Michigan Football Team Gets Bad News Before Big Ten Title Tilt

The University of Michigan football team will have its ability to overcome distractions tested leading up to Saturday's Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis.

Running Back Blake Corum Is Out, Lineman Mazi Smith Facing Charges

The University of Michigan football team got some bad news just one day before their championship game against Purdue Saturday night at Lucas Oil Field In Indy.

First up, star running back and Heisman trophy candidate will officially be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Sources say Corum will undergo meniscus surgery soon, which will knock him out of any future game for the Wolverines.

Corum originally injured the knee back on November 19 in a game with Illinois played in Ann Arbor.

The team was probably emotionally prepared for that news, as Corum sat out most of last Saturday's Ohio State game after limping off after two carries.

East Kentwood's Smith Was Pulled Over On October 7, Faces Weapons Charge

What the team may or not been prepared for was the news this week that defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who played his high school ball at East Kentwood, was charged with a felony this week for not having a permit for a pistol he had on his possession when pulled over back on October 7 for speeding.

Smith appeared on video in Washtenaw County Court Thursday.

According to Yahoo! Sports, the incident was minor:

Defense attorney John Shea said Smith was in the process of getting a concealed-weapon permit when he was stopped by police.

“He does have it now,” Shea told a magistrate.

“He was asked whether there was a weapon in the car,” Shea said. “He was honest. He was forthright. He was completely cooperative.”

Smith was not suspended, and continues to be on the team heading into Saturday's showdown with Purdue. Athletic Director Warde Manuel issued the following statement:

“Mazi was honest, forthcoming and cooperative from the very beginning and is a tremendous young man. He is not and never has been considered a threat to the university or community.”

Whether the distraction will bother the 2nd ranked Wolverines remains to be seen.

Michigan will face Purdue at 8pm Saturday. The game will be broadcast locally on FOX 17.