Those feeling the University of Michigan got away scot-free in the aftermath of the Connor Stalions sign stealing scandal are missing the point. The university’s reputation has been damaged beyond repair.
Whenever you hear, "The leaders and best," it evokes cynical smirks and sarcastic laughs. They might as well change the fight song to, "Hail, Hail Michigan, Hypocrites of the West!!!"
The following lyrics to 'Mr. Brightside' describe Michigan perfectly: “Swimming through sick lullabies, choking on your alibis…”
Long and justifiably admired for getting it right, Michigan is now the poster school for everything wrong with big-time college athletics. Defenses such as, "Hey, look at what other schools have done…It’s just our rivals out to get us…They’re jealous of our natty," are pathetic.
Jim Harbaugh has been exposed as a poser extraordinaire. An otherwise distinguished Board of Regents proved the yearning for a national title, regardless of the enormous damage to Michigan’s reputation because of seismic missteps by the athletic department, is more important than learning.
Former Michigan president Santa Ono displayed the leadership qualities of a smiling emoji. Athletic Director Warde Manual has overseen a department run amuck. The football, basketball and hockey programs have exhibited a glaring lack of institutional control under Manuel’s watch.
As for Stalions, he is the embodiment of the New Michigan Man. He is a tribal sycophant, whose creepy, misguided deportment is symbolic of the cult of personality as we know it in 2025, an out-of-control Walmart Wolverine.
Thing is, Michigan didn’t win the College Football Playoff because of cheating. The Wolverines were simply the best team. Michigan has so many resources, it can do it right and still win. This was all so unnecessary.
In the past, admonishing Michigan for being “better than this” would have been apropos. Not anymore. Michigan is just that bad.
No, nobody can take away Michigan’s natty. Yes, it will forever be tainted.
So is the university.
It’s an incredible price to pay, losing while winning to pretty much everyone outside Michigan’s insular circle of charlatans.
Didn’t matter what the NCAA had to say. We all know. Deep down inside, so do they.
And it’s a shame.