After recruiting Robert McField, 19, for the 2006-2007 University of Michigan football team, school officials discovered that McField was currently facing charges for two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of armed criminal action. After pleading guilty to those charges, McField was dismissed from the team, having not played a single game.
Mitch Browning, a former recruiter for the Gophers was unaware of the charges. Neither McField or his mother had informed school officials during the recruitment process.
University Officials said they do not normally conduct background checks on potential students or athletes but are reconsidering their stance based on this situation. Clearly, coaches and athletics organizers need to be aware that adult athletes also bring the same amount of liability as coaching staff to the team and should run background checks accordingly.
