Ohio State football: Gene Smith is right about Michigan, whether you like it or not

During an interview Thursday, outgoing Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith was asked if he feels Michigan’s recent “wins” over the Buckeyes should come with an asterisk. “Of course I do,” he replied. Whether it is liked or not, he’s right.

Smith was asked the question when he appeared on WOSU radio’s All Sides with Anna Staver. He elaborated on his answer,

"“The rules are in place to protect the integrity of the game and you try your best to create a level playing field, and when those rules are violated, then it affects those principles.” "

That’s a nice way of saying Michigan blatantly broke the rules and was playing with the field slanted WAY in their direction. The allegations against them are not the conspiracy theory stuff of message board trolls. Quite the opposite.

The NCAA told the Wolverines they can prove an extensive sign-stealing operation was being run by their beloved football program. A sign-stealing operation that fell far outside the rules. Jimmy Harbaugh and his merry band of cheaters had been caught red-handed.

Smith is correct in saying the “wins” over the Buckeyes should come with an asterisk. But it should go well beyond that. ALL wins over the past few seasons should be vacated as well as conference championships. Unfortunately, that “national championship” will probably stand because the College Football Playoff Foundation, the outfit that runs the playoff, is the most spineless entity in all of sports.

Although Smith feels Michigan won’t be punished nearly as harshly as OSU fans want, I think most of us will be very happy to just see those wins and championships taken away (a multi-year postseason ban will be nice also).

Some people are going to take exception to Smith’s asterisk answer (yes, I’m referring to Michigan fans). But when you look in the record books for the past few college football seasons, any results for the Wolverines should come with an acknowledgment of their cheating. Gene Smith is right about Michigan, whether you like it or not.