Eleven Warriors

The other night, while watching the BTN Football Report, I noticed one of its sponsors was 5-Hour Energy. Given the recent dubious claims against that product, I thought, "Jim Delany can't get a break." He expands the B1G by grabbing a national power like Nebraska, only to watch a huge deal with the PAC, collapse. He inaugurates the B1G Championship Game and then his marquis team - Ohio State - gets busted by the NCAA.  While the BTN's fortunes soar, Penn State dwells in the bane.

But, if this deal is real and the B1G is about to introduce itself to the Northeast,  Jim Delany gets to invoke what may be the B1G's new slogan:  "When you get the money, you get the power!" 

Not only will the B1G bet the Northeast wants a more exciting football option, on Saturday:  the B1G will bet the pageantry and tradition of its football product will appeal to the elite, high-minded and powerful, in NYC and DC.  VIP's in attendance at B1G games, will mean more business opportunities and more federal funds. The whole midwest will benefit, from its corporate powers like P&G and the Big Three, to its leisure attractions like, Cedar Point and the Lake Erie Islands [Northeasterners (in search of a less-crowded real estate on water at a lower price) have been visiting and investing in Great Lakes waterfront property - increasingly - for over a decade.].  Expect the BiG's biggest assets - Ohio State and Michigan - to play in NYC and/or DC - annually. Don't be surprised if a deal is pitched to Ohio State and Michigan to do the unthinkable - play "The Game", in NYC or DC.

B1G fans may view Rutgers and Maryland with a smirk. But, there's plenty of football talent, in the Northeast.

And we know, what everybody in America knows: money and power reside in NYC and DC.

Most of the time, an ESPN broadcast seems like life in a grudgingly, sober frat house: "Ok. We can't drink on-air. So, we'll just be obnoxious." It's a glitzy, bore.

From Berman's bombast - to wondering when balloons and confetti will fall from the lights, celebrating Stewart Scott's one-millionth utterance of, "as cool as the other side of the pillow." - ESPN, on its network's character, alone - has long-since (to invoke another ABC property) "jumped the shark!"

But, its coverage of the Sandusky Scandal has revealed its other traits: from overwhelmed by the gravity of the Penn State story as it broke to - as of this past week - completely, reprehensible.

As Paterno's statue came down, ESPN's company-line - delivered by many of its analysts - projected the notion that the NCAA would go beyond its purview, by stepping into this mess. How many times in the past few days have we heard an ESPN personality exclaim, "this is a criminal matter?"

Question: why is it so important for ESPN to editorialize, by driving this one opinion? Answer: ESPN and its "parent company, Disney", are protecting their property - college football - by demonizing the NCAA.

Again, articles 2.4 and 10.1 of the NCAA constitution "command ethical conduct on behalf of coaches and others associated with athletic programs, and 2.4 expansively states, 'These values should be manifest not only in athletics participation, but also in the broad spectrum of activities affecting the athletics program."'

Penn State's failure of authority, mandated the NCAA's actions. The NCAA's actions against Penn State were "necessary and proper."

ESPN needs to refine its reporting, allowing the story to speak for itself, without the routine editorial quips it obviously expects its newsreaders to use, in an immature campaign, to appeal to their audience.

And Disney should stop ESPN's attack on the NCAA - forthwith. The fate of Penn State's football program is a minor story, compared to the lifelong struggle Sandusky's victims will wage.

Remember, Disney: Jerry Sandusky's victims were children. Children! Aren't children your number one customers, Disney?

Where's the best place to measure the human factor in any sport? On the field of play, damn it!

Let the press publish college football polls. But, why should its opinion determine who is the champion? This is the central issue behind the Mythical National Champion(ship). The fact that opinion has ANY official weight in this regard, is an affront to every college football player and defiles every single solitary son-of-a-bitchin' drop of sweat ever shed by every damn college football player who has EVER played! College football is played ON the field. That is where the champion must be crowned. It is NOT a matter of opinion. The official role of the polls in determining college football champions must come to an end, forthwith!

When the first AP poll was published, in 1936, it was easier for the deans of colleges and universities to loftily invoke the the sanctity of the scholar-athlete, as justification for leaving the crowning of champions to the press. Changes have come to college football - in the millions. This confederacy of institutional insincerity must give way. And as it does for basketball, the NCAA MUST sanction the championship of college football.

College football is about dates and times and places. It's also about oft-heard refrains like "showing up for work" and "taking care of business." So, why have the conference championships if - ultimately - someone's opinion counts more than the box score? The box score is the proof of work. Bama had its chance and didn't get it done. LSU - from the same division as Bama - did. Argue all day long about how good Bama is. Bama didn't get it done. Therefore, only a conference champ should face LSU - in the national championship game. I...will never recognize the winner of Monday night's game as...National Champion.

