Hoke/Michigan Continues to Dig a Deeper Hole

The hole continues to get deeper regarding Brandon Gibbons and who knew what when. 

The latest update:

• Brady Hoke releases a statement about discipline, character and integrity. 
• Brady Hoke invites a few media folks to talk about stuff but doesn't invite the Michigan Daily the organization that broke the story to the roundtable.
• Brady continues to say he can't say anything but he would like to. 

Brian from Mgoblog sums it up perfectly: 

Michigan isn't actively trying to make themselves look bad here, but it's hard to tell. Hoke issued a statement denying any influence over the university's internal investigations, echoing a statement made by Mary Sue Coleman in response to a question no one is asking.
No one wants to know that. They want to know which of the following possibilities is true.

1. No one in the OSCR or OIE bothered to tell Hoke that they had found Gibbons culpable in the 2009 incident on November 20th
2. Hoke was informed on November 20th that his kicker was getting expelled and played him against Iowa.

This well written editorial from the Michigan Daily sums it up as well.

So Michigan is either really bad at communication or Hoke played a kid that was in the process of getting expelled against Iowa.  This story continues to get worse for all involved.

The point Coach Hoke continues to miss is, that many people are not blaming him for keeping Gibbons on the team.   There never seemed to be any charges and the University took 4+ years to take any action.  The issue is:

• Did Hoke play him against Iowa after being notified of the action?
• Did Hoke lie about an injury against Ohio State?
• Why was Gibbons at the team banquet?
• We know Hoke lied about the "family issue"

Two side notes here:  1) I'm sure Gibbons knew he was being investigated and did that lead to his strange performance against Penn State where he missed all those makeable field goals?

2) Does this situation take the luster off of his winning Sugar Bowl kick?  Not to mention the advice Hoke gave him before the kick.


angelique @chengelis    

Hoke: "Believe me, it would be easier to discuss some things but for privacy and everything else, it’s not going to happen." 12:49 PM - 3 Feb 2014

 

Sam Webb @SamWebb77 Follow

No comment from hoke on Gibbons (ferpa)...

 

From the daily editorial:

However, in an interview with the Daily, Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, stated that since Gibbons was determined by University investigators to be responsible in an allegation of sexual assault, FERPA does not apply: “They’re just wrong that FERPA applies to a finding that a person committed sexual assault.” If Gibbons’ violation constitutes a sexual assault rather than sexual harassment, the University, legally, cannot use FERPA as an excuse to keep silent.

 

 

Did I mention that Sailboat Bill was out to lunch on the entire thing? “That never came up,” Martin said. “I know that one of the points that we would emphasize with every team and every player, not only in team meetings but in orientation at the beginning of freshman year, was code of conduct rules and how you behave and all the stuff that comes with common sense.”

 

What the hell is going on over there?  The story made the A2 news and was even commented on by the athletic department:  "The Ann Arbor Police are still doing an investigation," said Bruce Madej, associate athletic director for media relations. "At this time, we're not prepared to comment."

 

This entire story stinks of a cover up.  They better stop talking about not talking before the hole gets too deep and they can't get themselves out.

 

 

Other things Hoke said today regarding football:

 

• Out for Spring with injuries: Magnuson (shoulder surgery), Burzynski (ACL), Bryant and Pipkins (ACL)

• No more staff changes, unless someone gets a new job.  (of course Hoke told us on 12/2 that he wasn't going to have any staff changes then correctly fired Al Borges a month later) 

• Hagerup will be back for Spring practice.