Michigan football didn't keep logs for players

[November 17, 2009]  ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- The University of Michigan released embarassing details of an internal audit Monday that said the beleaguered football program had failed to file monthly forms tracking how much players practice -- an issue currently under NCAA investigation.

The audit was completed months ago but the details surfaced this week, even as coach Rich Rodriguez is trying to save a season that includes six losses in the past seven games.

The audit looked at last season -- Rodriguez's first at Michigan -- and at last spring's offseason. It said the football program failed to file monthly Countable Athletically Related Activities forms created by the school to track how much players work out and practice as a tool to comply with NCAA rules.

"The regular season forms still have not been submitted," the office of university audits wrote to Rodriguez in a letter dated July 24. "All other varsity sports submitted their CARA forms timely."

Offseason forms were submitted after the audit was completed last May, meaning they had not been reviewed, according to the report.

The school said in August it was looking into the issue after the Detroit Free Press cited anonymous football players saying they were exceeding NCAA limits when it came to practice time.

Last month, the NCAA also began looking into practices of college football's winningest program and sent the school's president a notice of inquiry. The NCAA intends to complete its investigation by Dec. 31.

Rodriguez has said he and his coaches know and follow NCAA rules. A university spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham said Rodriguez would not make a statement about the audit, saying he and school officials are limited in what they can say because of the ongoing investigation.

Michigan's season has been filled with challenges on and off the field. The Wolverines started 4-0, then lost six of their next seven games.

If Michigan doesn't upset No. 9 Ohio State on Saturday at home, it will fail to quality for a bowl for a second straight season under Rodriguez after enjoying a postseason streak that lasted three-plus decades.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

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