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Just when Central Michigan University Athletics seems like it can't take another punch, it does.
Chicago senior Marcus Van, a senior forward on the men's basketball team, was issued a warrant for his arrest, charged with two felony counts of illegal sale or use of a financial transaction device and indefinitely suspended last week.
It's the latest in a string of unfortunate events for Athletics Director Dave Heeke and his staff.
The NCAA's Academic Progress Report announced the football team's two-scholarship reduction on May 6.
With a few exceptions, Heeke's tenure has been marked by high success in multiple sports and the rotation of personnel.
Two coaching changes was a large factor in football's low APR score, which is tabulated over a period of four years.
Men's basketball did not get penalized, but hovered right on the benchmark of 925 points out of 1,000. Any lower, and it could be looking at sanctions.
If Van joins Nate Minnoy, Chase Simon and a handful of others who left after coach Ernie Zeigler's first season, it means the loss of another point on the APR and also hinders the team's progress on the court.
It's not a good situation.
Since DeMarcus Graham's death outside a Mount Pleasant bar in 2004, and the subsequent arrests of four football players, it has become a large issue on CMU's campus.
Coaches can't monitor players 24/7. And character judgment only goes so far.
But unfortunately for Zeigler and the rest of the men's basketball program, Van got involved in a no-win situation. Whether he is guilty or not remains to be seen, but Van's warrant should be yet another eye opener for CMU coaches.
When an individual is given a scholarship, it means he or she has the responsibility to represent the university in a professional manner.
Heeke understands this. Now it's up to the coaches to recruit players who want to represent CMU in that way.
It's evident from the indefinite suspension that Zeigler will not rush to judgment on Van or any of his other players. He will wait for the legal proceedings to take their course but also understands the severity of the matter.
Coaches, not just Zeigler, should be weary of character issues when approaching prospective student athletes.
