Demar Dorsey

The proximate motivation for the UM statement on admissions and student-athletes is one Demar Dorsey, would-be football player and also twice charged as a felon as a juvenile. He signed a letter of intent with Michigan but was not admitted. Here is annarbor.com's view on the matter and here is SI.

One imagines that there is lots of internal politics here, including possibly looking ahead to the next coaching regime. Also, more generally, the Michigan fan base, while demanding a lot of wins (more than Washington, for example) does not like scandal or sleaze either. This is not Oregon.

Hat tip: Jason Winfree