ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan has hired outside counsel to assist its investigation into whether the football program violated NCAA rules.

School spokesman Bruce Madej said Tuesday that Michigan hired a law firm to help it discover and assess the facts following a Detroit Free Press report in which anonymous players said the mount of time spent on football during the season and in the offseason broke NCAA guidelines.
Madej declined to say which law firm had been hired.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said he and his staff understand and follow the rules during an emotional news conference Monday.
The Wolverines open their season Saturday against Western Michigan.