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By Eric Berti
On Monday, it was released that Michigan Football self-reported four secondary (Level III) NCAA violations. These violations included: donating an autographed helmet and jersey to a high school for which the proceeds were put towards the schools scholarship fund, allowing a recruit to sit in premium seating in Yost Arena during a hockey game, discussing an expected transfer with the media, and a correspondence with that same transfer student's mother via Twitter.
The administration involved in these violations are head coach Jim Harbaugh, safeties coach Mike Zordich, Michigan’s recruiting operations coordinator Chris Partridge, and Aaron Bills. Level III violations are considered by the NCAA to be insignificant and unintentional so no coaches or players will lose their eligibility for the 2015 CFB season. These violations typically do not result in punitive actions, but the staff will be educated on the rules through the schools compliance department.
On the day the violations were released, Harbaugh posted on Twitter:
Thought of day: "No good deed goes unpunished" Oscar Wilde
Harbaugh is most likely upset at the violations regarding the donation of the autographed helmet and jersey. The proceeds were donated to a high schools scholarship fund named after a former student who committed suicide. This may be the good deed that Harbaugh is eluding to in his Tweet. This charitable donation went toward the fund that was viewed by the students family as a celebration of his life. However, according to NCAA rules, programs and coaches may not personally donate items to benefit high school scholarship funds.
Regarding the second reported violation, the staff was not aware that the seating the athlete was sitting in was considered premium seating, until it was pointed out by a compliance staff member. The staff was educated on what seats recruits are allowed to view games from and no related violations have been reported since.
The third violation involved safeties coach Mike Zordich speaking publicly about the possible transfer student, Wayne Lyons. Lyons is now officially a transfer student but at the time was not, so this is a clear violation. Per NCAA rules, team coaches and administrators are prohibited from making any public comment on any unsigned recruit (including a potential transfer) until the prospect has signed.
The final violation included a Twitter correspondence with the transfer student Wayne Lyon’s mother. Per NCAA bylaw 13.4.1.4, electronic correspondence may be sent from a coach or staffer to a recruit (or his/her parent/guardian) before they’re signed, but that correspondence must be private, so this is another clear violation of the rules.
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