LANSING, Mich., Nov. 8, 2023 — Today, state Reps. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) and Graham Filler (R-Clinton County), along with nine other members of the Michigan House and Senate, both Democratic and Republican, sent a letter to Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti urging the conference to ensure the University of Michigan receives a fair, unbiased investigation into allegations of rule-breaking by members of the University of Michigan football staff, and that no punishment be placed on the university until the investigation is complete.
“It’s absolutely vital that members of the Big Ten Conference receive due process in any investigation, especially those that may have been initiated by allegations from parties with clear conflicts of interest,” Skaggs said. “We must not punish the dedicated players, coaches and staff of the University of Michigan football program based on incomplete evidence.”
“We know that college football is a topic charged with emotions on all sides. What’s important here is to let the facts determine the outcome of this investigation,” said Filler, co-founder of the Big Ten athletics blog “Off-Tackle Empire.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association investigation of the University of Michigan football program is ongoing. A copy of the letter can be found here.
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