Michigan Revelations Speak to Larger Issue

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg has a good point with this blog post regarding the allegations coming out of the University of Michigan football program.

Part of the issue regarding the remuneration of college football players centers around the fact that being a football player is a full time job.

Yes, the NCAA mandates that players can only spend four hours a day and 20 hours per week on football related activities.

And if you believe that all programs strictly adhere to this limit, I have a lovely old bridge in New York that I'd love to sell to you.

Especially to succeed at the highest level in the sport.

However, I think that the bigger issue is that this has all been made so public.

I remember when former offensive lineman Justin Boren left Michigan and transferred to Ohio State. He made the point of saying that the program had lost its family values and atmosphere.

While there is attrition in every program when a new coaching staff takes over, it does seem as if Rich Rodriguez has been cursed for whatever reason:

• The messy divorce from West Virginia
• The very public defections before last season
• The train-wreck of a season on the field
• Now these allegations

Of course, we all know that if this team comes out and goes 9-3 this season and beats Ohio State, and demonstrates a lot of positive momentum and progress, that some of the chatter will die down.

If this season is a clunker as well, then expect the already warm seat to get blazing hot.