Regarding Recent Developments in Michigan, Rich Eisen said, “There’s just no other way to put it—it’s embarrassing.”
Even ardent supporters like Rich Eisen are finding it difficult to defend the Michigan Football program in light of the most recent events surrounding it.
Today was yet another deflating day for level-headed Michigan fans. Sure, there are some who will paint this entire sign-stealing saga as little more than a “witch hunt”, but the reality is that it’s become painfully clear that members of the Michigan football staff acted inappropriately – and we don’t even know the full extent of it yet.
Earlier this week, it sounded like Michigan was fully prepared to fight the Big Ten in court for issuing a three-game suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh. Meeting with the media on Monday, Harbaugh indicated that he was eager to defend his right for due process in a court proceeding scheduled for Friday (today). By Thursday, the University of Michigan announced that it would no longer pursue legal action against the conference, and that Harbaugh had accepted the three-game suspension.
It was a strange turn of events given Michigan’s position earlier in the week, but today’s news helps bring clarity to the quick change of heart.
The University of Michigan released a statement on Friday indicating that linebackers coach Chris Partridge had been fired from the program. Additional reporting from Yahoo Sports indicated that, although Partridge wasn’t aware of the sign-stealing scheme led by Stalions, he acted after the fact to cover up evidence. Yahoo Sports also reported that a U-M sports booster, named as “Uncle T” in the NCAA report, was believed to have helped fund the sign-stealing scheme by Stalions.
Rich Eisen, who is a Michigan alum and one of the more respected voices in the sporting world, has been a strong defender of the Michigan Football program throughout this entire ordeal. Although he is still very much supportive of the players, it’s clear that Eisen was feeling a sense of disappointment given the latest developments.
It’s a sad day for me, man,” said Eisen. “I’m not going to lie. You can all have as much fun as you want to have. Michigan deserves this scorn. We deserve it.”
“I can only hope that JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum, just to name two that I’m particularly proud of. All those guys on the defense who just lost their linebackers coach because apparently something was up. That these guys can block it out, because this is the way through – just win baby. Just win. Because Connor Stalions and everything else he was doing is gone. And whoever on the staff, I’m assuming this is the end of it. I hope this is the end of it. I have no idea who the hell ‘Uncle T’ is or why he’s anywhere near this program. It’s embarrassing, there’s just no other way to put it.”
