Pryor Knowledge

Terrell, Tressel, and the problem with the NCAA’s legalism.

The NCAA has a problem.  It has for several years now.  The problem is that they have no concrete, practical, or working plan on dealing with cases of “illegal” benefits.  The problem mainly lies with men’s football and basketball, because let’s be honest, these are the only two nationally followed collegiate sports.  My whole point in writing this will be to make the case that the NCAA needs to get its head out of its @%$ and start letting the kids live a little.

The Jim Tressel case is the most talked about situation, but these cases are nothing new, with violations involving USC, Memphis, and Boise State also coming to light in recent years.  All these situations really made me sympathize for the players and teams with the “violations,” due to the absurdities of some of the NCAA’s rules.  The NCAA really has a lot of nerve, when they say to Ohio State and its players “We have found major violations with 5 of your star players, and they will be suspended for the first five games of next year.”  Let’s not mention that, if those players don’t play in the upcoming Sugar Bowl, it could cost Ohio State, the Big Ten, and the Sugar Bowl millions.  So we see some Washington style politics and who knows how much cash change hands in order to preserve their eligibility.  So much for the integrity of the rules.

So that is the first beef I have with NCAA rules.  The rules are set in stone, but punishment is not, depending on how much money is riding on you.  Then we have the pettiness of some of these rules, and their obvious ineffectiveness.  We must remember that these football players are college students.  Yes, they have their full ride scholarships, but they don’t really have time for a part time job.  They already have full time ones (class and football).  So what would we expect 18-22 year olds to do, when they receive bowl gifts, or have leftover jerseys, that they could sell and get a little spending cash from.  They sell them.  Or if a tattoo artist is a fan of the players, and wants to give them some free stuff?  They do it.  But then we have the NCAA step in, with their almighty wisdom, and it declares any such sale of their OWN personal property, or acceptance of gifts from someone other than the university, to be illegal and punishable by suspension. 

Two faces familiar to Buckeye fans won't return in the fall.

Of course in the case of Ohio State, there was some behavior I am not OK with.  I think that players should be able to sell their items, or accept certain gifts, but lying about it is not OK.  It is wrong that Jim Tressel lied about his Pryor knowledge of the situation.  However, I don’t think this great coach should lose his job over this cover up.  I’d be willing to bet he was NOT the first coach who ever knew about violations and covered it up, but he was silly enough to get caught.  Sorry Tress.
        
Another unfortunate part of these incoherent violations is that the consequences are harshly placed on people who are not to be blame.  Coach Tressel took the brunt of the consequences at Ohio State.  But he was not the one getting tattooed or making bank from autographs.  Players do these things, are found guilty of violations, then leave, usually before they can be punished.  Coaches, the university, and teammates face unfair punishment for what others have done.
The most absurd and disappointing punishment is when the NCAA has taken away wins from teams for violations from one player.  The very concept, that in 2006 there is no football national championship, is moronic.  Taking away a national championship from a school, just because one player was ineligible, is not fair to the 90+% of other players on the team who followed the rules and won that game.  The players won that game.  Let’s think of a punishment a little less demeaning and childish.

The University of Kentucky was recently told that they should apologize for a 500th win celebration in honor of Coach John Calipari, because according to the NCAA, 42 or so of those wins were “vacated,” due to violations at his previous schools.  Now, I’m not the biggest fan of Calipari, because I feel that he was in violation of some of the NCAA’s more sensible rules on recruiting.  But still, an apology for a party?  Come on, NCAA.  That is just ridiculous.  He may have used un-kosher methods to acquire his players, but they still won those games.  Saying that he was not victorious 500 times is denying reality and part of a pathetic power trip.

Those are just some thoughts on the NCAA and their current problems with violations, punishment, and enforcement.  I know there is a need for rules, but some of them could be done away with.  Let the players make a little money.  The college could pay them a small stipend each month.  It need not be every sport, because not every sport has problems with violations, nor does every sport generate close to the amount that football and basketball do.  These two sports bring in so much money, and they are prevented from jumping straight to the pros to get paid.  So either let them go get paid immediately, or show ‘em a little love.  And please try and find some better punishments for violations of the legitimate rules (on academic problems, dirty recruiting, etc.).  Don’t punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty.   

-Paul of the Wild