Under Review: Michigan Might Have to Forfeit PSU Win

The Detroit Free Press and Pittsburgh Post Gazette are both reporting that Lloyd Carr's Michigan Wolverines used a player that was academically ineligible in each of their first four games. Since this is a Big Ten eligibility rule, the Wolverines might have to forfeit their 14-9 victory over Penn State in each team's Big Ten opener.

Artis Chambers, a freshman safety who enrolled at Michigan in January, appeared on special teams in each of the first four games. He had one tackle against Penn State Sept. 22 at Michigan Stadium. Because it's a Big Ten eligibility issue, Michigan is only facing disciplinary action based on its conference opener against Penn State, according to the Ann Arbor News. Big Ten spokesman Scott Chipman said today that a subcommittee is looking into the matter and could make a decision within two weeks. Chipman acknowledged that awarding a forfeit to Penn State is an option.

Personally I would be surprised if the Big Ten went as far as to make Michigan lose the game, but it could send a message to the rest of the league about keeping closer tabs on academically ineligible players.

"We've had a misinterpretation of the Big Ten freshman-eligibility rules," Martin said, referring to Chambers' status as a second-semester enrollee last January. "We found this out Thursday afternoon. He is no longer going to be a part of the (active) team for the rest of the year. He was eligible under NCAA rules, not Big Ten rules."