Years of college hoops history disappeared last Thursday when the University of Michigan announced it will begin self-imposed sanctions in the aftermath of a massive athletics scandal.
Michigan will forfeit all men's basketball victories that Chris Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock played in because of illegitimate loans given to the students by Ed Martin, a Michigan booster now in prison for money laundering. This includes the 1992 and 1993 Final Four games, the 1992-1993 season and all seasons from 1995 to 1999.
Four championship banners hanging in Michigan's Chrisler Arena have been torn down and no mention of any of the illegitimate victories will appear in written school materials.
Michigan also will repay $450,000 to the NCAA for revenue it received for participation in post-season play with the four ineligible players. The school also has declared its 2003 men's basketball team ineligible for participation in post-season play and placed the program on a two-year suspension requiring the president to make detailed reports to the NCAA.
"When I realized what I was going to say today, this was very tough. When I looked at the basketball media guide, I realized that it was going to change. This was really hard," Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman said in a press conference Nov. 7. "We are embarrassed because this is not what Michigan is all about. This has been a big impact, but it is relief too. We now have a bright future with a great coach and great young people. You are going to be proud again of Michigan."
By self-imposing sanctions, Michigan hopes to lessen injunctions enforced by the NCAA when it rules on Michigan's case in February. Coleman said she hopes the NCAA will agree that the sanctions are sufficient, and that the school worked hand in hand with the NCAA and the federal government to unravel the case.
University of Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said the entire situation at Michigan is unfortunate.
"It makes us all aware that even with the best efforts and the best intentions, these things can happen," Littlepage said. "This is the unfortunate product of people looking to make a profit. Now the only people who end up being punished are those currently involved who had nothing to do with it."
Littlepage also said he thinks the NCAA will add additional punishments to the self-imposed sanctions, but he does not think more serious punishments will be handed down. The NCAA could restrict basketball scholarships at Michigan or even impose the "death penalty" -- a total dissolution of the program for many years.
"This certainly will not warrant the death penalty," he said. "This did not involve recruiting, and even in the cases of University of Kentucky and University of Alabama which involved recruiting, and the death penalty was not extended to those."
"This might get a few years probation, and maybe a reduction in scholarships," Littlepage added.
The players in question have confessed to receiving bribes in conjunction with the federal case brought against Martin, except for Webber, NBA all-star for the Sacramento Kings, who now faces federal charges for lying about bribes and impeding justice.
"Obviously it is most responsible not to do these things," Littlepage said. "But maybe there should be a way for institutions to hold graduated players liable."
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