An Off-Season Like No Other

Usually the first post of the season is about coaching changes, BCS changes and my predictions for the season. But not this year. This has been an off-season of scandals that I must vent about.

College football seems to be planning its own demise...one embarrassing, measly, lying scandal at a time. Lies, drugs, bar fights, and of course - money (lots of it). No school seems safe. Every alumni and fan is on edge hoping thier school is not next...knowing deep down inside they wouldn't be one bit surprised if it was. Auburn is still being investigated, Oregon is under scrutiny, OSU confessed to mis-deeds and now Miami. Even Boise State is under investigation for allowing recruits to sleep on the couches of existing players (who made that idiotic rule?). Every school is no doubt watching their boosters, shadowing players, and is on pins and needles every time a player walks into the public eye. And who is overseeing all of these fiascoes? The death-by-committee-meeting, can't-make-a-decision, don't-want-to-lose-any-money NCAA. So, it's all bound to be worked out "soon".

First, there was the Fiesta Bowl scandal. And apparently that involved more money than all other recent scandals combined. We didn't trust BCS folks before and this doesn't help their cause any. (Not that their cause has any chance whatsoever, anyway).

Then there was Toomer's Trees. There has always been fan violence and the occasional serious injury. But what happened at Toomer's Corner is a disgrace and there is no place in college footbal for any such fan. Go ahead - smack talk on blogs, paint your colors on your rivals' logo, make a t-shirt with a clever slogan, date your rival's cheerleader, etc. But killing your rivals landmark? That's insane, stupid and just plain wrong. Lock him up.

Then Ohio State (Tattoo U) hands college football a big black-eye. The oft-admired, soft-spoken Tressel took the Ohio State "Black-Eyes" and their storied program to a new college football low. Thanks, Tressel, for putting your mark on college football and providing plenty of fodder for those who dis-like college sports.

Miami...now that's another story. No backing out of that one or hiding away. When the booster confesses just take your sanctions and hope you can get back on your winning ways before the soon-to-be mega conferences refuse to even look at you. Yahoo! Sports said it well in their initial coverage of the Miami scandal (read it here).

And speaking of conferences: All this conference realignment is about money. Hopefully, some of that money will one day be partially in the hands of players in some form or fashion (better scholarships, training, post-college assistance, etc.). Even goody-goody BYU going independent is about money: no more sharing the bowl money, a big-time TV deal with ESPN, and world-wide broadcasting on BYUtv to bring in more money.

So what should the NCAA do?

They should bring integrity back to college sports - whatever the cost. It won't be easy and won't be popular but it is the right thing to do. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Cut and Cap: Coaches salaries are out of control in an industry where the "stars" are paid next to nothing (room, board, tuition). Cut and cap their salaries and give the excess back to the players (better scholarships, better facilities, finishing their degree. etc.).

2. Be the Boss: Make the rules (rules that matter), increase the fines, dish out the punishment, and if they don't like it then they can go elsewhere. It's not fair for the schools who stick to the rules to play against those who don't. Set the standard and fine the violators...like there is no tomorrow. Until the punishment outweighs the benefit of cheating then rules will continue to be broken.

3. Act Fast: Periodic, drawn-out investigations do nothing. Bowl games have been won (or lost) and entire seasons have passed while your investigations have been underway, allowing the guilty players and coaches to move on the NFL, leaving their successors to suffer the punishments. The price of breaking the rules must be high and payment must be quick.

ENDZONE

But, it's late August, school is in session and that means it is time for the greatest sport to begin. Ignore the media (haven't we all had enough?) and set aside the problems of the past eight months and let's focus on what we really like about the sport: the traditions, the amazing athletes, the big plays. No other sport compares to college football - let's not allow the media to ruin the season before it even starts. Play on...

2010 Season Stories (courtesy Rivals.com)

I really liked this summary of the stories from the 2010 season that didn't pertain to wins, losses or rankings. Just the behind the scene stuff that makes the college football scene so interesting. Click here to see the full article.

Wrapping Up the 2010-11 Season

Another great season of college football wraps up and it's time for me to go into blog hibernation until the spring games or, more likely, summer pre-season poll discussions. But here is a quick run down of some of the seasons high and low-lights.

We saw it all in this season of changes, scandals, continued BCS whining, etc. etc. From the late summer conference shifts to...

...BYU going independent

...VaTech high-tech unis on labor day (but lost)

...AJ Green 4-game suspension for selling jersey

...VaTech losing again in Week #2 to James-Madison

...Top 25 newbies Nevada and Mississippi State and UCF

...the grass-eating Mad Hatter

...Boise or TCU

...the little sisters of the poor

...the Nevada win over Boise

...the pay-for-play Newton scandal

...Meyer retirement (Part II)

...un-ranked UConn going to a BCS bowl

...VaTech going to a BCS bowl after loss to FCS

...the Tattoo U (Ohio State) non-suspension for bowl game

...two C-USA teams in the Top 25

...the championship game match-up

...the unprecedented five consecutive championships by the SEC

...and back-to-back champions who also had the Heisman winners

...and back-to-back champions from the same state

...and the championship game being the most watched cable show in history. Whew!

PS: Hey...did anyone really miss USC in the post-season? (Well, I missed seeing the cheerleaders).

