That writer is full of it.
Two things and only two things define the best of the best programs in college football: Longevity, measured in years as a football team, and Success, measured in Wins and Championships.
Any punishment that doesn't go directly to one or both of those core measurables can not be the biggest possible punishment. And since the NCAA did away with the death penalty, punishments can no longer affect a program's longevity. So the worst punishments are, in order:
1. vacating championships
2. vacating wins
3. post-season bans (effectively preventing future championships and wins for some period of time)
4. scholarships taken away (it's not the Xs and Os, it's the Jimmies and Joes when it comes to chasing championships)
Everything else, everything else, is lesser and secondary. I don't care how much money you're fined, I don't care how many coaches get show causes. It's not as impactful to the PROGRAM.
So for this dude to imply Michigan's punishment (no vacated wins, no post-season bans, no lost scholarships) is as bad as Tennessee's. Well, he's just a fool.
Go Vols!