Michigan investigating possible NCAA violations

The Michigan compliance office is investigating whether any of its student-athletes sold university-issued Nike and Jordan Brand shoes, which would be a secondary NCAA violation.

ANN ARBOR — As scandal swirls at rival Ohio State, Michigan soon could enter college sports’ headlines for the wrong reasons.

The Michigan compliance office is investigating whether any of its student-athletes sold university-issued Nike and Jordan brand shoes, which would be a secondary NCAA violation.

North Carolina self-reported violations committed by 13 football players who re-sold school-issued apparel. ESPN reported Friday night that North Carolina contacted at least three other schools — Michigan, Cal, and Marquette — which might have had players sell shoes to the same retailer.

“We are aware of the report at North Carolina,” Michigan spokesman Dave Ablauf said. “Our compliance office is looking into this matter and will determine if anything needs to be reported to the NCAA.”

StockX, an online shoe marketplace which lists about 17,000 pairs of shoes according to ESPN, has 23 pairs of Michigan team-issued sneakers, the most of any school. The average price per pair is $4,671. Thirteen pairs of Jordan V retro shoes, exclusive to Michigan, sold at an average price of $3,126.

But it doesn’t automatically signal it was Michigan players who sold the shoes.

Executives, celebrities, and former players receive the shoes, and some are donated to charity.

Staff members and departing seniors are permitted to sell team-issued apparel, according to Ablauf.

NCAA athletes sign a form acknowledging re-selling team-issued shoes is a violation and could impact their eligibility.

Michigan’s equipment staff labels shoes with players’ names and uniform numbers to deter selling them.

All 13 North Carolina players were suspended — nine for four games, two for two games, and two for one game.

Contact Kyle Rowland at: krowland@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @KyleRowland.