Usually they teach the lessons at the University of Michigan, one of the most prestigious institutes of academic higher learning in the world.
But this time, the shoe is on the other foot. It’s the Big Ten teaching UM the lesson.
It’s as simple as you reap what you sow. If you break the rules, and do so in an insular, daring manner, sooner or later someone in authority will call your bluff.
The Big Ten just made it sooner by suspending Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh Friday.
There will be cries of “lack of due process,” and there is an element of truth to it. This has a rush to judgment.
But Michigan brought this on themselves with its world-class arrogance. Michigan has an outstanding law school. The makeup of its Board of Regents is loaded with those holding law degrees. The big threat: We’ll sue.
It’s unknown the source who had the unmitigated gall to suggest UM “wasn’t going to bring a knife to a gun fight,” but it only proved the problem.
Michigan isn’t going to win this. They were wrong. While they might get a short-term victory here and there, in the long haul the crackdown is going to be severe.
They will not win. The NCAA has been empowered by its other member institutions, who will undoubtedly provide strong support in this instance. A normally toothless Tiger now sharpened teeth.
The Big Ten’s other member schools will provide the same cover for commissioner Tony Petitti.
Thing is, it didn’t have to be this way, with the NCAA or the conference, if only Michigan showed some humility for a change and displayed a genuine and sincere understanding they did wrong. It will only make the ultimate punishment worse than the initial violations.
The lack of leadership, from the president’s office, to the athletic director to the head football coach has been stunning given Michigan football has spent more than a century building a mostly-deserved reputation for not only winning, but doing it the right way.
Not any more. And blaming Michigan State or Ohio State or the media or people being jealous for Michigan’s current plight is pathetic.
The finger should point in one direction: At themselves.
And then come with a deep, long look into the mirror.