Beats an NCAA logo image, right?!With no on-field football activity to address, there's been a flurry of stories breaking down historical and real time troubles schools are having following the five inch thick NCAA bylaws.
On one hand, I want to think the amount of rules and the depth of their specificity is too much for any athletic department to realistically govern themselves with a high degree of compliance. On the other, it's clear there's no shortage of athletes looking to pocket some extra cheddar along with a high volume of coaches, boosters, agents and entourages willing to do almost anything to help themselves thus putting the NCAA in a spot where they are essentially forced to have a rule book as thick as Gholston's pipes.
It's always en vogue to pile on the NCAA, and there are certainly many valid reasons to do so, but when you consider the Dispatch noted almost 85% of all Football Bowl Subdivision athletic programs have been guilty of major infractions isn't the NCAA really in a no win situation thanks to declining morals, high expectations and a quest for the almighty dollar? Well, maybe not since a whopping 19 schools are still clean. Nineteen.
Considering the unrealistic expectation of any program following all the rules, is it time to streamline the totality of the regulations while getting tougher on the more egregious infractions? That will never happen but the NCAA's current battle seems like the war on drugs - a perpetual cycle of red tape and low level punishments while the real problem grows by the day.
Of course, it's probably impossible to determine exactly where to draw the line but focusing efforts on more sinister examples of recruiting violations and improper benefits seems to make the most sense while not being so concerned about things such as dinner. Speaking of dinner, maybe the NCAA would be more likely to back off violations such as a free meal if university presidents such as our very own wasn't apparently guilty of committing a minor violation. What's funny about this one is that Gee didn't even violate a rule by buying Laurinaitis dinner, he broke it by purchasing dinner for the the family members James had in tow.
On the recruiting front, what's your take on Auburn's throwdown over the weekend that has caught the NCAA's eye? The event was already a violation because it was advertised that recruits would be on campus while a second violation occurred when the players were announced by name, including their positions, in front of the assembled crowd of 100. These are both secondary violations so recruit eligibility isn't in jeopardy but would this be considered serious in your view?
If you were in charge of the NCAA, what changes would you make or do you think the current set up is as good as it gets considering the size and scope of the problem?
Comments
I'd say it really depends on just how much time it takes to process all of these minor violations.
I think that there is a value in knowing about them, but not punishing them unless some kind of pattern of malfeasance occurs. It's not a big deal if Gee buys Laurinaitis's parents dinner once, but if every recruit's family who drops in gets a free dinner at Morton's every time, there's an institutional problem.
Maybe have some minimum dollar or time amount before the infraction matters - ie, Wendy's for the kid's dad isn't a violation but Morton's is (or Wendy's for his whole high school team). Or it isn't a violation if a coach says "hi" to a kid, but if they talk for more than a minute or two it is. Seems as though it could be just as hard to police, though.
The only question is how much do these minor infractions distract from serious recruiting or discipline issues. My impression has been that failures to prosecute have had much more to do with politics than available manpower, so I wouldn't say that the handling of minor infractions is my concern.
I think it is "time time" for the NCAA to focus more on the serious issues. I agree with Mike that buying a player an Arby's roast beef sandwich shouldn't be considered a violation. However, taking the kid down to Hyde Park for a steak dinner would be something else.
A dollar amount should be imposed. Make it like $20 a semester or something. Allow the coaches to buy their players a dinner after a long practice. Most of us know what it was like going through college and not having a whole lot of money. What is so morally wrong with buying a hungry kid a sandwich and some fries? Who here ever played little league baseball growing up? What did the coaches do after you won a ball game? They took you out for some well-deserved ice cream. I would understand if the coach is purchasing corvettes for all the seniors or something. That's immoral.
I do think that it should only be the coaching staff with this power. Once you start giving the boosters and academic faculty this same power, it would get out of control.
the NCAA should focus all of its efforts on cracking down on Michigan in an attempt to stop them from being so fucking smug about the whole infractions issue
Ha! Thanks for catching the "time time". I fixed it. Any chance we can hire you as a full time proof reader?
