Who Won? RR or The Freep

The answer is: Neither

This is Loss - Loss for both sides.

Freep's shotty reporting started a Michigan investigation which started an NCAA investigation. The report today is the results of what happens when the NCAA goes over your program/any program with a fine toothed comb. Did the Freep uncover Michigan cheating on purpose to gain an edge or did they waste thousands of dollars and hours? You can make your own decision, but I think you know where I stand on that topic. I think many of us would be happy if the Detroit News was the only "Detroit" paper in town. Does a city the size of Detroit really need two?

The Free Press thinks they were right. Michigan over exceeded some practice times by minutes and a couple of hours. Not by the 2 or 3x times they exaggerated in their original report. The guy that is suing U of M for the topics of the closed door Regents meeting should sue the Freep for exaggerating the truth or lack of research.

They were right in that some of the Quality Control Staff were working with players in coaching type of situations. This is really the only "real" charge in the report, in my opinion. Some state the opinion by the NCAA that RR failed to adequately monitor its football program to assure compliance is a damning statement. I find it overblown and a bit ridiculous. Since the NCAA basically said they broke the rules by a couple of hours of practice that may or may not have to do with preparing to practice with activities like stretching. One statement in the report, says by 20 minutes. Are you kidding me? What a waste of time and money.

If Michigan's QCS group did act like coaches during off season work outs then, Michigan should be punished with some type of wrist slap. Alex Herron, the grad assistant in the report is probably already looking for new work. The minor practice time overages will be fixed with the new tracking system. So it's too bad this is going to take 6 months to get resolved, when it seems like it could be wrapped up in 6 weeks.

If you interested in reading a fair write up on this situation, please see ESPN's Adam Rittenberg and Rival's and Yahoo's Dr. Saturday.