Does Cissoko become a player in the NCAA investigation?
Sorry if this was mentioned in one of the threads, but I am concerned that a disgruntled player kicked off of the team for missing workouts (as well as classes and study groups) could be an issue with the investigation. If he was feeling overwhelmed by the workload, I think he is going to be questioned extensively by the NCAA.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:11 PM ^
I kind of hope and expect that every player in the program is interviewed. Every coach; every compliance officer.
I hope Cissoko was interviewed a month ago.
I hope that Mallett and Boren and Clemons and Wermers are all interviewed. And that we someday find out who, exactly, Rosenberg's 'former-player' sources were.
I'm not worried about the quality and character of Michigan's program. I want to know about Rosneberg's "program."
October 28th, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
I think Wilcher would advise him to learn from his mistake and move on.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
My read on the coach's comments precisely. I think the published quotes are the translated version of coach's initial thoughts: "Boo Boo needs a kick in the ass."
October 28th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
the NCAA isn't in the business of punishing schools for forcing players to attend class and study hall.... or maybe it is.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
The Southeastern Michigan Media IS in the business of having a coach drawn and quartered for achieving great results in the classroom.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:25 PM ^
well, he DOES solidly fit the profile of "current or former player".
October 28th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
THe NCAA would actually probably look at Cissoko's dismissal as a plus for the program since it shows "institutional control" and "committment to student-athlete" principles.
The neg would be if Cissoko tried to turn snitch, but I doubt Wilcher would let that happen if Wilcher has any pull left with the kid. I doubt Cissoko would have any incriminating evidence since:
1) altruistically, I don't believe anything did go on illegally so anything Cissoko would have he'd have to fabricate which I now doubt his ability to do based on what we know of the reasons of his dismissal
2) If something did go on, then Cissoko would be in the position that he'd have to be refuting stuff he would have been trying to hide no more than 1 week ago, and we all know RichRod is quick with a shredder [/sarcasm]
October 28th, 2009 at 1:08 PM ^
any of this. "Snitch" implies somebody who exposes a crime-in-progress.
I'll let the system deal with the self-interest of people like Mallett, Boren, Wermers, Clemons, et al, if need be.
My question, as always, remains: The Freep justification for 'anonymity' for its sources was 'fear of retribution' from coaches, etc. What 'retribution' did Mallett, Boren, Clemons, Wermers, etc., have to fear in the Summer of 2009? It is a lie; Rosenberg's great lie.
There's another reason that I won't apply terms like "snitch" or "disguntled ex-player" to Cissoko. It is this: Cissoko is not suspended for a crime. He didn't crack anybody's skull, he didn't sell any dope, he's not under indictment. I don't know, but if he were to get good grades for two semesters, and was a model citizen, maybe this dismissal might be revisited. As fara as I know, Cissoko is not even guilty of becoming ineligible. Cissoko broke team rules. He didn't violate any law, nor any NCAA rule, to my knowledge.
October 28th, 2009 at 3:03 PM ^
Setting aside the fact that Rosenberg is full of shit, and is most likely just trying to hide that his sources are few in number and of questionable voracity... (I realize that's a huge set-aside) ... I think this is something of a plausible excuse.
No, former players guys don't face retribution from U-M coaches, but Rosenberg could throw up the excuse that they might face harrassment or threats from the U-M faithful. People know football fans include some real crazies (West Virginia fans after RR announced departure, as exhibit A); Rosenberg probably intended for people to think of that when he justified protecting his sources.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:02 PM ^
shit, then we might tend to forget that he's full of shit.
What we do have is the explicit expression from the Free Press that the anonymous sources supposedly "feared retribution from coaches."
If anonymity had been extended to protect players from crazy, interweb-addled, psychotic "fans" who might threaten stoolie players (something that was NEVER EVER claimed by the Freep) then Mikey's got some 'splainin' to do about why Je'Ron Stokes and Brandin Hawthorne got singled out for for some quality-time on the front page of the Sunday Free Press. The point is, no such situation ever existed.
By the way, is there supposed to be something that would make Michiganians hate the Boren Family any MORE than what they've already done?
October 29th, 2009 at 12:31 AM ^
Okay, thanks for clarifying. I read those articles in such a disgusted state of mind, I didn't recall all the details.
I redact everything I said except the part about Rosenberg being full of shit.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:37 PM ^
You mean the investigation which isn't going to go anywhere? Yeah, not worried about Cissoko or any further comments from disgruntled ex-players. Next...
October 28th, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^
Oooooooo, I get it now: Michigan kicked Cissoko off the team just so he wouldn't be available for interviews during the NCAA investigation. He's the guy that was going to blab. Someone get Rosenberg and Fox Mulder on this, pronto.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^
This is such as non-issue...sigh!
October 28th, 2009 at 1:03 PM ^
and that's the jerk who stares back at him from his mirror in the morning.
October 28th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
IME, Boubacar's involvement, like all else in l'Affair Rosenberg, is irrelevant because of Brian's earlier claims about the implausibility that Rich Rod is an idiot. The money quote:
…that would be totally evil if Rodriguez was an idiot who hadn't dealt with NCAA compliance for 20 years and hadn't made sure the strenuous workouts fit the definitions of "voluntary." This is unlikely.
October 28th, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
is interviewing Tragic. Not sure what this could lead to, but I am sure it is not going to end well. You know, like a tragedy or something.
potato salad.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
Don't you need to have attended the workouts, etc. to know how long they were?
October 28th, 2009 at 6:21 PM ^
Kicking a student athlete off the team for missing study table clearly shows an erosion of family values in the program. I mean anyone with values would not hold kids accountable to academic standards.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:24 AM ^
Cissoko was the perect candidate for RR to set an example with the team. RR made it look like he was giving Cissoko every opportunity to come back, when really RR knew he would screw up again. In the end, this has no effect on investigation. Most everyone has already been interviewed. Cissoko would be hurting his transfer chances to a good school if he starts to attack his coaches now.