ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As an outside law firm investigates allegations of NCAA time-limit violations at Michigan, Wolverines head coach Rich Rodriguez has received support from several Big Ten teams, including archrival Ohio State.

Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel said he often feels like chaining the doors to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to keep players from spending all of their time there. Michigan faces accusations from former and current players who say they far exceeded NCAA limits on football-related activities both in-season and out of season.

"It'd be like telling our med students, 'We're going to close the library,'" Tressel said. "You've got to let them train. There is a fine line, but the safeguards we have are we have set schedules and forms that we fill out, just like everyone."

Buckeyes co-captains Kurt Coleman and Doug Worthington admitted that any player who wants to improve his game spends far more than the required 20 hours a week doing football-related activities.

"I think Michigan is probably abiding by the rules," Coleman said. "But, you know, to be great you have to put in more than 20 hours. That's just the minimum. In any great program, each player is putting in more than what they're required to. And it's all on their own. That's what takes a program to the next level, when guys are going above and beyond the call of duty."

Rodriguez's Big Ten coaching colleagues all take slightly different approaches to work on the Sundays after games. Some coaches give players the day off, while others have them come in for several hours to receive treatment and review film.

Minnesota's Tim Brewster provided the strongest defense for Rodriguez.

"I firmly believe in Rich Rodriguez," Brewster said. "I don't believe that Michigan was overextending their players. It's unfortunate that this publicity has come out. Rich Rodriguez is a heck of a football coach. He's been doing this a long time and it's just very unfortunate."

Michigan State's Mark Dantonio doesn't suspect wrongdoing in Ann Arbor.

"I think most people try to stay within the rules, and I'm sure that's what they're trying to do down the road, too," Dantonio said.