Press Conference on NCAA's Response to Marcus Ray Situation
10/9/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Opening Statement from Head Coach Lloyd Carr:
"Marcus Ray will return to the University of Michigan football team today. He will not be allowed to play in the next two games. As a football team and a coach, we are glad this situation is over with because it has been a distraction and now we can move forward and try to have the type of football team and season that we would like to have."
Questions for Carr:
About the details of the report:
"Tom (Goss) will address the situation in more detail. From my viewpoint, it is alarming. I think it is a problem for everyone in intercollegiate athletics and the unfortunate thing about this situation, above and beyond the responsibility that Marcus must assume, is that we have an agent, James Gould out of Cincinnati, Ohio, who knowingly violated NCAA rules. I intend to write the NFL Players Association and ask that they take disciplinary action because Marcus has obviously had his Michigan career impacted by a man who knowingly violated rules."
About how this has impacted Marcus:
"Obviously, it's a thing from Marcus' standpoint that he can speak to. I think the issue is being able to deal with everything that comes your way, whether good or bad, and remaining focused on what you're trying to accomplish. Marcus has had a tremendous career here at Michigan and has done a lot of positive things both on and off the field. He's had his ups and downs that I think is true of any college student's experience. You have some good days and some that don't go quite the way you want them to. It is an educational process and I'm sure Marcus has learned a great deal, as we all have. A lot of our players will look at this issue and learn from it. As a coach, I know I have learned a great deal from this situation. I think our team will be glad to have Marcus come back because he's part of this team."
Does the University need to change some of its policies:
"In my judgment, the Athletic Department has an established educational process not only for issues that relate to agents and NCAA violations but to the behavioral issues that relate to all students. These are issues that every college student faces. It is important at a program like this that everybody understands we are under intense scrutiny. We want to do things that will protect the integrity of the institution and at the same time protect the young people who live in this fish bowl. I think that Tom Goss will speak about a program that will bring agents to campus but I can tell you from my own experience I think the best course of action is to educate our students and try to prevent this from happening to our other student-athletes. We have former players at Michigan who are what they call runners, people who work for agents, and there is no way in this world that we can isolate them because they're right on our campus. The thing that student-athletes need to understand is that this can impact their careers. Agents can impact our program negatively. I think the responsibility has to come back to our ability to better educate these kids to better make proper decisions. I think there is so much money involved with these contracts that you are going to have people do anything, inside or outside the rules, to get a share of the money."
How will you fit Marcus back into the defensive secondary:
"Marcus and I have discussed those issues and they will remain between the two of us and the team. At some point, I may address these circumstances, but I do not believe today is the time or place to address them."
About what the team will learn from this situation:
"Marcus is a very positive and well-liked player on our football team. The younger guys look up to him and I think when they see the price that he paid, it will be a learning experience for them. What gets lost in this is the rule that has been violated. When you hear the facts of the case, you'll see that it wasn't a circumstance where he personally gained anything of a substantial nature. It was more of an issue where others benefited a little bit. I hate to see Marcus go through it. I'm certain that it was a learning experience for him and the rest of our players. Whether they learn from it or not, only time will tell."
You talked about former Michigan players who are now working for agencies:
"Absolutely. That is true on every college campus. I made sure that anyone that I know who is a runner understands that those rules are in place for them and that they need to stay away. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that they are going to stay away."
About how this situation could impact the team:
"I think the potential that exists, is what the player needs to be aware of. We get all kinds of criticism because we try to protect our players from the influences that can compromise the integrity of the University of Michigan and our program. That is why that type of criticism doesn't bother me because that is exactly why we are standing here. We need to make sure that our players understand there are rules that you have to live by. The one thing that I think is positive from this situation is that we didn't hide from it but addressed it and faced it. We try to do the best we can to operate under the rules and go forward from this point."
About legislation and things that can be done about agent tactics:
"I think there is a lot of different forums through the American Football Coaches Association that we can use to discuss the agent situation. There are lots of different strategies that other programs use. Some of them bring agents onto campus and let the players meet with them. Some will tell you they don't have problems because of the way they handle things but those people are the ones who have their heads in the sand. There isn't anyone out there that doesn't have those types of problems."
About the part of this infraction dealing with family and friends:
"With any issue there is a lot of gray. I think the part of the rule that is unrealistic, is to expect the student-athlete to control a lot of the issues surrounding friends and family. It is the most difficult to enforce and is probably the most difficult part of the entire issue."
About what can be done to unscrupulous agents:
"They can be sanctioned at the state level, some states have laws regarding an agents conduct. The NFL Players Association can and does sanction them for inappropriate behavior. That is one area that I intend to pursue."
Are there plans to appeal the NCAA's judgment:
"I think it is time to move on. I do not want to comment on the severity of the sanctions. I think we take what we have here and let's move on and do the best that we can."
Statement From Senior Strong Safety Marcus Ray:
"First and foremost, I want to give glory to God for allowing me to be here today and blessing me with the opportunity to speak on my own behalf. I have learned a great deal about my life, about other people and especially about myself. This experience has humbled me and I now realize that I have to use good judgment at all times. My use of poor judgment allowed me to be taken advantage of, and as a result I lost some precious games during my senior season.
"I want the world to know that I have never had the intent to accept gifts or favors from any professional sports agent or their representatives. I love Michigan, make no mistake about it. I had no intent on embarrassing this program in any way and I apologize for that. Be clear that my commitment is to my family, my team and to fulfilling my educational goals by graduating from the University of Michigan in December.
"I look to return to this team with a better attitude than before I left. I want to continue my tenure here as well as when I leave here with my dignity, integrity, character, and my name intact.
"I would like to thank my mother for her never-ending support and love, and give an extra special thanks to all of the University of Michigan officials who helped conduct this investigation. I would also like to thank Athletic Director Tom Goss, my Head Coach Lloyd Carr, my position coach Vance Bedford and my mentor Greg Harden, for always believing, listening and supporting Marcus Ray.
"I am unable to discuss the details of the NCAA investigation at this time, but all questions regarding this situation will be answered later on by someone else. I will close with a prayer because I want my action on the field to speak for me the remainder of the season. I thank God for granting me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
Contact: Bruce Madej, David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
