Terrelle Pryor, four teammates suspended first five games of 2011

I'm as big an SEC fanboy as you'll find, and even I was left wondering if Mark May slept through the last two months.

Eligible for the bowl game. It's so ridiculous that it's almost comical.

 

If you care to point out where I said that, I'm all ears.

I did say that I thought the NCAA had set a precedent for actual enforcement with the Bush case. But I never equated that case to Ohio State.

 

I think the five game penalty is fine but should have included the bowl game.

I'm wondering if the intense amount of gambling on BCS games (including big money already laid down on the Sugar Bowl) had anything to do with the decision.

Not fair to teammates for them to miss the bowl game? The NCAA says yeah, whatever.

Not fair to sports books with powerful mob connections? Hmmm ... let's start the suspensions in the 2011 season.

 

It will be interesting to see if Bristol mixes up a bucket of white wash for the telecast of this game.

 

After a day to digest this, along with reading the massive volume of "stuff" out there (columns, message boards, NCAA haters, Tosu fanbois & haters), I'm getting more comfortable with the penalty.

The offense itself, is punishable. Yes, they sold "their own stuff". Yes, in an idealized / Utopian world, athletes probably deserve some sort of compensation for their efforts. In my mind, though, that's an argument for a different day & has nothing to do with this situation. The rule is the rule, and you have to play by the rules in life. Even the ones you don't like. That's true in sports, in an academic setting, in a workplace setting, in relationships.....hell, in life. Welcome to the rest of your life, fellas. If this is the single thing you learn, as a student at Ohio State University, it's still a valuable lesson. Go forth & prosper.

As for the severity, I'll just have to continue to disagree with those that believe they got off easy / scot free / fill in your word of choice. It's a fair punishment, in line with previous violations (I'll get to the bowl game later). It's also a tough punishment. These kids (that's what they are) are left with two choices: A). Give up nearly 50% of your senior year, which will unquestionably impact their legacy at Tosu, their future draft position & their ability to prepare for the next level / earn a living in the sport. Or, B). Jump into the draft now. The best I can ascertain, is that only one of these players had any intention of declaring for next season. The rest (in particular Pryor & Adams & Posey) have pro POTENTIAL, but are FAR from ready for the next level. Skipping the next season, and all the physical & mental preparation / honing that comes with it, GREATLY reduces their draft potential & ability to make an NFL roster. There isn't a Triple A level to "send them down" to & history is filled with cautionary tales of players who made the jump too early....and failed miserably. Add in the potential lock-out, etc......there's nothing "minor" about this punishment.

Lastly, even as a complete fanboi looooser.... I wish the NCAA had just suspended them for the Sugar Bowl. Just get the whole thing over & done with. Avoid any talk of favoritism, inconsistency, etc., etc.. In fact, I REALLY wish Tressel & Smith (the AD) would just take the high road, come out and say "We're going to take our medicine & move along. We'll play it with what we've got." Ok, now I'M the one that's hoping for something Utopian....but a guy can always hope. Or....maybe I'm looking for a built in excuse, for the inevitable SEC beatdown Tosu is about to take

 

That's not going to happen with Tressel.

 

Oh, I know that. Wouldn't happen many (any?) other coaches, either. Just my little wish.

 

If the penalty for the crime is a 5 game suspension it should be enforced for the next 5 games, so the bowl game plus the first four games next year. The NCAA is just as much (if not more) a criminal in this case as the players.

 

Why not just dock their scholarship money to the extent they used their athletic status for renumeration?

 

Give all athletes 10% of the gate when they play a game on top of their scholarships.

If you have 50,000 people paying $50 each, that is $2,500,000. Ten percent of that is $250,000 split amongest 200 kids (more or less) or about a grand a game for football players. You want to raise it higher? So be it.

I would use gate because it is the quickest way to get money back to the athlete. The university would have all the funds by the time the game has ended. TV money is too complicated and jersey sales are not cut and dry either.

Your sport does not draw, then you don't get shit.

That is where I would draw the line, though. You start letting them sell their image or their gear, then you are starting a feeding frenzy. "Hi. This is Cam for Teddy's Titty Bar on I-10..."

 

Make it a scholarship against a draw, after they earn and repay the $250,000.00 or so it costs the kid to enroll at Enormous State University or the $400,000.00 HedgeFund Endowment University, then give them a piece of the gate.

Shouldn't Pryor give some bonus money to the O-line? If I'm a on the line and he's getting swag and cash I want my share or his ass will end up in the training room before half time.

 

It's not that complicated with TV money and jersey sales. The pro sports have unions that negotiate with the owners on a percentage. Have the NCAA figure out a percentage on that, and if the players don't like it, then they should form their own union.

And there's nothing wrong with them selling their own images. If Cam wants to endorse the titty bar, that should be his right.