Michael Rosenberg, Free Press, is reporting that Michigan players have admitted that U of M has repeatedly broken NCAA rules governing “off-season workouts, in-season demands on players and mandatory summer activities under coach Rich Rodriguez.”
One current Wolverine said of the violations, “It’s one of those things where you can’t say something. If you say something, they’re going to say you’re a lazy person and don’t want to work hard.”
Rosenberg reports that he confirmed this story with six current and former players.
Rich Rodriguez said in a statement to the Free Press on Friday, “We know the practice and off-season rules, and we stay within the guidelines. We follow the rules and have always been completely committed to being compliant with all NCAA rules.” 
Just how did U of M reportedly break the rules according to the Free Press?
1. Off-season activities are limited to 8 hours a week. Players told the Free Press that are routinely expected to spend two to three times that amount and if they don’t finish are punished with more work.
2. Voluntary scrimmages must be just that, voluntary, and staff other then trainers can’t attend. Players told the Free Press that attendance is noted by Rodriguez’s “quality-control staffers” and performances are evaluated.
3. During the season there is a 4-hour daily limit and 20-hour weekly limit for all football-related activites. Players told the Free Press they often spent up to nine hours on the Sundays following games and broke the 20 hour limit most weeks.
To say the least if the NCAA were to investigate and find violations at U of M the ramifications would be bad. The main thing to be avoided would be a loss of scholarships as the transition the roster is facing would only further be delayed.
Everybody has learned the lesson that when something sounds to good to be true it usually is. Honestly, when I heard all these stories about players improved strength and fitness levels I guess I may have had my blinders on. In my mind I often attributed it to the BARWIS difference in workout regimen compared to how the team used to workout during the offseason and in-season under Lloyd Carr.