Thursday, May 12, 2011

Michigan’s Brandon sympahizes with Ohio State’s NCAA issues

It's a rare day when Michigan will do anything nice for rival Ohio State.

Heck, new head coach Brady Hoke won't even say "Ohio State" and instead refers to the Buckeyes as "Ohio" or "That team in Ohio."

Ohio State recently received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA that accused coach Jim Tressel of lying to NCAA investigators regarding his players selling memorabilia, which has given Michigan faithful more than enough ammunition to keep the fiery rivalry well lit.

But during a 40-minute question and answer session with editors and reporters Tuesday, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon didn't take any cheap shots at Ohio State's NCAA troubles. Instead, Brandon took the high road.

"I know what it's like to receive the papers from the NCAA, the notice of violations, notice of allegations and ultimately violations," Brandon said. "I know what that process is like. And when you're going through it, whether you're a coach, or whether you're an athletic director or whether you're a president, when you're going through it, it's painful, it's difficult, its stressful, and what you don't need is … anybody, particularly a colleague, poking anything at you.

"There were some people out there who did it (to Michigan), and I remember who they are, and I remember what they said. And we'll leave it at that - other than, I remember who they are, and I remember what they said. Those people who took great glee in the fact that we got ourselves in that kind of situation. I'll never do that."

In 2009, Michigan football players alleged NCAA violations on the amount of time they could spend training and practicing. Consequently, last November, the NCAA announced that it had placed Michigan on three-year probation and added reductions of 130 hours of practice time.

Apparently, those who took joy in Michigan's troubles are on Brandon's "Danny McGrath" list and he doesn't want to endure the same fate in Ohio State's eyes.

Graham Watson is a regular contributor to Dr. Saturday. Follow her on Twitter: @Yahoo_Graham

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