Alleged illegal payments to players by former...

Alleged illegal payments to players by former Coach Bud Middaugh, perhaps as much as $70,000 over a period of years, could result in the University of Michigan’s baseball program being placed on three years probation and other Big Ten Conference sanctions.

Money from the sale of football programs was allegedly used to pay players, some in the form of improper scholarship aid. The money should have gone instead into athletic department coffers.

It would be the first blemish of any kind on any Michigan athletic team in the university’s history. Middaugh was 465-146-1 at Michigan with six Big Ten championships and four College World Series berths.