Michigan sanctions itself

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- The University of Michigan believes self-imposed sanctions against the basketball program are strong enough to satisfy the NCAA.
But school officials admit they won't know for months.
"We don't know what the NCAA will do," university president Mary Sue Coleman said Thursday.
Handling matters
The university punished its men's basketball program Thursday after a federal investigation revealed that former booster Ed Martin gave a total of $616,000 to Chris Webber and three other former Wolverines players.
Michigan imposed a postseason ban for 2003, forfeited 112 regular season and tournament victories from five seasons, plus its victory in the 1992 NCAA semifinals, returned $450,000 to the NCAA for money earned from the NCAA tournament during those years and put itself on two years of probation.
Michigan also will remove four banners from Crisler Arena for the 1992 and 1993 Final Fours, the 1997 National Invitation Tournament title and the 1998 Big Ten tournament title.
The school announced the penalties in a letter to the NCAA on Thursday after receiving a formal letter of inquiry Oct. 29.
Up next
The next step is to have a hearing before the NCAA infractions committee in December or February. Then six-to-eight weeks later, the NCAA will announce whether it has accepted Michigan's self-imposed sanctions or it may add additional punishment such as a loss of scholarships or extending the postseason ban and probationary period.
"This isn't the last page of this story, but it's the beginning of the last chapter," said athletic director Bill Martin, who is not related to Ed Martin.
The scandal centers on Ed Martin, who pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to launder money. Martin has said he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent it to former Michigan star Webber, three other players and their families.
"There is no excuse for what happened. It was wrong -- plain and simple," Coleman said. "This is a day of great shame."
The scandal originated in the "Fab Five" era, when Webber and four other freshmen created a national sensation. With their baggy shorts and black socks, Webber and future NBA players Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose led the Wolverines to consecutive NCAA finals in 1992 and 1993.
Charges
Webber, along with his father, Mayce Webber Jr., and aunt, Charlene Johnson, are charged with lying to a grand jury and obstructing justice in Martin's case. They have pleaded innocent, and their trials are not expected to begin until next year.
Martin said he gave Webber and his family $280,000 in cash and gifts while the player was in high school and college. Webber has denied receiving any money, accusing Martin of "preying" on the naivete of him and other youngsters.
Martin also said he paid $160,000 to Robert Traylor, who plays for New Orleans; $105,000 to Maurice Taylor, who plays for Houston; and $71,000 to Louis Bullock, who plays for a professional team in Spain. The four were never on the same team together, but the seasons in which they played have been forfeited: Webber (1991-93), Taylor (1995-97), Traylor (1996-98) and Bullock (1996-99).