...NCAA needs a new plan
As I watching the triple overtime Stanford-USC Game last night, Stanford 56 - USC 48, I was thinking how disappointing it must be for Matt Barkley and his teammates of the University of Southern California to know that this was their only bowl opportunity of the year. The game was great, bowl-like atmosphere, and unlike most bowl games, it didn't disappoint. However, for Matt Barkley and his comrades, how heartbreaking it must be to know that they will be sitting at home when significantly less-talented teams will be playing on New Year's Day and all the days leading up to it.
Not USC. No bowl game for Barkley and his teammates. The NCAA made sure of that by sanctioning the university for the errors of several players from 2004 and on. Everyone agrees that the penalties passed down by the NCAA have historically penalized the wrong people. Isn't it time for the NCAA to finally try to get it right. I know as an Ohio State fan, a big one, I am very concerned about what they may choose to do to us. Two months have passed now and there is no clear idea of when the penalties will be coming down. Will they choose to accept Ohio State's self-imposed penalties or will they add to them. Should Braxton Miller, Ohio State's freshman quarterback, have to suffer the same heartbreak that plagues the likes of Matt Barkley.
The time has come for the NCAA to create penalties that will not hinder the playing opportunities of young people who haven't broken any rules. Let's hurt the schools who break the rules by hitting them where it counts. In the pocketbook. How about fining Ohio State University $3.2 million for the violations that they allowed to occur by not paying attention. How about fining Southern Cal a similar amount and letting Matt Barkley and his teammates get a chance to compete in January.
Hit the university presidents and their schools where it really matters. Clearly, the present system only penalizes the new players who haven't done anything wrong. Start fining the universities and watch how quickly they all become rule followers. Take it one step further and do the same with the coaches but for them, make it not only a financial fine but game suspensions. Ohio State employed this strategy with Jim Tressel in fining him and suspending him. When more information became available, they just ended up cutting him loose.
The NCAA almost has it right with the coaches when they place the "tag" on the coach and it follows them no matter where they might end up. The "tag" being that they are cheaters. Universities will not employ coaches who have the "tag" on them. I have a feeling that the compliance teams at the big schools would really start taking their jobs seriously if they knew that the university could be fined a million bucks should one their players accept a free meal, a round of golf or receive a tattoo for a sweaty, grass-stained, uniform jersey.
The idea of paying college athletes is a whole separate issue and column. This is about being able to compete and not be penalized for something you didn't do. What makes this so egregious is that they are penalized through no fault of their own. It's time for the NCAA to get serious about the real rule breakers and fine them, not the Matt Barkley's of college athletics.
