Community Sentiments on UM Football Culture Change

The NCAA has created a system that encourages cheating.  They talk out of both side of their mouth espousing amateurism for the athletes while chasing as much money as possible for themselves.  As we've seen time and again the NCAA has determined that enforcing its own rules and credibility is secondary to the almighty dollar.  You can’t punish UNC for the worst academic fraud in history because that would make March Madness just a tiny bit less profitable.  The introduction of the football playoff has only made it worse.  Every year it’s the same collection of cheaters and sexual assaulters at the top.  Frankly I’m tired of watching it.  To me the football playoff is over.  I don’t watch it.  It’s sad the damage it’s done to college football and the damage that the NCAA had done to college athletics in general.  

How does Louisville still have a basketball program?  How does Baylor have an athletic department at all?  How is UNC still taken seriously as a university?  How long can OSU go on running an open fraud in Columbus?  How long can MSU go on covering up gang rapes to protect the images of their beloved coaches?

its sad that it’s come to this. But the solution is not for Michigan to debase itself in the same ways.  Then the last remaining shred of reason for all of this existing would be gone.  Fix the system. 

I don't think we should "cheat", nor do I think we should replace Harbaugh. It's the coveted "end must justify the means" philosophy  that sets us apart from the ESS EEE CEEs and tOSUs of the world. It may cost us games, but at least we have some semblence of a moral high ground. Between that and superior academics we illustrate the Michigan Difference. And that's a claim that these other "ain't come here play schools" can't  make. 

What specifically are Michigan's academic and recruiting constraints?

If we magically signed multiple 5 stars during the signing I’d raise a glass, wink, and smile about the future. Most would know what went down to all of a sudden get those players and I’d be 100% ok with that

I’ll keep my soul, thank you 

^

The answer is quite simple. The University of Michigan should leave the Big Ten in football only and play in the Ivy League. Therefore, the football program under Harbaugh can maintain its academic standards keeping it above Stanford. The recruiting field will certainly be fair as Michigan will only have to worry about Harvard and Yale year after year. Last but not least, Michigan will always have chance to win the conference title year after year. The football program can be just like Ohio State is to the Big Ten- the conference monster. It’s a win win situation for the program and it’s fan base. Michigan football will keep the medical field supplied with physicians while never giving up ethics or integrity while dominating on the gridiron. They won’t have to get caught up year after year in the playoff drama nor will they have to play in a meaningless bowl anymore. This is the answer folks. True leaders of the West. John Bacon can stop writing his books and focus on a Netflix documentary on each player as they progress through medical school and their lives afterwards. In the meantime, Harbaugh’s salary can be raised to 11 million and each year the team can start taking trips into space when they have explored the entire globe. 

I’m sure every school’s fan base is angry when their team doesn’t win, but I wonder if other schools have as many whiny fans as Michigan seems to have who feel they are somehow entitled to elite football because their school is so special and morally superior?

Hard pass.  If I wanted to watch paid athletes play (and not legitimate students), I'll watch the NFL.

I’m not so worried about cash as much as letting football players have an online major at UM. It’s the lethal weapon of elite schools. No classes means more time to focus on football. 
 

It’s a lot easier to be elite at football if you don’t have to worry about going to class and what not. It’s an unreal advantage people overlook. Big deal IMO. 
 

Edit: Either that or scream to the NCAA to make a minimum of 75% of credits be in brick and mortar or risk letting everyone know what a mockery “student athlete” has become. 

I have come to the conclusion that the NCAA is quietly ok with the bagman approach.  They get to keep the proceeds from the money machine and the donors/bagmen pay the players under the table.  If that's the landscape, then all schools need to operate that way.  If they get caught they need initiate a lawsuit against the NCAA if they try to sanction any programs. 

They have set a precedent by not punishing teams that cheat.  So why do we even consider it cheating at this point.  The NCAA has already accepted this business model.

Very disappointing, but sure seems like the reality.

I voted yes.  I’m a fan of the Sports programs at U of M.    My allegiance isn’t to the University’s academic programs.    Give me wins over Ohio State!   
 

I don’t wake up in the morning with a sense of “moral superiority”   over Ohio State because Michigan doesn’t cheat.    I wake up in the morning pissed that I may never see a football victory over them ever again.  

I voted yes.  I’m a fan of the Sports programs at U of M.    My allegiance isn’t to the University’s academic programs.    Give me wins over Ohio State!   
 

I don’t wake up in the morning with a sense of “moral superiority”   over Ohio State because Michigan doesn’t cheat.    I wake up in the morning pissed that I may never see a football victory over them ever again.