EndZone: The College Football Scam

You've heard be whine before about the face of college football moving away from tradition and closer to money, money, money for the BCS, schools, coaches, etc. The Cam Newton saga showed the player side of that this past season. Cam has been amazing on and off the field and it is sad that he has had to deal with so much the last few months that has taken away from his amazing athletic ability. Rules are there for a reason...for protection. But I'll be the first to say the the NCAA has quite the scam when it comes to college football: high-priced tickets, willing sponsors, huge audience and your stars don't get paid...much. Dan Wetzel's article said it well.

"What are all these rules? Who made them? Who agreed to them? Who is the NCAA? And if the NCAA doesn’t care to enforce its own rules, then what are they really worth?

Exactly why should Cam Newton, who is worth millions to a university, whose jersey is being sold all over the school website, who fills stadiums and boosts television ratings, be asked to play football for just room, board and tuition – an amount far below his market value?

Why? Because the NCAA says he should.

They say it, in part, because it protects college athletics’ tax-free status and tradition of non-compensation for its meal-ticket athletes. It funds their salaries, their private jets, their six-figure bonuses.

Big-time college sports are too often like pro wrestling. There are times everyone has to pretend that things are what they aren’t.

They have to agree that this billion-dollar industry is just an extracurricular activity of an institute of higher learning. They have to claim the game is pure in the face of wealthy boosters, eager sports agents and all-encompassing academic tutors. They have to nod approval at multimillion-dollar coach and athletic director contracts.

They have to contend that administrators are concerned with the best interests of the players – the same players they deny professional representation, do not provide lifetime health care for after serious injury and claim ownership of their likeness even decades after leaving campus.

To assist in the illusion, the NCAA creates rules, even if, at times, they don’t appear to believe in them. It determined Cecil violated its bylaw 12.3.3. It then determined that it merited essentially no penalty.

Bowl Commentary (03-10 Jan 2011)

Comments on the final bowls of the season. The Orange showcased some amazing talent, the Sugar was down to the wire and the championship game shined best of all.

Orange Bowl

Really? VaTech lost to James-Madison? They looked quite the team...in the first half. But Stanford made the adjustments at half-time and VaTech didn't. Luck was amazing, accurate and poised.

Sugar Bowl

Really? Arkansas let this slip away in the end when they had it all but handed to them. Though I'm not a fan of the Big 10 I was impressed with their talented receivers and even the fully and free tattooed Pryor.

Cotton Bowl

Though I have spouted all season that LSU has been lucky I still like to watch them play. I like their aggressive and surprising play calling...and it paid of once again. Did you notice that they never showed Texas A&M cheerleaders but they did show LSU cheerleaders? That's because Texas A&M does not have cheerleaders...and never has! See article here.

Fight Hunger

Nevada did not dominate as I expected but they made a good showing and pulled off the win. And I don't think they are a flash-in-the-pan. There will be more to be seen from that program int eh next few years.

BCS Championship

Wow...if any game lived up to its billing this one did. Much like the USC-Texas championship in 2006 - but a whole lot better. Both defenses were very well prepared; Newton and James did not perform as expected. Oregon had some great play calls (fake PAT, fake punt, deep pass from their own endzone, etc.) which showed why UA ran down the clock before kicking the winning FG. The UA goal line stops of the high-powered Oregon offense were near un-believable.

Bowl Commentary (thru 01 Jan 2011)

A few comments on the bulk of the 28-day, 35-game bowl season. A few surprises, some boring bowls, and, some of the best I've seen. Currently the Sun Belt has the best conference bowl record (2-0, 100%) followed by the MWC at 4-1. The current bottom dweller is the "Bog-10" at 2-5...with all five losses coming on New Year's Day. Sometimes the Big-10 isn't so big after all.

New Mexico Bowl

BYU looked refined and already geared up for next season. Looks like the independence thing just might work.

MAACO Bowl

As I expected...Boise dominated and exposed (again) a very over-rated Utah team. Give the Utes credit for a very good defense the first quarter but Boise made the adjustments and Utah didn't.

Poinsettia

San Diego looks like a team on the move upward. Talented and fast receivers and a powerful running back made up for any lack of defense.

Independence

Gotta give the credit to AF against what I thought was a much better option team. But AF showed that if you pass when they don't think you will you can win.

Holiday Bowl

Probably the biggest surprise thus far. A standing ovation to Locker for going out on top. I've said it before and it's worth repeating: Sark has something good cooking up there in the wet north-west.

Liberty Bowl

Where was the UGA offense of their last six games? After the first series the players and coaches were about as aggressive and flat as a grade school girl. Although they graduated to a training bra size in the last minute it was too little too late. The MAC champions are for real and I expect to see more of them next year in both the polls and bowls.

Chick-fil-A Bowl

Ouch! Key players on both sides out in the first half made for an interesting game...and was likely the reason for the UScar loss.

Outback Bowl

Meyer goes out with a win, a well deserved win. Though I don't always agree with his off-the-field comments and whines I have never questioned his commitment to his teams nor his ability to coach. And, I admire and respect his decision to focus on family and health. Godspeed, Whiner Meyer.

Gator and Capital One Bowl

Finally the SEC lives up to its bowl expectations (after the UGA and SCar losses). No surprise since I have felt the Big 10 has been over-rated. 'Bama and Miss State outscore the Big 10 by 80 points, 101 to 21.

Rose Bowl

Wisconsin was better than I had expected...much better. They had an amazing run game against a great TCU defense. But TCU outlasted the heralded Badger QB and O-line...just barely

. Kudos to TCU for making a statement for all the little guys.

Fiesta Bowl

I boycotted the OU and UConn match-up since I did not agree with UConn playing this big money bowl over multiple 1-loss teams that truly earned and deserved the money. No comment.