The road to the national championship must be a "Tournament of Champions."  Further realignment will be necessary.  ACC, B1G, PAC, SEC and four new conferences to be named later, can give us eight conference champions, annually. Don't believe it can't happen. Realignment has been a major subplot of the 2011 season. This realignment will refine what is now, two circuits of post-season play: the BCS and non-BCS bowls. The likes of the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Pinstripe, Rose and Sugar - rounds of 4 games, 2 games and 1 could be the venues wherein which, the national champion is crowned.

It's time for a cold weather bowl. It's monumentally unfair not to play, post-season college football games in cold weather. Warm weather teams have enjoyed this unfair advantage for far too long - arguably - rendering their national championships, more mythical than mythical. New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Boston are prime venues for bowls. The pros play in snow. Crafty marketing can upend prevailing wisdom. All these sites are attractive to travelers. Vast sums await to be made.

As for academics, if we're past the point of rethinking the money issue, now's the time to rethink the academic issue, as well. Make playing football, a class or classes - like independent study - which can be credit earned, in lieu of electives. Virtually all the academic disciplines could be enlisted to consort with this realm of study. Players could write papers or produce multimedia presentations, in summation of their on-field efforts, at season's/term's end. Give them special flexibility to submit their work, given the amount of money they bring into, the school. This way, the rigors of athletics - a university endeavor - will not clash with the typical, academic schedule.

See: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Harvard-Business-Sch...

I don't hold Vince Young's 2005 MNC Longhorns in high esteem - because they were handed the crystal, by a USC team high on itself.

By the same reasoning, the SEC's ongoing championship streak can be deemed fraudulent. It can be argued the SEC was USC's biggest beneficiary, between 2006-2008, when the Trojans lost a combined 5 games.

Had Southern Cal taken care of business (and pollsters been as generous - then - as they have been to Bama this year), I believe USC would have won two out of three BCS titles, against the SEC.

Alabama vs. LSU will not give us a true champion - because of the polls and the BCS. This game will merely make SEC-dominance, more mythical. 

I know it's really early.

But, I know Buckeye fans.

And I know that more than just a handful of you, have visions of BCS NC's dancing in your heads. 

So - mindful of our unique brand of zeal and the facts: 1.) Meyer just got the job yesterday and 2.) Meyer hasn't finished recruiting, much less started practice - looking at the 2012 Ohio State football schedule... 

What do you think is a reasonable expectation for Urban Meyer's inaugural season - as the head coach of - The Ohio State Buckeyes?

Sat. Sept. 1  MIAMI, Ohio Columbus TBA   
Sat. Sept. 8  CENTRAL FLORIDA Columbus  TBA   
Sat. Sept. 15  CALIFORNIA Columbus TBA   
Sat. Sept. 22  UAB Columbus TBA   
Sat. Sept. 29 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. TBA   
Sat. Oct. 6  NEBRASKA Columbus TBA   
Sat. Oct. 13 at Indiana Bloomington, Ind. TBA   
Sat. Oct. 20  PURDUE Columbus TBA   
Sat. Oct. 27 at Penn State State College, Pa. TBA   
Sat. Nov. 3  ILLINOIS Columbus TBA   
Sat. Nov. 10  Bye Week       
Sat. Nov. 17 at Wisconsin Madison, Wis. TBA   
Sat. Nov. 24  MICHIGAN Columbus TBA

I often wondered if those who were lobbying for the Luke Fickell-era to commence in 2012, ever considered what the team's 2011 record would have been, with Tressel on the sidelines. Same talent. Same schedule.

We know what happened:

  Sat, Sep 3 Akron W 42-0 
  Sat, Sep 10 Toledo W 27-22 
  Sat, Sep 17 at Miami (FL) L 6-24 
  Sat, Sep 24 Colorado W 37-17 
  Sat, Oct 1 Michigan State L 7-10 
  Sat, Oct 8 at (14) Nebraska L 27-34 
  Sat, Oct 15 at (16) Illinois W 17-7 
  Sat, Oct 29 (12) Wisconsin W 33-29 
  Sat, Nov 5 Indiana W 34-20 
  Sat, Nov 12 at Purdue L 23-26 
  Sat, Nov 19 (21) Penn State L 14-20 
  Sat, Nov 26 at (17) Michigan L 34-40

So, I wondered.

I've reviewed the 2011 regular season schedule.

