U-M faces penalty for using ineligible player
EVANSTON, Ill. - Talking to reporters at halftime of Saturday's game, University of Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said the school may be penalized for using an ineligible player in the season's first four games.
Big Ten Conference officials are expected to rule later this week on what punishment U-M may receive for using freshman Artis Chambers.
Sanctions from the conference could include forfeiture of last week's victory over Penn State, Michigan's Big Ten opener.
"We had a misinterpretation of the Big Ten freshman eligibility rules," Martin said. "We found this out Thursday afternoon. When we did, he's no longer going to be a part of the team for the rest of the year."
Chambers, who enrolled in January, appeared on special teams in each of the team's first four games. He was eligible under NCAA guidelines, but not by Big Ten rules.
Martin said he could not confirm whether the problem is an academic ineligibility, citing federal privacy laws.
"We'll have to wait to see what the Big Ten says," Martin said. "I can't rule anything out at this point."
Members of the Big Ten apply academic standards - in terms of grade-point averages, entrance exam scores and transfer credits - that are slightly more stringent than those allowed by the NCAA.
Because it's a conference eligibility issue, Michigan is only facing disciplinary action based on the Penn State game.
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