From OM Rivals site...

[57stratdawg]

Good. The less accurate Bjork is, the worse the odds are this get swept under the rug.

 

[aTotal360]

Bjork talks to HD6 more than he talks to his compliance guy. He is getting all his info from his cigar boys.

 

[patdog]

Are these the same people who told Hugh Freeze it would be a good idea to issue a public statement guaranteed to piss off Tunsil's step-father even more instead of trying to smooth things over with him and cover the damage?

 

[coach66]

As small as this appears I'm with you, it indicates they aren't controlling this

situation nearly as well as they would like to be. Blevins better wear a helmet on the field this year*.

 

[57stratdawg]

How could Bjork know how this is going to turn out? The NCAA doesn't exactly tell the schools its investigating what's going on or where the investigation is heading.

The same way he knew the Nkemdichie-frat-fight story would never go anywhere - they tied up the only loose end.

 

[57stratdawg]

I have a feeling another tweet or story contradicting Bjork or Freeze, and he'll be on the outside looking in around the OM AD. He is walking a dangerously fine line.

 

[HD6]

If I had to guess, and that's all it is, Freeze probably did that on his own.

 

[Dawgzilla]

+1. The meeting was only Friday, and it was a holiday weekend. NCAA asked him not to talk about his meeting with them, so what exactly is Miller supposed to be saying at this point? He needs to be patching up his marriage, or packing his stuff.....

 

[patdog]

This has already gone a lot further than that ever did. And it's a little late to just tie up the loose ends now when the NCAA's already on the trail.

 

[bulldogbaja]

Yes, because Bjork always thinks through things clearly before he speaks?

 

[patdog]

If UM tries to deny Blevins access or influence his reporting, it will backfire on them pretty badly. I hope they're dumb enough to try.

 

[RebelBruiser]

What's the burden of proof for the NCAA? Didn't the NCAA request financial documents from Sidney and declared Sidney ineligible once he didn't turn them over? (Think I remember that right). So isn't it sort of up to the player to prove they're innocent more than the NCAA's burden to prove the player is guilty?

There is no burden of proof and no subpoena power, so the NCAA basically makes it up as they go.

There is also little to no consistency from case to case on how they handle punishments.

So far it looks like all they'll have is the word of Miller and anything potentially tangible he could dig up (not likely much). Given the NCAA's history, that could lead to essentially no punishment, or it could lead to a couple years probation and Tunsil being declared ineligible for his junior season. You just never know with the NCAA.

Being honest, I'm not at all comfortable with anyone close to a player turning snitch, because every D-1 major conference football player on scholarship has received something that would be considered impermissible. How much and in what form differs from player to player, but they all receive benefits from time to time. What Miller could pull out to get us in trouble and how concrete it would be, I don't know. Given the NCAA's history noted above, it's hard to say how solid his information or proof would have to be to actually get something done. However, I was told that our staff feels this will all blow over when the dust settles, and they believe Miller will essentially be painted as a vindictive man out to try to drag Tunsil down since he's getting cut out right before pay day.

 

[57stratdawg]

They don't have to lock the doors to keep him on the outside. They can influence him with access to information. It's just a matter of how hard he wants his job to be.

 

[patdog]

If I had to guess, and that's all it is, Freeze probably did that on his own.

As opposed to Bjork, who has a history of well thought out and reasoned public comments. For what it's worth, I don't read anything into his comment about the meeting other than he's putting out the message they at least have some clue as to what's going on. I have no idea if anything will come of this or not, but I do know I'd be a lot more nervous for us than you seem to be for them if this were our player.

 

[HD6]

I'm just taking the Chris Jones recruiting approach that's work so well for me lately. When I see something on paper, I'll cheer. Hell, I'll buy you a drink. But before then, not going to think anything will come of it.

 

[Thirty-Two Dive]

They will have a façade of cooperation, while "lawyering up" where necessary. If they have to cut bait with Tunsil, to keep things moving, they will.

Already underway, with the news quotes. Cooperation fluff...

A few weeks of bad press, then all goes away with a suspension.

I'd like to be wrong on this one. [fingers crossed] But it would be under the category of "Too good to be true."

 

[patdog]

I won't be doing too much cheering if they do get nailed. Laughing, yes. But really, it doesn't matter all that much to me either way. History shows that the prevailing theory that how well either MSU or UM's programs are doing has much effect on the other one is just wrong. We continue taking care of our business like we have been the last 6 years, and I'll be happy, regardless of what goes on in Oxford.