Terrelle Pryor, four teammates suspended first five games of 2011

Far be it from me to stick up for the SEC and bash the Big Tenlve, but I thought May had a valid point.

 

It's a fair column, but a bullshit thing to do by the NCAA.
I keep remembering the Orange Bowl when Granny Holtz suspended three players, including his best two backs. And the Razorpigs went out and won the game. No one said "Oh, let's not do it to protect the fans' investment."
They fucking used their athletic status as an advantage and profited. It's against the rules. When they bolt to the NFL next year, there's no penalty.

 

I've offered a very reasonable idea that allows players to profit, and gets around the whole "what do you do about the gymnasts and the crew team?" question. Simple: Players don't get paid by the school. But they can earn money how ever they want to. Endorsements, selling their trophies, whatever they want. Putting out their services to the highest bidder of a booster, if they want to. If Phil Knight wants to pay a guy a million bucks to come to Oregon, let him.

People rip on the NCAA for their rules because at their heart, their rules are designed for two things: 1. To make money for the NCAA, and 2. Make money for their members. Any other additional rules to benefit an athlete-student has been done when the NCAA has been embarrassed and dragged kicking and screaming.

 

I'm another Ohio State fan, and I have no problem with the punishment, which is consistent with precedent. (Whether the rule is a good one is a different issue, although I understand the reasons for it.) A.J. Green got four games; these Buckeyes apparently got an extra game for not fessing up once the rule was made clear to them. Fair enough.

The decision to let them play in the Sugar Bowl makes no sense, though. (I think the NCAA's press release said there's some special consideration for end-of-season bowl games and championships. Why? I guess that means if this was the national championship game, the NCAA would have no problem with kids who it knew had broken rules playing, which is idiotic.) But beyond that, why would the NCAA care about the Sugar Bowl (which is what people are suggesting drove the decision to let them play)? It's not an NCAA event -- as a playoff game would be -- so what does it care what the ratings are or how many tickets are sold?

And if I were running Ohio State, I'd want the Sugar Bowl to be the first game of their suspensions. If any of the kids come back, I'd rather have them play in the Big Ten opener against Michigan State next year -- and maybe Colorado and Miami, if the suspensions are reduced -- than in a meaningless bowl game.

 

So selling a championship ring and a couple other trinkets = Cost of three years of free housing in Southern California?

Ummm... ok.

 

Bullshit. It should be no different than the regular season.

 

Question for those who think it's OK for the players to sell their university-supplied gear, awards, etc.

What if the purchaser pays not $500, but $100,000 for the Sugar Bowl ring with a wink-wink to stay in school another year instead of declare for the NFL draft?

As for the suspensions, IMO, tOSU is hurt more by having those players out of the regular season games than the bowl game. The bowl game, unless it's for the mythical national championship, is meaningless right now. tOSU is there and will cash the same check regardless of winning or losing.

Having five key players miss five games next year will probably have a much more serious impact than it would to sit them for a bowl game

 

Assuming they stick around to play next year. Otherwise, it's an empty penalty.
You don't think this chases Prior to the NFL?

 

Fine. Good for the players. They get $100 grand in their pocket.

If the NCAA wants things to be pure amateurism, make everyone, coaches, administrators, officials become volunteers. Until that happens (which of course, it won't), then it's every man for himself.

 

Wasn't it former NCAA President Myles Brand who said a couple of years back that college sports is not a business?