Last week, the Michigan Daily, the campus newspaper at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, dropped a bombshell of a report regarding former kicker Brendan Gibbons. Gibbons was “permanently separated” from the university following a violation of the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy — but what was odd about his recent dismissal was that the violation actually occurred way back on November 22nd, 2009. Since that time, Gibbons has been the starting kicker for the Wolverines for each of the past three football seasons.

Many questions are currently being asked about why it took so long for a decision to be reached, and why head football coach Brady Hoke chose to tell the media that Gibbons was battling an injury when asked why he was missing the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl back in December. Unfortunately, questions couldn’t be asked today by the Michigan Daily at Hoke’s press conference, because the school apparently did not invite the publication and its writers to attend it (Matt Slovin wrote the Gibbons story):

So nice of the University of Michigan to shut the Michigan Daily out of the Hoke presser — after the Daily broke the Gibbons story. — Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) February 3, 2014

The newspaper is financially independent from the school, but apparently the university doesn’t want it to be editorially independent, considering how it did not appreciate the airing of its dirty laundry. It’s a dirty move by the school to ban the publication for doing its job, and the school is already being criticized for it:

Cowards RT @TonyPaul1984: So nice of the Michigan to shut the Michigan Daily out of the Hoke presser after the Daily broke the Gibbons story — Joe Miegoc (@JoeMiegoc) February 3, 2014

MIchigan will say it was an oversight, but they intentionally left the Michigan Daily out of the media chat today. #small — Gregg Henson (@GreggHenson) February 3, 2014

those students at the Michigan Daily are doing their jobs. Not their fault that you decided to cover up what Gibbons did. Unreal UM. — Ryan (MSU 13-1) ROSE (@SpartanRyan) February 3, 2014

Poor form MT @TonyPaul1984: Nice of the UofM to shut the Michigan Daily out of the Hoke presser — after the Daily broke the Gibbons story. — Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) February 3, 2014

@TonyPaul1984 that’s not suspicious at all — Lauren Liparoto (@LaurenZanger) February 3, 2014

Fortunately, the Daily did not miss much — Brady Hoke mainly just issued a short statement (full version can be read here):

“Michigan Athletics has no influence over any part of a review of a potential violation of University’s student code of conduct – not the process, the investigation or the timing of the resolution. In general, while we may be aware of an on-going proceeding, we always strive to balance transparency with privacy. Our usual approach is to not issue discipline related to a student’s standing on the team before the University’s process runs its course and the outcome has been determined. We will always respect the rights and confidentiality of the process and the parties involved. One way we do that is by not discussing the details of student disciplinary matters.”