or Mike Slive before him — allowing themselves to be publicly bullied into circumventing the NCAA investigative process by coaches and ADs who insist on immediate punishment before a full investigation is conducted,” said Howard, who has been an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay” since 2005. “Especially if a potential national championship is on the line for the conference.”