I don't come cheap.
You may want to re-read the second paragraph as well. You are missing a word. Can you find it?
I'm sorry...the job I am currently in requires me to read a bunch of junk that people above me write so I am used to catching these things.
I will say that elevenwarriors' writing is light years ahead of some of the crap that floats across my desk.
I will refrain from pointing out any more mistakes....damn I need a new job.
Got it..."as"...I swear I re-read this stuff after I write it. Maybe I shouldn't have been watching Operation Repo at the same time. Crappy TV is rotting my brain.
Matt on that show is a douchebag. Dude couldn't kick Dick Rods ass.
From what I've seen, the PSU fans have been saying more crap about the recruiting junk than Michigan. Seems the scUM fans are smart enough to realize that they're minor infractions and don't mean a damn thing
if we're pointing out mistakes, that should be Incirlik AB, not AFB, in the good shizzy description, cuz it's not on US soil
The NCAA has to stop "pretending" that kids going to major universities to play football and basketball are "amatuer student athletes". Expecting kids to stay completely out of trouble when you have scouts and agents in that close of proximity is ridiculous. The NCAA needs to institute some sort of allowance, especially since a good number of these kids come from poor family's who cant afford to buy meals and clothing for their children while playing ball and generating huge revenues for their schools and the NCAA. I know their are current allowance amounts, but they are not enough. At least football creates a little mor space between amatuerism and professional. the one year rule in bball is basically an insult. The NCAA is the real cheater.
I agree 100%. There's no law preventing me from making money on the side using my computer science skills while I'm on scholarship for a CS degree. I'm not prevented from talking to recruiters who want to hire me off to Microsoft or Intel. And I am most *definitely* not making the school millions of dollars that I will only see $15k a year of.
As a proponent of institutions of learning, I consider it kind of ridiculous to spend so much money on entertainment teams. However, as a realist who sees that a college football department is a multi-million dollar industry, I find it complete bullshit that they are able to pay their "students" somewhere around minimum wage.
Student athletes are using their unique skills to make money for their teams, and they should be reimbursed in proportion to their value (or at least not prevented from taking advantage of their own earnings potential).
Sorry to change the subject. Just noticed the 11W poll and I think there should be an option having to do with Dwight Howard. The man is a beast. I'm watching the finals to see what he is going to do against LA. I know we have some people upset about the Magic beating the Cavs but Orlando did beat them 2 out of 3 times during the regular season and they beat LA the 2 times they played them.
I think you and I are the only two people left in Ohio who actually care to watch the NBA Finals. I'll definitely be tuned in to every game.
They're using these BS rules as an excuse to keep a stranglehold on all the money generated by D1 athletics. Wonder why you don't hear about baseball or hockey players receiving improper benefits. Speaking of which, Tim Tebow's mom bought him COURTSIDE seats for Magic/Cavs game 6, gimme a break. Missionary trade payin that well?
Poll Question:
Tim Tebow's mother bought him COURTSIDE seats to Magic/Cavs game 6?
True or false?
If Tebows mom is makin that kinda jack being a missionary, then Im in the wrong profession.
At least on this blog. I'll watch another loser, the Tribe.
If Ohio State's football team has 100 scholarship players, and one year's education is $30,000, that's $3 million in salary. That doesn't even take into account equipment or travel costs, or the personal trainers to keep them healthy.
I loath the fact that these students aren't getting more for how much money their work makes the university. At the same time, a lot of these kids are dumber than a tree stump, and though 30-40% will get the chance to play at the next level, 100% have the opportunity to get a free college degree. A quality degree is worth $2,000,000 if you average $50 G a year for 40 years. Many of them don't bother taking Ohio State up on that offer.
It's a university, not a pro-sports owner.
to Miss Andrews: Can i..................
touch it?
Miss Andrews you make me happy in a looooooooong off season. Call me!
SHOTGUN ANUS!!!