I see Tressel starting Miller against Akron, getting better offensive production out of the gate and improving steadily on this side of the ball, throughout the season.

With everybody else in their familiar roles on staff and despite the loss of Nathan Williams, I see...an undefeated season.

I think we may have missed the opportunity to watch Jim Tressel do his best job of coaching, yet.

What do you think? 

Allegations of child molestation have tarnished the reputation of a fine university and brought down, its legendary football coach.

To this point, de facto corporations Penn State and The B1G Ten, have responded and acted out of self-interest. Each has a brand to preserve and to protect.

State College is in turmoil and the nation is outraged.

Public opinion finds Jerry Sandusky guilty.

But, what if he's innocent?

Is it possible Jerry Sandusky is innocent? Is it possible he will be acquitted?

History - recent,  American history - suggests these possibilities.

And the McMartin PreSchool Trial underscores the fact history does repeat itself and can take a long time and a very heavy toll, in doing so:

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/24/us/longest-trial-post-mortem-collapse-...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG1ts30uayQ

Perhaps nothing instigates anger more than, crimes against children.

How can Penn State continue to play football, this season?

Fears have been expressed for the safety of Joe Paterno and Mike McQueary, should they appear at the game in Happy Valley, this weekend. And what of those attending the game, in Beaver Stadium? What will happen in the stands?

Anger and outrage is growing. How can Penn State risk the possibility of public unrest amidst such large crowds, when playing its final two games of the year - on the road - in Columbus and Madison, Wisconsin?

Public safety trumps football. Penn State should forfeit its remaining games.

The calendar suggests the NCAA will will make public its ruling on Jim Tressel and Ohio State, some time between today and Monday, November 21 - the beginning of the week of the regular season.  One would expect the NCAA to complete its work, to avoid complicating the first annual, B1G Ten Championship Game, in any way.

Here's a short list of how some expect the NCAA to rule, in this matter:

1.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - 1-Year bowl ban and loss of scholarships numbering 10, or less.

2.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - 1-Year bowl ban.

3.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - Loss of scholarships numbering 10, or less.

While Gee and Smith can certainly be criticized for their inartful statements and clumsy press conferences during this investigation and more seriously - the revelation of additional infractions undertaken by Ohio State players after the December 2010 announcement - Ohio State has vigorously penalized itself and cooperated with the NCAA. It would seem more than prudent for the NCAA to "send a message" to other member institutions that it's better to cooperate and be transparent, in these investigations. I cite the NCAA's language, to support my opinion:

The NCAA's Cooperative Principle

The cooperative principle imposes an affirmative obligation on NCAA member institutions (and their representatives) to assist the NCAA enforcement staff in developing full information about potential violations. All individuals who are subject to NCAA rules must protect the integrity of an investigation and maintain confidentiality throughout the process.

How do member institutions fulfill their obligations under the cooperative principle?

Member institutions fulfill their obligation by: fully cooperating with the enforcement staff, Committee on Infractions and Infractions Appeals Committee; disclosing to the enforcement staff all relevant information regarding potential violations; and protecting the integrity of the investigation (that is, limiting the disclosure of information relevant to the investigation) (see: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Enforcement/Process/Inve...).

Ohio State has fulfilled this obligation.

And Ohio State has done much to correct it mistakes:

Suspending players

Accepting Tressel’s resignation;

Vacating the football program’s wins in the 2010 season, including the 2010 Big Ten Football Co-Championship and its Sugar Bowl victory in January 2011 (and financial reward, therefrom);

Self-imposing a two-year NCAA probation and

Implementing additional measures to enhance the university’s already extensive monitoring, educational and compliance programs (see: http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/2011/7/8/2266309/ohio-state-responds-to...).

In my opinion, the NCAA should rule, accordingly:

4.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - No further penalties.

Why? Ohio State has exemplified the NCAA's "Cooperative Principle."

Violating children is an atrocity. The fact this may have occurred so often and over such a long period of time at one of America's most revered academic and athletic institutions - Penn State - assures a long criminal investigation, congressional involvement and likely, the largest civil case brought against the state of Pennsylvania, in its history.

Penn State's football season ended this past weekend. Joe Paterno's career may end this week. And it is likely - given the magnitude of the charges - Penn State may - some time soon - find itself not playing football, for awhile.

Today, Penn State may be the top story. But, all of America's universities and colleges hosting or involved in programs similar to the one at Penn State, must contemplate the worst of what if's. Let us hope this hasn't occurred anywhere else -  let alone be widespread.

If it has, the American institution of college athletics - oft-criticized of late for scandal-upon-scandal - will be brought under the type of control, indicative of a police state.