Chris Webber says he received apology over 2003 fallout from Michigan AD
Former Wolverines star basketball player Chris Webber received an apology from AD Warde Manuel following a 2003 fallout.
Webber was investigated by the school after there were claims that he was getting illegal payments from former booster Ed Martin. It led to both the 1992 and 1993 Final Four banners being taken down at the Crisler Center and his stats were also removed from the program’s record books.
The NCAA also had a 10-year disassociation mandate between Webber and Michigan which ended in 2013.
He spoke to ESPN about the fallout and Manuel apologized to him even though he wasn’t the AD at the time when Webber played. Webber seemed to really appreciate that.
“I was told by the athletic director at the University of Michigan that he was sorry,” Webber told ESPN. “And he wasn’t even there at the time (I was playing). He told me that he did his research and that he needs to apologize. His exact words (were), he needs ‘to apologize to the 18-year-old Chris Webber because we didn’t protect him.’”
The relationship between the school and Webber has been a bit toxic over the years but it looks like it’s starting to get back to where it once was.