By Heather Kamins
Daily News Editor
In an interview with investigators, Michigan coach Steve Fisher said that he did not believe Detroit booster Ed Martin was harmful to the basketball program, and therefore he did not ban Martin's contact with the program.
"I would not have viewed him as a threat to the integrity or honesty of Michigan or our program," Fisher said according to formerly unreleased transcripts obtained by The Michigan Daily under the Freedom of Information Act.
Even after discovering that Martin had been the instigator of two NCAA violations the team incurred, Fisher maintained that Martin was not damaging to the program.
"I didn't think that this was a guy that was detrimental," Fisher told investigators. "But we were with him like we were with a lot of people ... if you don't network and nework with a lot of people, you can find yourself never being able to recruit certain areas."
The recently released documents are detailed transcripts of interviews between Fisher and his assistants and athletic department and NCAA officials, which were previously edited and summarized in the joint inquiry report the University submitted to the NCAA in early March in response to the allegations.
Throughout the transcripts Martin's name has been deleted, but in an interview with The Detroit News, Martin confirmed that the comments refer to him.
The relationship between Martin, the Michigan basketball program and its coaching staff has been a major focus of a current University investigation into allegations made against the program.
Fisher adamantly defended his ethics in all dealings with Martin.
"If there's one thing I take great pride in and I have said this before, ... my integrity, Fisher first, my family and a close second to this University and what it represents," Fisher told investigators. "I have bent over backwards to handle myself in situations in a way, that I would be beyond reproach on that."
In relation to the allegations, Flint attorney David Leyton filed a civil lawsuit 14 months ago against the University for denying a FOIA request. Leyton's client, WFDF talk show host Dave Barber, had requested the Student Athlete Automobile Information Sheet on former Michigan forward Maurice Taylor's Ford Explorer.
Genesee County Court Judge Judith Fullerman dismissed the case. Leyton filed a formal appeal to Fullerman's decision.
"The Michigan Appeals Court will issue a decision on whether or not the case was properly dismissed," Leyton said. "It is difficult to predict what the Court of Appeals will do. This document is not in violation of the student's privacy. It's seven questions about, who, if anyone, helped the student to obtain the vehicle."
A press release distributed by the radio station yesterday implies that Fullerman's academic career and friendship with Regent Olivia Maynard (D-Flint) may have had influence in the decision.
Maynard said that charge is "ridiculous."
"No judge pulls away from every University of Michigan graduate," Maynard said. "That is impossible. We span too far and wide. I haven't even talked to the judge about (the case). (Barber) is totally incorrect."
Leyton said he does not believe Maynard played any part in the decision.
"I categorically don't buy into that," Leyton said. "This is strictly a legal issue."
To date, the University has encountered only two minor NCAA violations involving Martin. But in response to allegations claiming that Martin may have provided players with monetary gifts, the University hired a private firm specializing in NCAA infractions and compliance, which is currently investigating the allegations. The recently released documents are detailed transcripts of interviews between Fisher and his assistants and athletic department and NCAA officials, which were previously edited and summarized in the joint inquiry report the University submitted to the NCAA in early March in response to the allegations.
Throughout the transcripts Martin's name has been deleted, but in an interview with The Detroit News, Martin confirmed that the comments refer to him.
The relationship between Martin, the Michigan basketball program and its coaching staff has been a major focus of a current University investigation into allegations made against the program.
Fisher adamantly defended his ethics in all dealings with Martin.
"If there's one thing I take great pride in and I have said this before ... my integrity, Fisher first, my family and a close second to this University and what it represents," Fisher told investigators.
"I have bent over backwards to handle myself in situations in a way that I would be beyond reproach on that."
In relation to the allegations, Flint attorney David Leyton filed a civil lawsuit 14 months ago against the University for denying a FOIA request.
Leyton's client, WFDF talk show host Dave Barber, requested the Student Athlete Automobile Information Sheet on former Michigan forward Maurice Taylor's Ford Explorer.
Genesee County Court Judge Judith Fullerman dismissed the case.
Leyton filed a formal appeal to Fullerman's decision.
"The Michigan Appeals Court will issue a decision on whether or not the case was properly dismissed," Leyton said.
"It is difficult to predict what the Court of Appeals will do. This document is not in violation of the student's privacy. It's seven questions about, who, if anyone, helped the student to obtain the vehicle."
A press release distributed by the radio station yesterday implies that Fullerman's academic career and friendship with Regent Olivia Maynard (D-Flint) may have had influence in the decision.
Maynard said that the charge against her is "ridiculous."
"No judge pulls away from every University of Michigan graduate," Maynard said. "That is impossible. We span too far and wide. I haven't even talked to the judge about (the case). (Barber) is totally incorrect."
Leyton said he does not believe Maynard played any part in the decision.
"I categorically don't buy into that," Leyton said. "This is strictly a legal issue. It's not about the judge or Maynard."
To date, the University has encountered only two minor NCAA violations involving Martin.
But in response to allegations claiming that Martin may have provided players with monetary gifts, the University hired a private firm specializing in NCAA infractions and compliance.
The Kansas-based firm, Schoeneck, Bond & King, is currently investigating the allegations.
Senior Associate Athletic Director Keith Molin said he hopes the firm will complete its investigation by mid to late summer.